2004 Mazda RX-8 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 80about this part
- Share
- 16%of 490 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 87,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 80 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Mazda RX-8, 16% of the 490 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Power steering failed and has many times cause me coming close in hitting the car next to me while driving. The steering wheel would turn by itself in a full 360. I constantly have to open my hood and shake to harness wire. This is a well known issue with this car. This issue should have been addressed a long time ago.”
NHTSA complaint #10547558, filed 2013-10, 84,000 miles“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“As I turned on my car one time, the power steering just didn't come on. I then shut it off, and then turned it back on and it worked. After this happened several times the power steering ceased to turn on at all. It wasn't as if the motor for the electric steering was slowly going out; it was either night or day.”
NHTSA complaint #10443503, filed 2012-01, 108,522 miles“My power steering intermittently goes out from time to time. I have taken it to the shop 4 times. There is something seriously wrong with this design and the vehicle is very dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #11258660, filed 2019-09, 127,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10251387Feb 12, 2024Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10208556Feb 23, 2022Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10186693Jan 21, 2021Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10153318Jan 23, 2019Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10154139Dec 11, 2018If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is determined to be tire balance, re-balance the tires using a Hunter GSP9700 or…
- 10142519May 8, 2018Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10185904Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3" even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10101062Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10090812Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10098895Nov 4, 2014Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road. Follow steering wheel alignment procedure.
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Mazda RX-8
154 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsAir bags
50 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 28, 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