2004 Mazda RX-8 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 33about this part
- Share
- 7%of 490 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 84,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 33 complaints about the engine of the 2004 Mazda RX-8, 7% of the 490 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,000 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I sent my Mazda in to the dealership to fix recalls and make a key. In excellent shape. One area with slight body damage. On 3/16/2018 was returned a car that doesn't run. With. Cracked dashboard, torn seats, multiple dents, charged 345 dollars on 6/10 2019. I was sent a tow bill as notification to pick it up.”
NHTSA complaint #11233289, filed 2019-07, 107,000 miles“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“Driving home from the store, backed into my driveway. Got out of the car and saw oil the entire length of the driveway and all under the undercarriage, right driver side suspension, and tire. The oil cooler hose rusted through and dumped oil on the tire. This was the reason I was have extra long stops and pulling to the passengers side during braking.”
NHTSA complaint #10463875, filed 2012-07, 80,000 miles“Was driving normal conditions down a 35 MPH road when I went to upshift gears and depressed the clutch pedal, I heard a loud pop and the pedal went to the floor. The clutch pedal bracket cracked and popped off due to poor quality and bad engineering, in my opinion. This could have caused the transmission to lock up and cause an accident through loss of control. I was not abusing the vehicle/ have not abused the vehicle.. This item should not break in the manner it did.”
NHTSA complaint #10538614, filed 2013-09, 91,000 miles“I purchased the car in 5/14/2013 after a week or so it started to lose power and misfiring , popping noise, transmission warms up. The gear that I hold and shift just warms up all the time it feels like it might fire up. Then I took the car to a mechanic they couldn't do anything. I took it to Mazda mechanic they charged around 900$. Then it didn't fix anything I went another one and they told me loss compression it was 115 that time. I kept driving it and they said I need to rebuild the transmission too.. I paid this car 6500. And now it s all bad. …”
NHTSA complaint #10594124, filed 2014-05, 108,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Mazda RX-8
154 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsSteering
80 complaintsAir bags
50 complaintsFuel system
39 complaintsElectrical system
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