2006 Mazda RX-8 Mazda RX-8 2006

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2006 Mazda RX-8 repairs by problem area

Engine (52%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (0%)

Suspension and Steering (5%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (18%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (11%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 82 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2006 Mazda RX-8.

2006 Mazda RX-8 repair cost distribution

$2500+ (6%)

$1000 - $2499 (13%)

$500 - $999 (1%)

$100 - $499 (21%)

< $100 (59%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 70 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2006 Mazda RX-8

Engine not specified

Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States
Jun 2009 - Jan 2011
May 2010

82000 mi
Engine light notifying of cat failure, loss of power. Catalytic converter replaced under warranty. A year earlier (4/10) the engine an intake manifold were replaced. 
Jan 2011

98000 mi
Motor Mounts went bad - severe vibration and idle roughness 
Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States
Jun 2009 - Mar 2010
Jul 2009

17000 mi
Engine replaced due to low compression. 

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2006 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe

238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD

Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States
Jan 2013 - Jan 2014
Jan 2014

54000 mi

US $1200
Needed new Ignition Coils / Plugs and Wires Catalytic Converted failed and needed replaced 
Mazda RX-8 in Virginia, United States
May 2011 - Aug 2014
Jun 2011

61000 mi

US $125
Replaced keyless access sensor in driver's door. 
Mazda RX-8 in British Columbia, Canada
Apr 2008 - Jul 2018
May 2008

21700 mi
replaced window channel for not staying in position 
Jun 2009

29884 mi
MT - Unusual Noise when clutch pedal is depressed (Bulletin No: 05-011/06) Replaced clutch switch as per recall notice 
Jul 2011

45880 mi

C $191
low coolant level warning light came on when the coolant level was fine; known problem with RX-8s (Bulletin No: 01-040/10 
Jul 2012

53320 mi
Repair potentiometer solder joint as described here: http://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-forum-73/diy-no-heat-repair-heater-control-158200/ Part (FE01-61-190) alone costs around $350 but fix is fairly easy. The factory vinyl shifter cover/boot was cracked and needed to be replaced. Replaced with custom leather boot from Redline Goods. Repair potentiometer solder joint as described here: http://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-forum-73/diy-no-heat-repair-heater-control-158200/ Part (FE01-61-190) alone costs around $350 but fix is fairly easy. 
Apr 2013

58280 mi

C $370
Replaced the Secondary Shutter Valve as per service bulletin 01-019/08 (MIL ON - P2070 SET). Original SSV is prone to sticking due to carbon deposits; part replaced with new design from Mazda. Replaced ignition coils, spark plugs, and wires with aftermarket units from BHR. Car was hesitating around 5-7000 RPM ~$700 CAD for all parts 
Dec 2015

66340 mi
Flooded engine 
Feb 2017

72540 mi
Driver side seat heater stopped working. The cause was a wire broken where the wire enters the seat cushion. 
Nov 2017

75681 mi

C $6100
Engine lost compression and was undriveable. Work done to engine: replaced rotar housings, surfaced irons, replaced all seals, oil passage upgrade (this work done by RX-7 Specialties https://www.rotaryengine.com/). Other components that were replaced: Oil Injectors, Thermostate, Waterpump, Spark Plugs. Installed OMP adapter (https://www.rotaryaviation.com/store/p6/Oil_Metering_Pump_Adapters.html). Replaced clutch/pilot bearing/throwout bearing. Replaced catalytic converter with cat-less mid-pipe. 
May 2018

78740 mi

C $300
Replaced still functioning original starter with faster & more powerful version from series II 
Mazda RX-8 in Washington, United States
Nov 2010 - Sep 2012
Jan 2011 Clutch pedal bracket broken. Replaced and repaired on extended warranty per technical service bulletin. Replaced spark plugs no charge when they flooded engine 
Aug 2011

82000 mi

US $1100
Wheel bearing noise. Replaced rear wheel hub bearings and nuts. Dealer bent right axle trying to remove bearing seized to axle. Replaced right rear axle 
Mar 2012

90000 mi

US $1200
Replaced stock flywheel, pressure plate, clutch, center bearing, and throwout bearing with high performance gear. Replaced all fluids in clutch and transmission. 
Mazda RX-8 in Arkansas, United States
Jan 2014 - Apr 2015
Nov 2014

