2004 Mazda RX-8: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Mazda RX-8: 10 recalls, 489 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #04V074000 · 2004 · 29,300 vehicles
What's wrong: As a result of an ncap test, certain passenger vehicles are being recalled for improperly wired front passenger seat air bags.
Why it matters: The air bag will not provide adequate protection when the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #04V075000 · 2004 · 12,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles with manual transmissions, the heat insulator May be cracked causing abnormal noise.
Why it matters: Continued operation of the vehicle can cause the insulator to come off and could pose a hazard to following vehicles.
The fix: Dealers will replace the heat insulator. The recall began March 5, 2004. Owners should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #05V317000 · 2005 · 52,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 back up lights, problems with the parking brakes, malfunctions of the gas gauge and/or possible fuel…
Why it matters: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace parts. The recall began on August 30, 2005.
Suspension Vehicle recall #05V325000 · 2005 · 27,800 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, due to improper forging of the lower control arm, cracks May occur in the ball joint socket.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the control arms. The recall began on August 30, 2005.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #16V793000 · 2016 · 69,447 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have fuel pump sealing rings that May deteriorate due to exposure to heat from the engine or exhaust pipe.
Why it matters: The deteriorated seals May leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Suspension Vehicle recall #17V355000 · 2017 · 35,332 vehicles
What's wrong: The ball joint socket on the front suspension lower control arm May crack and the ball joint May separate from the socket.
Why it matters: If the ball joint separates, steering control May be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #17V354000 · 2017 · 69,447 vehicles
What's wrong: Heat from the engine and the exhaust May cause the main fuel pump pipe to crack.
Why it matters: If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel May leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V474000 · 2017 · 308,992 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V402000 · 2018 · 308,591 vehicles
What's wrong: Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 mpv vehicles in alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, delaware, the district of columbia, florida, georgia, hawaii, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maryland, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, south carolina, tennessee, texas, virginia, west virginia, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V781000 · 2019 · 47,006 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 10 mention a fire, 15 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (154): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (67), noise or vibration (16), stalls / loses power (15).
- Engine & cooling (106): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (42), electrical failure (17), warning light on (16).
- Steering (80): the most common themes are steering problems (76).
- Airbags (50): the most common themes are fails to deploy (4).
The 2004 Mazda RX-8 has 489 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 8 RX-8 model years for complaints (5.0× the average RX-8 year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (94 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 67,822 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (162 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 L 2-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Premium |
| 1.3 L 2-cyl | Automatic (S4) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Mazda RX-8.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Mazda RX-8 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Mazda RX-8. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Mazda RX-8 problems?
Owners have filed 489 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (154), engine & cooling (106), steering (80).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Mazda RX-8 get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (1.3 L, Manual 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Mazda RX-8 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.