How many recalls does the 2004 Mazda Rx-8 have?

The 2004 Mazda Rx-8 has 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2004 Mazda Rx-8 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2004 Mazda Rx-8?

Of 625 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is steering.

2004 Mazda Rx-8 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2004 Mazda Rx-8 has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 959,915 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 625 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 19V781000 2019-10-31 47,006 affected

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. …

AIR BAGS 18V402000 2018-06-15 308,591 affected

Defect

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may…

AIR BAGS 17V474000 2017-07-26 308,992 affected

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing…

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. …

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 17V354000 2017-06-01 69,447 affected

Defect

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles. Heat from the engine and the exhaust may cause the main fuel pump pipe to crack.

Consequence

If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1017E.

SUSPENSION 17V355000 2017-06-01 35,332 affected

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004 Mazda RX-8 vehicles. The ball joint socket on the front suspension lower control arm may crack and the ball joint may separate from the socket.

Consequence

If the ball joint separates, steering control may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1117E.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 16V793000 2016-10-31 69,447 affected

Defect

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles manufactured April 10, 2003, to February 18, 2008. The affected vehicles have fuel pump sealing rings that may deteriorate due to exposure to heat from the engine or exhaust pipe.

Consequence

The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump sealing ring set and add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0516J.

SUSPENSION 05V325000 2005-07-20 27,800 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER FORGING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CRACKS MAY OCCUR IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET.

Consequence

IN SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE BALL MAY SEPARATE FROM THE BALL JOINT SOCKET AND A LOSS OF STEERING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 05V317000 2005-07-07 52,000 affected

Defect

IF CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE PARKED AND THE ENGINE IS OPERATED AT HIGH RPM'S FOR AN EXCESSIVE LENGTH OF TIME, SOME OF THE PARTS AROUND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN MELT AND PRODUCE A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP CAN RANGE FROM INOPERATIVE OXYGEN SENSOR, NEUTRAL SWITCH AND…

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE PARTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

POWER TRAIN 04V075000 2004-02-17 12,000 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEAT INSULATOR MAY BE CRACKED CAUSING ABNORMAL NOISE.

Consequence

CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE INSULATOR TO COME OFF AND COULD POSE A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAT INSULATOR. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

AIR BAGS 04V074000 2004-02-17 29,300 affected

Defect

AS A RESULT OF AN NCAP TEST, CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR IMPROPERLY WIRED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAGS.

Consequence

THE AIR BAG WILL NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Complaints by component

STEERING

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

AIR BAGS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

POWER TRAIN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

Total complaints625

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“No worries â€” here it is trimmed to under 2,000 characters: I am reporting a recurring safety defect on my 2004 mazda rx-8 (vin: [xxx] a repair under nhtsa recall 1017e (fuel pump ring / discharge pipe). Recall 1017e was completed on my vehicle on september 19, 2017. The same fuel leak has since…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-05-08

“For a year I have responded to every notice for a recall repair (7 total) mazda has not repaired my vehicle or scheduled its repair. My recall id is 016742248 and my campaign number is 100409. My car has a do not drive status and mazda tells me I must drive the car 2 hours to get it repaired each…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2025-07-21

“The contact owns a 2004 mazda rx-8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The…”

ENGINE · reported 2024-05-23

“The electric power steering randomly pulls hard to one side while driving. There are brief spasms of forceful jerks each jerk is 1-2 seconds the series of jerks lasts 10-20 seconds and usually stops with power steering failure all while driving.”

STEERING · reported 2024-02-01

“Engine naturally wears out especially after 200k miles due to friction in the natural design of the rotary engine, resulting in losing its overall function such as turning off in the middle of a drive due to loss of compression from worn apex seals of the rotary. The rotary engine requires a…”

ENGINE · reported 2023-03-09

“The contact owns a 2004 mazda rx-8. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he noticed a strong gasoline odor originating from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2022-12-09

“Recently purchased the car from someone else and noticed that the cabin smells like fuel. I thought maybe he spilled some inside it but it's been a week and the smell is still there. I don't know why and I'm worried about the car catching fire or me getting carbon monoxide poisoning.”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2021-01-10

“Front passenger airbag cracked dash and pushed out glove box.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2020-12-21