138000 mi

US $1500
Needed to replace the clutch and flywheel. 
Mazda RX-8 in Michigan, United States
Dec 2007 - Jul 2023
Aug 2018

94000 mi

US $800
The handling has been feeling looser than it used to, so I had all of the struts replaced. 
Jan 2020

94000 mi

US $5
Car would not start. Feared bad fuel pump and/or ignition coils. Turned out it was just a bad battery. Still under warranty. Costco charged only the difference in price, $5. 
Jun 2021

103000 mi

US $450
Rear end was 3/4-inch low and rear end felt saggy in hard turns. Replaced rear dampers back in 2018, only helped a bit. Now replaced rear springs with new OEM. Raised rear end an inch and handling now feels much more stable and secure. 
Dec 2021

104000 mi
Corrosion on battery terminals caused engine to crank too slowly, would not start and flooded. Cleaned terminals then went through deflooding procedure for probably the fifth time since I got the car. (Crank for ten seconds with foot to floor, wait ten seconds, crank normally for ten seconds, wait ten seconds, repeat; usually requires about ten minutes of this, near the end of which I'm usually ready to give up.) 
Mazda RX-8 in California, United States
May 2018 - Jun 2018
Jun 2018

90000 mi

US $1000
Engine compression failure in one rotor. Engine would not turn over due to flooding (typical on this model when spark plugs and/or coils need replacing). Dealer did engine compression test. One rotor failed test. Dealer recommended replacement of engine. Replaced spark plugs and coils. 
Mazda RX-8 in Indiana, United States
Sep 2008 - Dec 2015
Jul 2008

18000 mi
Grinding and jumping turning corners. Differential bad. Dealer replaced under Warranty. 
Mazda RX-8 in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2010 - Aug 2018
Sep 2011

39000 mi

US $100
Coolant overflow bottle replaced to fix defective coolant level sensor. 
Jan 2012

42000 mi
Catalytic converter replaced 
Jan 2014

37200 mi
Sticking secondary shutter valve in intake system at low ambient temperatures. Problem went away when weather got warmer. 
Feb 2014

67000 mi

US $80
Front sway bar link broken. Engine flooded. 
Jan 2015

64700 mi

US $30
Front speaker relay 
Feb 2018

105000 mi

US $6000
Engine replacement; clutch also replaced while engine was out. 
Mar 2018

105000 mi
Airbag 
Aug 2018

106000 mi

US $100
Evacuated and recharged AC system. 
Mazda RX-8 in Delaware, United States
Sep 2013 - Dec 2015
Jun 2013

34000 mi

US $110
Bought a new radiator fluid reservoir on ebay for about $110. A friend installed for a couple of beers. 
Sep 2013

36000 mi
total engine failure Total engine replacement. After first engine replacement failed it took 8 more work days to install a 3rd engine. After engine was replaced..... I needed a new catalytic converter. Catalytic converter failed. 
Mazda RX-8 in Great Britain
Apr 2006 - Feb 2013
Oct 2006

8 mi
Dealer supplied new car with a dent in the bonnet and a chip on the rear wing. New bonnet and rear wing resprayed! Not impressed 
Nov 2006

2000 mi
Dashboard rattle. Fixed by dealer  
Feb 2007

6000 mi
Cat rattling/fell apart/replaced under warranty. Took the dealer 4 attempts after 4 breakdowns to find the cause. Not impressed 
Jun 2007

10000 mi
Rear windows rattling, dealer said it was the rear seatbelts, wrong! Fixed myself with some sticky rubber pads on the locks. 
Oct 2007

12000 mi
Differential destroyed itself, replaced under warranty 
Nov 2008

25000 mi
dash rattle, dealer replaced glovebox lid and broke it in the process, said I'd done it when i phoned to tell them. replaced again 
Sep 2009

28000 mi
Allow wheels corroded from the centre out. Replaced under warranty 
Oct 2009

29000 mi

£2000
Another catalyst has fallen apart. Out of warranty so huge bill. $2000. Not impressed 
Apr 2010

29000 mi

£200
battery failed.  
May 2010

30000 mi

£7500
Engine running on one rotor, failed compression test. Needs a new engine, in the Uk so only 3yr warranty. $7500 to repair. Not impressed Engine running on one rotor, failed compression test. Needs a new engine, in the Uk so only 3yr warranty. $7500 to repair. Not impressed 
Sep 2010

