2004 Mazda RX-8 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 33about this part
- Share
- 7%of 490 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,600miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 33 complaints about the electrical system of the 2004 Mazda RX-8, 7% of the 490 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,600 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I jumped into my 2004 Mazda RX-8 after work started it up and went to drive and noticed it was really hard to turn and I looked and noticed that a light that was a steering wheel with an exclamation mark next to it so I drove it home not even a mile away and read about it online and found out it happens a lot. Probably going to take it to the dealer very very soon.”
NHTSA complaint #10465755, filed 2012-07, 110,589 miles“Electric-assist power steering, randomly in the parking lot the wheel will turn all by itself, one way turns easier than the other, sometimes you have no power steering and other times your steering wheel turns like butter, I live in the mountains with a very windy and dangerous roads, I've taken it to several mechanics finally one mechanic just unplug the wiring harness so there is no power steering. It is very scary to drive especially with a newborn baby. There are a lot of cars on the road with this issue I know 10 different people that have some sort of power steering issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11162238, filed 2018-12, 81,500 miles“I bought a car that had a recall of the air bag the passenger seat air bag had been deployed was told by dealer it was under recall.after checking with the dealer the side seat air bag was not part of the recall was not replaced or even looked at .so we took the seat out to see ant obvious issues and we found all the wires that plug into seat all way to under carpet against frame all the wires were melted.witch is an obvious manafaturing problem.we have read mupltile forums where tons of people have had same problem but yet no recall we could find on this issue.my mother is on oxygen and if…”
NHTSA complaint #11103642, filed 2018-06, 112,000 miles“Mazda rx8: sir, I have been the sole owner of this vehicle since the day I purchased it, and each time I'm on a business trip for one week or more, the car has to be towed for services. Either for flooding out or recharging the battery. Last month I bought an advertised device, car md, to help diagnose the problem and it indicates there's an electronic sensor issue, which Mazda choose not to admit. My car has less than 24,000 miles on it and has been a living nightmare since I purchased the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10400856, filed 2011-05, 3,000 miles“Part numbers fe03-51-21yd (rear) and fe03-51-22yc (front). I have complained to the dealer when the car was under warranty that the headlights were not illuminating correctly my driving area at night. I took the car in to the dealer today and I was told that these parts are not covered. There has been a technical service bulletin (TSB) on this car concerning this issue for a long time. There should be a recall on these sensors because this is a severe safety issue. They were faulty to begin with. In addition they have known about it for a long time.”
NHTSA complaint #10463597, filed 2012-06, 40,600 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11035599Jul 29, 2026This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit inoperative…
- 11006987Aug 8, 2024In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by…
- 10232299Feb 28, 2023Speedometer replacement procedure
- 10215274Jun 22, 2022This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce…
- 10209778Mar 17, 2022The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000 is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use…
- 10205994Dec 21, 2021Battery Maintenance: This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged…
- 10200933Aug 24, 2021This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce…
- 10188016Feb 8, 2021This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce…
- 10188015Feb 8, 2021The Mazda DCA-8000PM is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000PM is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement…
- 10186703Jan 21, 2021In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
Electrical system: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Mazda RX-8
154 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsSteering
80 complaintsAir bags
50 complaintsFuel system
39 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 27, 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