2009 Mazda RX-8 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Mazda RX-8, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance333.3%
- Fuel system222.2%
- Powertrain (other)222.2%
- Body & structure111.1%
- Transmission111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
2009 RX 8 MAZDA VIN#[XXX] I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN BY 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. I AM NOW HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE IT FEELS MY ABS IS ENGAGING WHEN I FIRST START DRIVING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY STATED IT COULD JUST BE THE 100+ DEGREE TEXAS WEATHER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENDEDLY TO APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. HE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VERY HARD. THE CONTACT STATED HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM BLOWING UP. HE THEN PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR FOUR TIMES AND IT RELEASED ITSELF. HE CALLED THE DEALER AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED BY THEM THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD HAPPEN TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED HE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND HAS AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 22, 2011. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE VEHICLE IN BEFORE THE 22ND. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,700. VWB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MAZDA RECALLED ALL 2004-2008 RX8 MODELS FOR FUEL PUMP AND LOCKRING GASKET ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE. MY 2009 RX8 HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND STARTING LEAKING GAS ON 1-02-2020 WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE. I CALLED MAZDA AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS; HOWEVER MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THE 2004-2008 MODELS HAD. NOW I HAVE TO PAY CLOSE TO $1,000.00 FOR REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING THROUGH MY VENTS. AFTER CHECKING AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT I SAW FUEL POOLING ON THE ENGINE PASSENGER SIDE. I'M UNAWARE AT THE MOMENT OF THE CAUSE ADD I AM TAKING IT TO BE CHECKED AT THE DEALER TOMORROW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH WILL NOT WORK
2009 RX 8 MAZDA VIN#[XXX] I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN BY 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. I AM NOW HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE IT FEELS MY ABS IS ENGAGING WHEN I FIRST START DRIVING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY STATED IT COULD JUST BE THE 100+ DEGREE TEXAS WEATHER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 NEW IN 2009. I HAVE NOTICED THE PASSENGER DASH CRACKING. AT FIRST IT WAS SMALL LINES, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORMAL LOOK OF IT, BUT OVER TIME THE CRACKS GOT BIGGER. I WENT TO MY MAZDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD SAME ISSUES AND THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR A MAZDA RECALL. I HAVE EVEN SEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THE CRACKS LOOK HORRIBLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
NORMAL DRIVING AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL POPPED AND BECAME UNSTABLE. SHIFTING THE CARD BECAME DIFFICULT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION DISCOVERED THE METAL BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH BROKE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .