Model year record

2007 Mazda RX-8 recalls & problems

The 2007 Mazda RX-8 has 5 safety recalls and 38 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (16 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints38filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

2007 Mazda RX-8 in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

3 recalls for this model year carry an NHTSA do not drive advisory. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Safety recalls

Air bagsJun 15, 2018

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 18V402000308,591 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

NHTSA advisory: do not drive affected vehicles until repaired.

Problem: 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, 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 Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 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, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.

Air bagsJun 15, 2018

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 18V4040004,184 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

NHTSA advisory: do not drive affected vehicles until repaired.

Problem: 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 Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 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 original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.

Air bagsJul 26, 2017

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 17V474000308,992 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

NHTSA advisory: do not drive affected vehicles until repaired.

Problem: 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 variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.

Fuel system, gasolineJun 1, 2017

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 17V35400069,447 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasolineOct 31, 2016

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 16V79300069,447 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
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. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0516J.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2007 Mazda RX-8 2-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2007 Mazda RX-8 NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

RX-8

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.3 L · 2 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

RX-8

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.3 L · 2 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal	16	2	0	1	72,000 mi
Power trainManual transmission; Clutch assembly	9	0	0	0	80,240 mi
StructureBody	6	0	0	0	78,000 mi
Steering	4	0	0	0	78,586 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	0	0	0	80,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	2	0	1	0	—
Visibility	1	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	1	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	1	0	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONLY ABLE TO GET CAR INTO GEAR WHILE PUSHING PEDAL DOWN AND TO THE LEFT. COULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS.
Aug 7, 2019 · 90,000 miles
Air bags
THE COVER OF AIR BAG PASSENGERS IS CRACKED AND STICKY ,THIS UNIT HAVE AT THIS TIME 9,023 MILES. PLEASE VERIFY IF THIS PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED BY MAZDA
May 25, 2010
Power train
MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY
Sep 6, 2018 · 115,000 miles
Power train
AS I TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS FROM 2ND TO THIRD THE CLUTCH PEDAL 'CLICKED'AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR.I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING.I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH.THE PEDAL IS STUCK HALFWAY AND WON'T GO INTO GEAR NOW
Sep 7, 2018 · 115,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V793000(FUEL SYSTEM) ON OCTOBER 31, 2017 BY OPEN ROAD MAZDA (108 RIDGEDALE AVE, MORRISTOWN, NJ). DURING THE REPAIR, THE FUEL PUMP SEALING RING SET WAS REPLACED AND A THERMAL INSULATION PAD WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK, AS INSTRUCTED PER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT KEPT THE VEHICLE PARKED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. IN MARCH OF 2018, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE OPEN ROAD MAZDA DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Mar 1, 2018 · 70,000 miles
Steering
I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB AND THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED WHILE IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING HOME AND A PIECE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE AND FELL AND HIT MY RIGHT LEG AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CALLED MAZDA USA AND THEY HAD THE CAR PICKED UP AND TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED ON 11-14-2017 I RECEIVED A CALL ON 11-17-17 STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE STEERING ISSUE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD A STEERING COLUMN BREAK ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED I HAVE A CAR THAT IS 30 YEARS OLD WITH THE ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN IN IT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THE CAR…
Nov 14, 2017 · 103,000 miles
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL. DUE TO CONSTANT FLORIDIAN SUN EXPOSURE, THERE IS A FUEL LEAK FROM MY CAR. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE LEAK, PARKED IN A MALL PARKING LOT. ALSO, THE AIRBAG IS FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE.
Jul 10, 2017 · 96,300 miles
Power train › Clutch assembly
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE GEAR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GARDEN CITY MAZDA IN GARDEN CITY, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V793000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 17V354000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Jun 27, 2017 · 90,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpenLed to recall 14V668
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico,…
EA15001 · opened Feb 24, 2015
Air Bag Inflator RuptureClosedLed to recall 13V172000
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico,…
PE14016 · opened Jun 11, 2014 · closed Mar 2, 2015