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Air bagsPart report

2004 Mazda RX-8 Air bags Problems

Complaints
50about this part
Share
10%of 490 total for the year
Median mileage
86,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 50 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Mazda RX-8, 10% of the 490 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“Takata recall. Traffic came to a halt on the freeway. I stopped and was subsequently rear ended at high speed causing the driver side and passenger side air bags to deploy. Either the air bag itself or a projectile injured my eye. The skin on my eyelid was torn requiring 7 stitches. This was extremely traumatic and I wanted to be sure this incident was included in the investigation.”

NHTSA complaint #10820648, filed 2016-01, 56,000 miles

“Mazda RX-8 passenger airbag dash cover cracks over time thus exposing airbag I see this as a definite eyesore not to mention how dangerous it is having an exposed airbag. I no longer feel safe having my kids in the car with me in the passenger seat. I feel as if it will inflate at any moment. I took the car to the Mazda dealership and they told me not to worry about it, or that I can pay $500-$600 to have them replace it.”

NHTSA complaint #10690504, filed 2015-02, 30,000 miles

“Mazda customer experience representative and recall coordinator: this is at least the 5th time I have contacted mazdausa regarding the faulty air bags issue affecting my 2004 RX-8. Your organization's boiler plate responses that I have received are unacceptable. I expect this issue to be fully addressed and my affected air bags to be replaced as soon as possible. I am the original owner of the vehicle first registered in ca, a hot and humid state. …”

NHTSA complaint #10651814, filed 2014-11, 106,200 miles

“Takata recall my power stering goes out all the time doesnt matter if im sitting still or im going down the high way. It does eventually come back on but does go back off. It also will cause my stering wheel to jurk left and right by itself cause me to swerve in an out of lanes. It got to the point now where I have the power stering unplugged so that it doesnt jerk my wheel while driving. I just need to know if there is a recall that will pay to fix this cause its getting dangerous. Please contact back with any info”

NHTSA complaint #10990719, filed 2017-05, 140,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2010120%
2008847%
20071642%
20061728%
20052214%
20045010%

Other parts of the 2004 Mazda RX-8

Transmission and drivetrain
154 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsSteering
80 complaintsFuel system
39 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsEngine
33 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsEquipment
10 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2004 Mazda RX-8

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology