VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Mazda RX-82004–2011
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Mazda RX-8
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Mazda RX-8 Years to Avoid
6 recalls · 306 complaints
10 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
3 recalls · 114 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
2 recalls · 39 complaints
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the RX-8 became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Mazda RX-8 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2009 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2007 | 2 | 26 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2006 | 2 | 39 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2005 | 3 | 114 | 2 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2004 | 6 | 306 | 10 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Mazda RX-8 Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the RX-8 compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year RX-8 to buy?+
The 2007 Mazda RX-8 scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 2 recalls and 26 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which RX-8 years have the most problems?+
The 2004, 2005, 2006 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2004 RX-8 leads with 6 recalls and 306 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common RX-8 problems?+
The most frequently reported Mazda RX-8 issues involve: STEERING, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.