2006 Mazda RX-8 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 10%of 60 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 25,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the steering of the 2006 Mazda RX-8, 10% of the 60 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 25,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I'm writing to state on my rx8 shinka 2006 Mazda has a steering wheel problem most concerning. I have owned it and maintained it. As I was leaving my bank I noticed a white gasket of kind on the floor of the drivers side. I went to drive my car and there was a lot of play in moving the steering wheel. At first I tried unlocking and locking the steering column. This was no good. There was still play in the steering wheel. Meaning you can move the steering wheel column up and down with outside unlocking the column. This should not be an issue. It's just like the air bag recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #11170818, filed 2019-01, 98,000 miles“I was going to pull out of the parking lot when the clutch pedal bent over to the side (brake side). Because of the bent, I can not put my car into gear or turn it on.”
NHTSA complaint #10664305, filed 2014-12, 70,000 miles“I went over to my friends house to swim around 1400 and, at that time, everything was normal. After we were done swimming and I got in the car to leave, I turned the care on and the power steering light came on in the dash. I proceeded to the manual which says it is due to a power steering failure. I've read in many forums that this is a common occurrence with this car model. It has been reported that it is usually the power steering harness or the rack (motor or torque sensor).”
NHTSA complaint #10423817, filed 2011-09, 18,350 miles“The electronic assist steering on our rx8 completely failed in 2007/2008 (approx 25,000 miles) the steering rack, steering module, and steering wire harness were replaced by Mazda under warranty. Within a year, the steering failed again. According to Mazda, it was the wire harness which was then replaced or serviced to correct the problem. It has now been 4 years and still the car only has a total of 60,000 miles on it and the steering has failed again. This time though, failure has been intermittent. The assist will turn off and back on as you are driving. …”
NHTSA complaint #10447237, filed 2012-02, 25,000 miles“I am having an issue with power steering. It went out while I was driving and became very hard to steer. I pulled over, shut my car off, turned it back on and the power steering was back. Then later that day it went out again but this time it never came back on. I took it to Mazda and they told me it was the control module. They are wanting to charge me $1400 for a box half the size of a poptart box (couldn't think of anything else haha). I contacted corporate and they refuse to see this as a safety issue. I definitely think there needs to be a recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10447177, filed 2012-02Related 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 2006 Mazda RX-8
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsEquipment
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 29, 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