Short answer
Among Mazda RX-8 model years through 2024, 2011 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (3) and 2004 has the most (10). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mazda RX-8: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 8 (2004–2011)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 14
- Fewest recalls
- 2011 (3)
- Most recalls
- 2004 (10)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (24)
Mazda RX-8 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2009 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2008 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2005 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2004 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20113 recalls
- 20104 recalls
- 20094 recalls
- 20085 recalls
- 20075 recalls
- 20065 recalls
- 20056 recalls
- 200410 recalls
Mazda RX-8: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mazda RX-8 recalls are air bags (24), fuel system, gasoline (13), engine and engine cooling (2), suspension (2) and power train (1). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Mazda RX-8 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mazda RX-8?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2011 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 3 each.
Which Mazda RX-8 model years have the most recalls?
2004 has the most, with 10 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "RX-8", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy