2004 Mazda RX-8: common problems and reliability
One of the worst RX-8 years.
One of the Mazda RX-8 years to avoid. All RX-8 years
514 owner complaints, most about power train. 10 recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 RX-8?The 2004 Mazda RX-8 has 514 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine and engine cooling.
Safety record for the 2004 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2004 Mazda RX-8 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other RX-8 years only. How we score it
Is 2004 a good year for the RX-8?
Across the 8 RX-8 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (2011) to 514 (2004). With 514 complaints, the 2004 RX-8 sits above the model's median of 38.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2004 RX-8
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 19V781000Mazda 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 propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 18V402000Mazda 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.
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 17V474000Mazda 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.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 17V354000Mazda 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.
Show 6 more recalls
suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Campaign 17V355000Mazda 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.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 16V793000Mazda 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.
suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Campaign 05V325000ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER FORGING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CRACKS MAY OCCUR IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET.
engine and engine cooling
Campaign 05V317000IF 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 LEAKS RESULTING FROM HEAT DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK.
power train:manual transmission
Campaign 04V075000ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEAT INSULATOR MAY BE CRACKED CAUSING ABNORMAL NOISE.
air bags:frontal
Campaign 04V074000AS A RESULT OF AN NCAP TEST, CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR IMPROPERLY WIRED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAGS.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is deeply polarized and highly dependent on owner expectations and mechanical aptitude.
Owner insights cover all generations of the RX-8. See the full RX-8 owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used RX-8 listings typically run $8,084–$11,583 across 2004 to 2010 model years.
Other RX-8 model years
Compare every RX-8 year side by side to see how 2004 ranks against the rest.
Compare the RX-8 against its rivals
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