33000 mi

£2780
Rear rotor - rotor tip seal failed with a tiny piece breaking away - about a 1mm deep. After much arguing with mazda UK they providea new engine but i had to pay an excessive amount to the stealers to put the engine in. 
Dec 2010

34000 mi

£200
Inner CV boot replaced. front ARB drop links replaced 
Mazda RX-8 in Florida, United States
Apr 2011 - Mar 2013
Jul 2011

68300 mi

US $2000
Noticed a girding when shifting from 3rd to 4th (Manual Transmission). Dealer tore down transmission to narrow down the issue. Dealer discovered problem with 3rd and 4th gear synchro. Dealer replaced synchro - problem fixed. 
May 2012

73800 mi
Clutch pedal bracket broke, changing the engagement point of the clutch resulting in unable to shift gears properly. Dealer replaced with reinforced clutch pedal bracket under warranty. 
Mazda RX-8 in New Jersey, United States
Aug 2009 - Jun 2011
Jan 2010 In winter, heater only works when temperature control knob is on hottest position. Problem was very intermittant in summer, when occasionally heat would come on even when the temperature control knob was turned to all colder positions. 
Apr 2010

41000 mi
Engine warning light. Dealer replaced ignition coils under warranty. Next day, engine broke a seal (catastrophic event) and engine needed to be replaced. Took 2 wks to get engine and another wk to install. 
Mazda RX-8 in California, United States
Jun 2009 - Mar 2010
May 2009

44000 mi
radiator reservoir. valve getting stuck closed replaced under warranty. 
Jul 2009

43000 mi
Radiator reservoir not cycling fluid. Not opening under acceleration. Needs to idle for fluid to cycle. 
Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2009 - Apr 2010
Nov 2009

27900 mi
The infamous RX8 flooding problem, which required a tow, priming, and plugs replacement to restart. 
Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States
Oct 2009 - Jul 2011
Jun 2010

20000 mi

US $400
excessive fuel consumption 
Sep 2010

21000 mi

US $375
excessive fuel consumption--8 with regular driving 

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2006 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe

212-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States
Jun 2009 - Aug 2015
Oct 2009

23200 mi
Flooded and wouldn't start. Flooding procedure did not work for owner 
Dec 2009

24000 mi
idling rough when outside temp below 40F. Emissions pump had stuck sensor 
Aug 2011

45500 mi
Rotary motor carbon build up. Motor replaced under warranty paid by manufacturer Passenger side visor split, hinge failed. Covered by manufacturer under TSB. Sunroof rattled in tilt position. Replaced frame, roller assembly based on TSB. 
May 2013

62300 mi

US $255
starter failing, intermittent starting. 
Jun 2014

68000 mi
Catalytic converter replaced under warranty 
Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States
Jun 2009 - Dec 2015
Feb 2010

14000 mi
Both engine mounts were cracked. Dealer said this is common, and they put better, upgraded mounts in. I noticed the problem because the idle was extra loud, and you could even feel in in the pedals. 
Jan 2015

25200 mi

US $1100
First time ever, the engine flooded and car would not start. Now, I rev the engine before shutting off, but sometimes it still is hard to start. It is possible to due to car's age. 
Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2010 - Jun 2013
Sep 2011

41602 mi

C $1400
Repair rusted around around trunk-mounted rear light and inside where spoiler connects to trunk. Also repair rusted area inside rear wheel wells. Repair rusted around around trunk-mounted rear light and inside where spoiler connects to trunk. Also repair rusted area inside rear wheel wells.  
Oct 2011

41788 mi

C $280
Check engine light diagnostic - clear cam sensor error. Install winter tires, detailing. Check engine light diagnostic - clear cam sensor error. Install winter tires, detailing. 
Mazda RX-8 in Rhode Island, United States
Jun 2006 - Jan 2022
Sep 2006

200 mi
Purchased car, CEL at 200 miles - faulty gas cap gasket 
Jan 2012

26300 mi

US $124
Battery would not hold a charge, after having been replaced in June, 2010. 
May 2013

25600 mi

US $30
Battery lost its charge for the second time in a little over a year. Shop replaced battery they installed before under warranty. 
Apr 2014

27000 mi

US $19
Battery that was replaced less than a year ago would not hold a charge. Repair shop charged $19 to replace battery. 

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2006 Mazda RX-8 Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2006 Mazda RX-8 problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.