Is the Mazda RX-8 Reliable?

20042011 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

88/100
Excellent

Reliability Score

16
Total Recalls
497
Owner Complaints
13
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Own a Mazda RX-8? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Mazda RX-8 Reliability by Year

Model YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliability ScoreRating
201113
88
Excellent
201023
93
Excellent
200925
92
Excellent
200822
93
Excellent
20072261
88
Excellent
2006239
90
Excellent
200511142
87
Excellent
2004430510
70
Good

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the RX-8 Compares to Similar Vehicles

Mazda RX-888/100
Sports Category Average67/100

The RX-8 scores 21 points above the average sports — a strong result.

Known Mazda RX-8 Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

STEERING
54
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
49
AIR BAGS
42
POWER TRAIN
39
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
35
ENGINE
27

Based on 497 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mazda RX-8 reliable?+

The Mazda RX-8 scores 88/100 on our reliability index — rated "Excellent." Across 8 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 16 recall campaigns and 497 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year RX-8 is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2010 RX-8 achieved the highest reliability score of 93/100 with 2 recalls and 3 complaints.

How many miles does a RX-8 last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Mazda RX-8 owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used RX-8 will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Mazda RX-8 Research

Check a Specific Mazda RX-8 VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

Run a Free VIN Report →