RoadVitals

2005 Mazda RX-8 Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Oct 13, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 162 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mazda RX-8 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2023

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID
11549803
Incident
Jan 29, 2021
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE JUNK YARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, PELVIC, AND RIBS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11186152
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Nov 30, 2017

HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? I HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL FOR YOU. I AM AN OWNER OF 2005 MAZDA RX8. I WAS A FACULTY OF ONE UNIVERSITY AT TEXAS BY 2016. HOWEVER, I LEFT USA LAST FALL AND CURRENTLY SETTLED DOWN IN KOREA. I ALSO TOOK MY CAR (2005 MAZDA RX8) FROM USA TO KOREA. IN TERMS OF SAFETY RECALL NOTICES, I ASKED MAZDA USA TO SOLVE TWO SAFETY RECALL ISSUES (MAZDA RECALL #: 1017E—FUEL TANK LEAK AS WELL AS 9416E—TAKATA RECALL) FOR MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO MAZDA DEALER SHOPS IN KOREA, SO I ASKED TO MAZDA USA TO SEND THE PARTS VIA THE MAIL TO REPLACE BAD PARTS FOR MY CAR. HOWEVER, THEY REJECTED MY REQUESTS AND THEY SAID ONLY MAZDA (CERTIFIED) MECHANIC SHOULD COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. I AM WONDERING IF I CAN SOLVE THESE SERIOUS SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. AM I NOT A CUSTOMER OF MAZDA BECAUSE IM NOT STAYING IN THE US ANYMORE? SHOULD I JUST WAIT AND SEE MY CAR RESULTS IN FIRE AND SERIOUS DAMAGE FROM TAKATA AIRBAG? VIRTUALLY, MY MAZDA RX8 HAS CURRENTLY FUEL TANK LEAKING ISSUE (PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PHOTO). I REALIZE THAT MY REQUEST MAY BE AN IMPOSITION GIVEN YOUR OTHER COMMITMENTS, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH IF YOU CAN HELP ME SOLVE THESE TWO SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. ALTHOUGH IM NOT STAYING IN THE US ANYMORE, I STILL BELIEVE IM A CUSTOMER OF MAZDA. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION (E.G., MY AUTO INSURANCE RECORDS IN THE US, ETC.). IM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NHTSA ID
11051395
Incident
Nov 28, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Jun 7, 2017

TAKATA INFLATORS: NHTSA RECALL # 17V-011 HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FUEL PUMP FAULTY: NHTSA RECALL # 16V-793 HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED

NHTSA ID
10993726
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2017

VEHICLE TAKEN TO ANDERSON OF CRYSTAL LAKE 60039 TO REPAIR THE DEFECT VIA RECALL CAMPAIGN 16V-354. THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT AIR PROPERLY CAUSING THE DASH TO CRACK, THE NEW AIR BAGS SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION,

NHTSA ID
10966588
Incident
Jan 18, 2017
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 10, 2017

CLUTCH PEDAL KEEPS BRAKING EVERY 20,000 MILES. :-/ THIS IS THE 4RTH REPLACEMENT I AM LOOKING AT, CURRENTLY IS BRAKING GRADUALLY. AIR BAGS SENSORS KEEP FAILING EVERY 30,000 MILES AND PASSENGER AIRBAG IS CRACKING.

NHTSA ID
10960021
Incident
Feb 23, 2017
Mileage
14,000 mi
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Feb 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V793000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 04/19/17 *LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10948990
Incident
Dec 28, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 31, 2016

AIRBAG IS CAUSING CRACKS IN MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD

NHTSA ID
10938936
Incident
Dec 28, 2016
Mileage
54,000 mi
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Dec 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V793000 (FUEL SYSTEM, PROPULSION), 15V382000 (AIR BAGS), AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10938806
Incident
Oct 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 29, 2016

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOOR, PART NUMBER FEY157K5X, HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND IS CRACKED WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. THIS CREATES A HAZARD AS THE BRITTLE PIECES OF VINYL WILL BECOME PROJECTILES IN THE EVENT OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS CLEARLY THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10928517
Incident
May 5, 2015
Mileage
105,450 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 5, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10893390
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2016

I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOTICES THAT MY AIRBAGS NEED FIXED, AND MOST RECENTLY THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT, BUT EVERY NOTICE STATES PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
10892673
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V345000 AND 15V382000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10851683
Incident
Jun 24, 2014
Airbags
Filed Mar 7, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V345000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V382000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND WENT TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR .THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10840339
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Airbags
Filed Feb 10, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10825268
Incident
Oct 7, 2015
Airbags
Filed Aug 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10747415
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Airbags
Filed Mar 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V773000 (AIR BAGS) HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10701127
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2015
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10684287
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 2015

THERE IS A MATERIAL DEFECT WITH THE DASH PANEL OVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, NOW WITH THE WEATHER GETTING COLDER THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE DASH PANEL AND EVERY MORNING THE CRACKS GET LONGER OR NEW ONES START. WITH THE WAY IT'S CRACKING IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS THE PANEL WILL NOT JUST SPLIT OPEN BUT MAY COULD UP THROWING CHUNKS OF PLASTIC AT THE OCCUPANTS. CONTACTED MAZDA DIRECTLY BUT SINCE SHE DIDN'T SEE ANY BULLETINS OR RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE SHE PRETTY MUCH DIDN'T CARE. I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD FILE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN ALMOST ALL OTHER RX8'S I'VE BEEN IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672798
Incident
Nov 6, 2014
Mileage
53,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 26, 2010

DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP SOUNDED RESEMBLING A BACKFIRE OR THE EXPLOSION OF AN AEROSOL CAN. AFTER PULLING BACK INTO THE SPACE, A FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE NOISE REVEALED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. THE DOOR PANEL HAS BEEN KNOCKED ASKEW RESULTING IN A BACK DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS JERKED TIGHT AND REMAINS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE TIGHTENING OF THE BELT UPON THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. THE OTHER AIRBAGS ARE OF GREAT CONCERN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IF THERE IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON THE ROAD, SERIOUS INJURY WOULD OCCUR. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO EITHER BLINK OR REMAIN CONSTANTLY LIT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALER AS I'M GUESSING IT WILL BE VERY COSTLY TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367874
Incident
Oct 22, 2010
Mileage
74,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2009
Crash reported

HAD AN INCIDENT TODAY WHERE MY RX-8 HAD BEEN T-BONED AT AN INTERSECTION. MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THOUGH. I HIT MY HEAD AGAINST THE INTERIOR DOORWELL AND HAVE A BIT OF WHIP-LASH. THEY HIT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SO MY DOOR DOESN'T OPEN ANY LONGER AND IN-FACT IT'S PUSHED UP A BIT FROM WHERE IT IS SUPPOSE TO SIT. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A 1996 GEO METRO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261845
Incident
Mar 14, 2009
Mileage
491,119 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 2008
Crash reported2 injuries reported

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE (VEHICLE MIGHT BE TOTALED). SPEED AT IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 MPG RESULTING IN INJURY TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244412
Incident
Oct 5, 2008

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .