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Mazda RX-8Model year report

2004 Mazda RX-8 Problems

Complaints
490filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,822miles, 398 complaints with mileage
Recalls
103 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 1.3L 2-cyl RWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Mazda RX-8 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Mazda RX-8 most often report a broken clutch pedal bracket on manual-transmission cars, which can leave the pedal limp and make shifting impossible. Complaints also describe loss of power steering assist, engine and cooling problems on the rotary engine (low compression, stalling, flooding, oil cooler leaks), and fuel leaks tied to the fuel pump. Reports are spread from low mileage into the 100,000-mile-plus range, and many are filed well after the original warranty period.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Clutch pedal bracket breaking

    • 156 complaints (32%)
    • median 70,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (143 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 15 quotes)
    • filed 2004–2020

    Owners of manual-transmission cars describe a squeak or pop from the pedal area, then the clutch pedal bracket cracking or separating at a weld and dropping toward the floor. With the pedal loose, the car cannot be shifted or moved; owners report having the pedal assembly replaced or welded, with some referencing repeat failures of the replacement part. Complaints mention the earlier squeak being treated as a minor noise before the bracket failed. Mostly reported between roughly 37,000 and 98,000 miles, often during ordinary gear changes; several owners noticed a squeak shortly before the break.

    Recall 04V075000

    What to check: On a manual car, press the clutch slowly and listen for squeaks, then look at the pedal bracket and firewall mounting for cracks or weld separation. Ask whether the pedal assembly has ever been replaced or reinforced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 2004 Mazda rx8 manual with 59,000 miles. The clutch pedal assembly bracket attached to the firewall snapped while I was trying to change gear in the middle of driving. I ended up with almost no clutch at all. I had to take the car to the dealership and discovered that the bracket broken into pieces. A new clutch pedal assembly had to be installed to replace the broken one.”

    NHTSA complaint #10321621, filed 2010-03, 59,000 miles

    “The clutch pedal (already a known problem by Mazda, but no recall has yet been announced) cracked while I was driving last year. I was on hwy 13 in minnesota and barely got control of my speed (was barely able to maintain use of the clutch) it sat until I could get it repaired, the same pedal is now craking in another spot, working on getting it repaired before it breaks again, this time will reinforce it.”

    NHTSA complaint #10908280, filed 2016-09, 102,000 miles
  2. Engine cooling

    Engine stalling, low compression and hard hot starts

    • 118 complaints (24%)
    • median 50,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (93 state mileage)
    • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $7,000 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2004–2024

    Complaints describe the rotary engine losing power, misfiring, stalling at speed or at a stop, and refusing to restart until it cools. Owners report low compression diagnosed by dealers, engines replaced under warranty and then failing again, and advice to press the accelerator before starting or shutting off. Others mention flooding after short cold runs and difficulty restarting, sometimes with the battery drained by repeated attempts. Often reported between roughly 16,000 and 100,000 miles, with hard starting and stalling noted after the engine is warm as well as after short cold-start drives.

    Recall 05V3170002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for a compression test on the rotary engine and any engine replacement history, and try a hot restart during the test drive. Confirm whether the car has been driven in short cold-start trips, which complaints associate with flooding.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Engines were recalled for loss of power and compression and was not completed on the car I own. Causes car to stall and will not restart until cooled down, potentially creating a dangerous situation in traffic. Known defect that was not addressed on the car I own. Car loses power after it heats up.”

    NHTSA complaint #11016155, filed 2017-08, 80,000 miles

    “If the car stalls after a cold start, it is either very difficult or impossible to restart. Using the procedure in the owners manual for this situation will work, if the battery does not fail first. I have had this happen twice, once the car was towed. The second time, the battery died while attempting a restart per the owners manual, but the car was in the garage and I recharged the battery and eventually got the car started.”

    NHTSA complaint #10058967, filed 2004-02, 5,700 miles
  3. Steering

    Power steering assist cutting out or pulling

    • 76 complaints (16%)
    • median 85,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (69 state mileage)
    • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,700 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2007–2024

    Owners describe the electric power steering cutting in and out or failing completely, sometimes with the steering warning light on, and in some cases the wheel pulling hard to one side or becoming very heavy to turn. Complaints mention the dealer replacing a battery terminal, cleaning or repairing wiring harness connectors, and in one case coolant leaking from the radiator overflow onto steering connectors. Several owners report the problem returning after repairs. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 5,000 to over 147,000 miles, and often described as intermittent before becoming constant.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the steering warning light has ever come on and whether the steering connectors or wiring harness have been serviced. During a test drive, check that assist is consistent at low speed and while turning.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I bought my 2004 Mazda rx8 from an authorized dealership in doral, fl with 53m miles on it, still under powertrain warranty & I purchased the extended warranty for 2 years.the car has been back to the dealership 8 times (that is averaging once a month) since purchase, back for various reasons including: engine light on, coolant light on, and the most important and dangerous-locked power steering! …”

    NHTSA complaint #10258192, filed 2009-02, 55,046 miles

    “On april 3,2012 at 10pm in buffalo ny. I was driving my 04 rx8 around a bend at 35mph. I experienced a jerk/twitch in the power steering. The indicator light came on instantly I lost the steering sending me into the front of a steel divider of a train bridge. I was taken to ecmc by ambulance. I luckily only suffered minor injuries to my back neck ribs head and shoulder. I am not one to sue nor am I'm going to pursue any legal action against Mazda. I will say my airbags did not deploy my car was considered totaled $10,000 in damage. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10456782, filed 2012-04, 70,000 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Fuel smell and leaks at the fuel pump

    • 32 complaints (7%)
    • median 83,800 mi at 10.7 yrs old (19 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2026

    Owners report a strong gasoline odor around a parked car and, in some cases, a visible leak found during service. Complaints describe dealers diagnosing a fractured fuel pump or discharge pipe and replacing the pump, and at least one owner notes the leak continued after a prior fuel pump recall repair. Some complaints also mention stalling or hard starting alongside the smell. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 86,000 miles, often noticed while the car is parked or during routine servicing.

