2009 Mazda RX-8: common problems and reliability
One of the better RX-8 years.
8 owner complaints, most about power train. 4 recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 RX-8?The 2009 Mazda RX-8 has 8 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and vehicle speed control.
Safety record for the 2009 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2009 Mazda RX-8 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other RX-8 years only. How we score it
Is 2009 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 8 complaints, the 2009 RX-8 sits below 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 2009 RX-8
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 21V744000Mazda 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.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 18V404000Mazda 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.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 18V403000Mazda 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 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.
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.
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 2009 ranks against the rest.
Compare the RX-8 against its rivals
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