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Mazda RX-8Model year report

2005 Mazda RX-8 Problems

Complaints
162filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
62,000miles, 124 complaints with mileage
Recalls
63 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 2005 Mazda RX-8 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Mazda RX-8 most often write about the clutch pedal assembly—specifically a bracket that cracks or breaks, leaving the pedal on the floor and the car unable to shift. Complaints also cover engine-related problems such as low compression and stalling, oil cooler lines that corrode and leak, and steering that suddenly seizes. Many reports come in between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles, and several describe the failure happening with no warning during normal driving.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Broken clutch pedal bracket / assembly

    • 57 complaints (35%)
    • median 70,631 mi at 5.6 yrs old (54 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2008–2019

    Owners describe the clutch pedal suddenly dropping to the floor or feeling loose after a pop or crack, often with no ability to shift gears afterward. Several reports say a spot weld or the bracket around a mounting bolt had torn or sheared, and some had the assembly replaced more than once. Dealers typically replaced the pedal assembly at the owner's cost once the car was out of warranty; some owners mention an extended warranty program that applied only up to a certain mileage. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, often during routine gear changes at low or moderate speed.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Press the clutch pedal and listen for squeaks or creaks, and look for side-to-side play in the pedal. Ask whether the pedal bracket or assembly has been replaced and, if so, with what part.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The clutch pedal on my 2005 Mazda RX-8 is extremely squeaky and seems to be on the verge of breaking. When pressed down upon, it squeaks and it also moves left and right more than it should. I have read dozens of other reports of the clutch pedal actually snapping and I am quite worried that my clutch pedal is close to breaking as well.”

    NHTSA complaint #10286533, filed 2009-10, 48,000 miles

    “My second incident on the same vehicle/part. I previously had the clutch pedal in my Mazda RX-8 replaced because of a broken bracket. The replacement was an identical part with no redesigns. Approximately 16 months later it broke yet again. Same conditions, driving on the road, sudden loss of resistance and crunching sound from pedal, unable to shift properly. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10422343, filed 2011-08, 79,012 miles
  2. Engine cooling

    Low compression, rough running and stalling

    • 30 complaints (19%)
    • median 42,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (24 state mileage)
    • filed 2006–2018

    Complaints describe rough idling, hard starting, stalling at low speed and check-engine lights, with dealers reporting low compression on the rotary engine. Some owners say the engine was replaced or reflashed, and several note they were told the problem was borderline against the warranty threshold. Reports also mention catalytic converter and starter replacement along the way. Reported from as early as 14,000 miles through about 105,000 miles, with many clustered between 25,000 and 65,000 miles.

    Recall 05V3170002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for a compression test on the engine before purchase and for records of any engine replacement. Note whether the car starts easily hot and cold and idles smoothly.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have had so many problems with my 2005 Mazda RX-8. Starting with cold air coming from heater. Now the biggest problem is my car needs a new catalytic converter and a new starter according to the Mazda guys. If it's not one thing it's another with this car.”

    NHTSA complaint #10374986, filed 2011-01, 46,000 miles

    “I have a 2005 Mazda rx8, at 104,000 miles on the engine the compression went out. My warranty expired at 100,000 miles. I noticed other rx8 owners are having the same problem. I had a Mazda rx7 which had over 170,000 miles before the engine gave up.”

    NHTSA complaint #10396784, filed 2011-04, 104,241 miles
  3. Engine cooling

    Oil cooler lines rusting and leaking oil

    • 7 complaints (4%)
    • median 67,300 mi at 6.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2019

    Owners report oil loss with the oil light coming on and, on inspection, oil cooler lines that had rusted through at the fittings and were spraying oil. Some describe oil reaching a front tire or the brakes, and one owner links a braking loss of control to oil on the underside. Dealers quoted replacements of the lines; owners note the corrosion was concentrated on cars driven in snowy, road-salt climates. Typically reported between roughly 35,000 and 105,000 miles, often on cars used in winter road-salt areas.

    What to check: Look at the oil cooler lines near the front corners for rust or weeping at the crimped fittings, and ask whether they have been replaced. Check oil level and watch for a low-oil warning.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2005 rx8 continually leaked oil to the point of the engine oil light coming on. Since rx8's consume oil in the combustion process, at first this seemed somewhat normal. After a few days of adding oil only to have the light come back on, I took my car to the dealer. The mechanic brought me out to the car to show me that the oil cooling lines had been rusted out and as he put it were spraying oil . …”

    NHTSA complaint #10363885, filed 2010-11, 66,600 miles

    “2005 RX-8 leaking oil cooler line faults breaks car veered off the road onto right side grass under heavy breaking due to suddenly slowing traffic. Normally, car breaks very well, linearly, and straight. After checking what caused this, I found the entire left underside sprayed with engine oil. Oil came from rusted engine cooler lines located right next to the front left wheel well. About a 10 second engine run showed a stream of oil spraying towards the tire through a crack in the rusted cooling line. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10413105, filed 2011-07, 35,000 miles
  4. Steering

