Skip to content
Air bagsPart report

2006 Mazda RX-8 Air bags Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
28%of 60 total for the year
Median mileage
70,200miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Mazda RX-8, 28% of the 60 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,200 miles. 3 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.

“Crack appeared in the dash where the passenger air bag is contained. The crack started several months ago and the car is not garaged and is in the sun all day so I thought it might be caused by the sun. I live in georgia and this car originally came from the port authority in florida where it is also very hot. …”

NHTSA complaint #10654096, filed 2014-11, 130,000 miles

“After receiving a letter and verifying with the mazdausa website it was determined that my RX-8 had a safety recall associated with the airbag. I contacted two separate Mazda dealers about this issue. Their response was less than undesirable. They first informed me that there were no parts available to affect repairs. After I requested a safe loaner vehicle until repairs could be made, my request was denied. So, Mazda has no parts to make repairs and they are unwilling to supply the vehicle owners with safe alternatives. …”

NHTSA complaint #10683437, filed 2015-02, 110,000 miles

“For almost a year, cracks have started to appear over the passenger side airbag cover. It started off as a 1 cm crack in a single location, but now has progressed to multiple cracks that are up to 8 cm in length. These cracks follow the portions of the passenger airbag cover that would split open during deployment. I have spoken with mechanics and they have advised me that replacement of the passenger side airbag cover requires replacement of the entire passenger airbag system. The dashboard cover and the airbag are constructed as a single unit. …”

NHTSA complaint #10585762, filed 2014-04, 30,000 miles

“The dash cover over the passenger side air bag is cracking a lot in all different locations. I talked to the dealer about this and they told me it is a common issue in the RX-8's and that the factory won't cover fixing it. This seems like a serious safety issue with the dash cracking apart right above the air bag. I'm not talking about some minor cracks either. I first noticed the cracks in the dash about a year and a half ago and now they grown and expanded substantially since then. It just really looks like a dangerous situation with it occurring right above the passenger air bag. …”

NHTSA complaint #10563034, filed 2014-02, 86,000 miles

“Tl-the contact owns a 2006 Mazda rx8. The contact stated that the passenger's side dashboard had a crack in it where the air bag was located and the air bag warning light would intermittently illuminate. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. Ne”

NHTSA complaint #10651810, filed 2014-11, 50,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

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

Other parts of the 2006 Mazda RX-8

Transmission and drivetrain
13 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Engine
6 complaints
Steering
6 complaints
Body and structure
5 complaints
Other or unknown
4 complaints
Electrical system
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints
Engine cooling
1 complaints
Equipment
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 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