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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2006 Mazda RX-8 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
22%of 60 total for the year
Median mileage
70,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Mazda RX-8, 22% of the 60 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 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.

“The clutch pedal binds up,or sticks during releasing from the floor,was replaced before and still has the same issue and my local Mazda dealership does not want to hear the complaint,now I will pay out of pocket for their repeated defect!”

NHTSA complaint #11092355, filed 2018-05, 117,891 miles

“I was driving on the freeway and as I was pushing the clutch in with my foot, I heard a loud pop. I wasn't able to change gears but luckily I was going to the offramp so I pulled over and looked at the clutch. The metal clutch plate had broke.”

NHTSA complaint #10693714, filed 2015-03, 139,435 miles

“When I was driving down ward ave. I pressed in my clutch peddle and it was stuck on the floor I couldn't shift out of gear I had to stop the car and let it stall out. After I pulled over and let the car stall out I pull the clutch pedal with my foot and pressed it in to start the car. The car would start but I couldn't move at all because every time I pushed the peddle it would stay stuck on the floor. And I had to tow it to the Mazda dealership up the road. This is not safe at all.”

NHTSA complaint #10715270, filed 2015-05, 71,000 miles

“I was driving to work on the evening of february 21st. I was stopped at a stop light and the light turned green so I pressed on the clutch to get the car in gear, when I pushed down however, the clutch made a large snapping sound and moved down a little further than usual. I went to put the car back into gear anyway and noticed that the clutch was much looser than before. It was wiggling from side to side and had much more dead space before it caught on the actual clutch. I also noticed it was much much harder to get my car into gear. …”

NHTSA complaint #11076644, filed 2018-03, 50,000 miles

“I am a member of a Mazda rx8 website. 25% of our members have had their clutch pedals snap off at a weld point. Mnao has told all of us that this is not something to worry about and it has already been fixed with a new bracket. The problem is that these new brackets are also snapping at a weld point.”

NHTSA complaint #10213523, filed 2008-01, 9,800 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2010120%
2009338%
200816%
2007924%
20061322%
20055433%
200415431%

Other parts of the 2006 Mazda RX-8

Air bags
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsSteering
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 30, 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