    Steering wheel seizes or pulls to one side

    • 9 complaints (6%)
    • median 58,024 mi at 6.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2021

    Complaints describe the steering becoming very heavy or locking, sometimes at speed, and in one case the wheel pulling hard to one side. Owners report restarting the car to regain assist, and dealers pointed to the steering rack, rack and pinion or ball joints; in some reports the problem returned after repair. Others describe the steering wheel sitting off-center while driving straight. Mostly reported between about 38,000 and 110,000 miles, sometimes following a pothole impact.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the steering at low and highway speed for heaviness, binding or a pull, and check that the wheel is centered. Ask whether the steering rack or ball joints have been inspected or replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “It was on a saturday afternoon. While driving there was a pothole on the road that I didn't see. I jumped into the pothole and got out and continue driving for a 2nd making a turn I than realized my steering was locked I couldn't turn my car. My engine was on and my car still moving at a pace. I step on my brakes tried to turn to a nearest parking nearby forcing a turn and my steering just couldn't . Luckily with a stiff turn into a parking I stopped my car and than turned the engine off and pulled the key out. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10577175, filed 2014-04, 38,000 miles

    “At any given time it will steer all the way to the right. The wheel will start to shake then it will rip out of your hands and go all the way to the steering locks to the right. It has now been at Mazda for 3 month and $8,336 later they still cant say why or how this happens nor can they say it will not happen again....”

    NHTSA complaint #10694637, filed 2015-03, 110,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by someone familiar with the rotary engine is worth the cost here: confirm compression, clutch pedal condition, oil cooler lines and steering. Ask for recall completion records, since several air bag and fuel system recalls apply to this model year.

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 162 consumer complaints for the 2005 Mazda RX-8. 124 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 62,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns (3 marked do-not-drive) and 178 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: Equipment (4), Exterior lighting (4), Seat belts (3), Suspension (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Seats (2), Body and structure (2), Tires (2), Wheels (2).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “Clutch pedal bracket broken under normal conditions. I went to push the clutch in to downshift at highway speeds to over take a slower vehicle and it snapped with an audible pop and I couldnt shift into the lower gear and my rpms, went to idle at highway speed. Had it broken at a different time, I could have been locked into a certain gear and ha to break fast or crash risking the lives of my occupants and the occupants of another vehicle”

NHTSA complaint #11109969, filed 2018-07, 150,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Oil cooler coupling severely rotted to the point of failure (hoses looked fine just the coupling areas). Warranty will not cover parts and Mazda has recalled in canada (special service #76), which is 30 miles from my home but will not do anything to help me in the states. Repair cost is over $1300 for new lines.”

NHTSA complaint #10627632, filed 2014-08, 98,000 miles

Air bags: “Hello. How are you? I hope everything is going well for you. I am an owner of 2005 Mazda rx8. I was a faculty of one university at texas by 2016. However, I left USA last fall and currently settled down in korea. I also took my car (2005 Mazda rx8) from USA to korea. In terms of safety recall notices, I asked Mazda USA to solve two safety recall issues (Mazda recall #: 1017e—fuel tank leak as well as 9416e—takata recall) for my car. Unfortunately, there are no Mazda dealer shops in korea, so I asked to Mazda USA to send the parts via the mail to replace bad parts for my car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11051395, filed 2017-11, 90,000 miles

Steering: “My steering wheel turns on its own while in motion on the beltway and sometimes it difficult to steer at all while in motion in traffic. I purchased new tires thinking that would solve the problem but it didn't.”

NHTSA complaint #11176448, filed 2019-02, 115,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 124 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,500 and 91,239 miles.

8%0–105%10–2520%25–5031%50–7515%75–10016%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (124 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 62,000 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.

’07’1032’13’16’19’23
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 2005 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 2005 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

Recall details for the 2005 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. 178 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 178 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 2005 Mazda RX-8?

Owners of the 2005 Mazda RX-8 most often write about the clutch pedal assembly—specifically a bracket that cracks or breaks, leaving the pedal on the floor and the car unable to shift. The issues reported most often: Broken clutch pedal bracket / assembly; Low compression, rough running and stalling; Oil cooler lines rusting and leaking oil.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Mazda RX-8 have?

NHTSA recorded 162 consumer complaints for the 2005 Mazda RX-8 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Mazda RX-8 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 54 complaints (33% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 28.

Has the 2005 Mazda RX-8 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 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 2005 Mazda RX-8 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 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 2005 Mazda RX-8 reported?

Among the 124 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 62,000 miles and the middle half falls between 45,500 and 91,239 miles; 33% 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.