2009 MAZDA RX-8 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Defect Description

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 RX-8 and 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the fuel pump mounting rings.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will install new fuel pump mounting rings. Dealers will also add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank on RX-8 vehicles. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Op... Read more

13,891 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Defect Description

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under recall 18V-017 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as... Read more

Consequence

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

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersed... Read more

237 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Defect Description

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, Ind... Read more

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. ... Read more

308,591 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Defect Description

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakot... Read more

Consequence

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

Remedy

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 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option ... Read more

4,184 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations

Complaint Statistics

9 total complaints

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	3
POWER TRAIN	2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION	1
STRUCTURE:BODY	1

Incident date: Jan 2, 2020

MAZDA RECALLED ALL 2004-2008 RX8 MODELS FOR FUEL PUMP AND LOCKRING GASKET ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE. MY 2009 RX8 HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND STARTING LEAKING GAS ON 1-02-2020 WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE. I CALLED MAZDA AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS; HOWEVER MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THE 2004-2008 MODELS HAD... Read more

Incident date: Dec 15, 2009

I PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 NEW IN 2009. I HAVE NOTICED THE PASSENGER DASH CRACKING. AT FIRST IT WAS SMALL LINES, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORMAL LOOK OF IT, BUT OVER TIME THE CRACKS GOT BIGGER. I WENT TO MY MAZDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD SAME ISSUES AND THEY ARE STILL WAITING FO... Read more

Incident date: Jul 13, 2017

CLUTCH WILL NOT WORK

Incident date: Mar 3, 2014

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING THROUGH MY VENTS. AFTER CHECKING AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT I SAW FUEL POOLING ON THE ENGINE PASSENGER SIDE. I'M UNAWARE AT THE MOMENT OF THE CAUSE ADD I AM TAKING IT TO BE CHECKED AT THE DEALER TOMORROW. *TR

Incident date: Aug 1, 2011

2009 RX 8 MAZDA VIN#[XXX] I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN BY 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. I AM NOW HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE IT FEELS MY ABS IS ENGAGING WHEN I FIRST START DRIVING IN FI... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2011

Incident date: Mar 18, 2011

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENDEDLY TO APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. HE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VERY HARD. THE CONTACT STATED HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM BLOWING UP. H... Read more

Incident date: Feb 6, 2010

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, I HAD BEEN USING IT FOR ABOUT 20 MILES, OCCASIONALLY BUMPING THE SPEED UP OR DOWN AS CONDITIONS PERMITTED. MY PRIMARY REASON FOR THAT IS ON LONG TRIPS I GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE THAT WAY. THE DIVIDED HIGHWAY CAME TO AN END AND THERE WAS A TRAFFIC... Read more

Incident date: Oct 6, 2009

NORMAL DRIVING AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL POPPED AND BECAME UNSTABLE. SHIFTING THE CARD BECAME DIFFICULT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION DISCOVERED THE METAL BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH BROKE. *TR

EPA Fuel Economy — 2009 MAZDA RX-8

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
1.3L 2-cyl, Manual 6-spd (Rear-Wheel Drive)	16.0	22.0	18.0	Premium	$3,850
1.3L 2-cyl, Automatic (S6) (Rear-Wheel Drive)	16.0	23.0	19.0	Premium	$3,650

CO2 Emissions: 493.7 g/mile (Subcompact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

NHTSA Safety Investigations — MAZDA RX-8

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE — Closed — Model Year: 2005

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE

On September 23, 2009, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation to investigate allegations of the clutch pedal bracket failures in MY 2004 - 2006 Mazda RX8 vehicles.In response to an information request letter sent by ODI, Mazda stated that the failure mechanism may ... be related to an improper fastener attachment sequence to the body.The improper sequence may create a distortion of the pedal bracket and create a stress amplitude during pedal usage that may go beyond the wear out limit of the bracket.Mazda stated that the percentages of vehicles experiencing the defect is low at approximately 1% of the vehicle population projected to 10 years in service based on analysis of warranty claim data that best represented the alleged defect.In terms of risk to motor vehicle safety, Mazda stated that the failure is progressive with warning manifested in noise and difficulty in shifting gears prior to complete failure of the bracket.Mazda also stated that when a bracket fracture occurs the clutch pedal may lean towards the brake pedal however gear shifting becomes impossible prior to any contact of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. ODI is not aware of any crashes associated with a clutch pedal bracket failure in the subject vehicles.ODI's analysis of warranty claim data provided by Mazda yielded failure rates of approximately 3% projected over 10 years in service. ODI's analysis of Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) data complaint indicates that approximately 5% of the VOQ complainants allege they were unable to get out of the roadway as a result of a clutch pedal bracket failure.None of these incidents occurred on a highway. Approximately 7% of the complainants alleged a contact condition after a clutch pedal bracket failure of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. None of these complaints noted difficulty in getting the vehicle stopped.Mazda has informed ODI that it will conducted an Owner Notification of an extended warranty coverage program increasing the clutch pedal assembly warranty to 8 years and limited at 100K miles for model years 2004 through 2009 RX8 vehicles.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor this issue and will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.Read more

Model	Recalls	Complaints
MAZDA6	98	2,911	View
TRIBUTE	65	2,831	View
B-SERIES TRUCK	65	888	View
MAZDA3	64	3,983	View
CX-9	59	1,796	View
626	54	3,892	View
MPV	44	1,157	View
PROTEGE	38	1,380	View

2009 MAZDA RX-8

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

EPA Fuel Economy — 2009 MAZDA RX-8

NHTSA Safety Investigations — MAZDA RX-8

MAZDA RX-8 — All Years Overview

MAZDA RX-8 — Year by Year

Other MAZDA Models

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2011	3	5	View
2010	4	5	View
2009 (current)	4	9
2008	5	23	View
2007	5	51	View
2006	5	74	View
2005	6	212	View
2004	10	624	View