    Recall 17V354000Recall 16V793000

    What to check: Check for a fuel smell around the rear of the car and under the hood after it has sat, and ask whether the fuel pump recalls 17V354000 and 16V793000 were performed and whether any leak was found afterward.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Multiple trouble codes all at once after not having any trouble codes after a long period. As of now 56,000 original miles. Traction control improperly functioning causing vehicle,s maximum speed to 3 MPH. Multiple misfire,s with new spark plug, new spark plug coil packs and new spark plug wires. Gasoline leak not yet narrowed down to specific location. No engine power after shifting to 2nd gear. Check engine light is constantly on however will go out for no more than 2 days. Very strong gasoline odor inside of the vehicle after startup. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11233493, filed 2019-07, 56,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced at Valvoline for a scheduled oil change, the contact was informed that fuel was leaking. The contact was advised not to drive the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a diagnostic evaluation revealed a fractured fuel system discharge pipe. The contact was informed that the fuel pump required replacement. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11770948, filed 2026-10, 70,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by someone familiar with the rotary engine is worthwhile: ask for a compression test and hot-start check, verify the fuel pump and airbag recalls were completed, and look at the clutch pedal bracket and steering connectors. Service records showing consistent maintenance and any prior engine or pedal repairs help judge how the car has been treated.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 490 consumer complaints for the 2004 Mazda RX-8. 398 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,822 miles. Of all complaints, 17 involved a crash, 10 a fire, 15 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns (3 marked do-not-drive) and 180 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (16), Vehicle speed control (11), Equipment (10), Exterior lighting (8), Brakes (6), Latches, locks and linkages (4), Electronic stability control (3), Tires (3), Seat belts (2), Wheels (2), Seats (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “I was driving down the road and I went to slow down at a light and when I pressed the clutch pedal to engage the brake I heard a pop and my clutch felt like it was shifting to the side and it barely cuts off enough to come out of gear. I inspected the the assembly by looking under the steering wheel and I found that a weld had snapped.”

NHTSA complaint #11011858, filed 2017-07, 111,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Rusted oil cooler lines and fittings on my rx8 driven in ohio where road salting is prevalent in snow months. Filing this complaint since there is a recall issued for my same model year in canada (special program 76) for this exact issue due to snow and salt. Modified lines are available to address issue but Mazda is not extending recall coverage to u.s. Repair cost at dealer above $1k.”

NHTSA complaint #10575017, filed 2014-03, 110,000 miles

Steering: “The electric power steering has a connection directly under the coolant overflow. Coolant causes the connection to go bad, on multiple occasions my power steering would completely cut out. Almost caused me to be in an acciden. And from what I read online it seems to be a common issue. I do believe this to be a huge safety risk.”

NHTSA complaint #10894048, filed 2016-08, 90,000 miles

Air bags: “My passenger side dashboard over the airbag is cracked really bad like you can see the air bag I am afraid to have anyone in the passenger seat I feel like it is going to set the air bag off for no reason the dealership is telling me its going to cost around 700.00 to fix I have done some research on this it seems to be a common problem with this car.”

NHTSA complaint #10694002, filed 2015-03, 102,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

29% of the 398 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 44,000 and 90,000 miles.

7%0–106%10–2517%25–5028%50–7525%75–10016%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (398 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,822 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’05’0894’11’14’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Mazda RX-8. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RX-8 · sedan not rated4 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2004 Mazda RX-8 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RX-8 RWD1.3L 2-cyl6-speed manual162218$4,550
RX-8 RWD1.3L 2-cyl4-speed automatic162218$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 10 recalls for the 2004 Mazda RX-8 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 180 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 180 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda RX-8

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2010550,5504—19—Not enough data
2009839,6004—19—Not enough data
20081767,5005—19—Stable
20073872,0005—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20066059,2505—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200516262,0006—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200449067,82210—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mazda RX-8 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mazda RX-8?

Owners of the 2004 Mazda RX-8 most often report a broken clutch pedal bracket on manual-transmission cars, which can leave the pedal limp and make shifting impossible. The issues reported most often: Clutch pedal bracket breaking; Engine stalling, low compression and hard hot starts; Power steering assist cutting out or pulling.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Mazda RX-8 have?

NHTSA recorded 490 consumer complaints for the 2004 Mazda RX-8 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Mazda RX-8 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 154 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 106.

Has the 2004 Mazda RX-8 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Mazda RX-8 get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Mazda RX-8 (RX-8, 1.3L 2-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Mazda RX-8 reported?

Among the 398 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,822 miles and the middle half falls between 44,000 and 90,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.