| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2005 Mazda RX-8 repairs by problem area
Engine (44%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (11%)
Brakes and Traction Control (2%)
Suspension and Steering (2%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (18%)
Other (2%)
Chart based on 123 repairs.
2005 Mazda RX-8 repair cost distribution
$2500+ (2%)
$1000 - $2499 (8%)
$500 - $999 (9%)
$100 - $499 (29%)
< $100 (52%)
Chart based on 102 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2005 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in New Hampshire, United States Aug 2010 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Nov 201027600 mi | Water leaked into right rear tail light assembly. I fixed it by adding some foam weatherstripping tape to the original gasket, and the problem has not happened since. | ||
| Jun 201347000 miUS $900 | Loss of power at low RPM. Solved by new plugs, coils, wires, and throttle body cleaning. | ||
| Nov 201674600 miUS $60 | Battery failed while under prorated warranty; I replaced it after paying a share of the replacement cost. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in New York, United States Jan 2011 - Dec 2016 | |||
| Nov 201226300 miUS $295 | Sirius SAT radio working intermittently. Signal 5-10 minutes/hour; rest of the time just shows 'ACQUIRING'. Dealer replaced antenna and splitter cable to SAT box in trunk. | ||
| Jun 201532000 miUS $50 | Drivers side mirror rattles. | ||
| Apr 201634200 mi | At 34K, car's original coils were replaced as a precaution. Replaced plugs and wires, too. On way home from having coils and plugs replaced, engine stalled while idling in traffic. Happened repeatedly. Problem turned out to be computer glitch due to coil replacement. | ||
| Nov 201637300 miUS $264 | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (non-flashing): • P0442: Small EVAP leak • P0456: Very small EVAP leak PARTS ORDERED: • Purge Valve • Gas Cap PARTS: $140 LABOR: $124 Rattling driver side mirror. Replacement mirror ordered. New purge valve and gas cap installed. New mirror installed. Cost not reflected in price. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States Nov 2011 - Mar 2012 | |||
| Dec 201180000 mi | repair and replace wiring harness to fuel pump, replace fuel pump due to hole burned into pump by faulty wiring harness | ||
| Jan 2012US $210 | engine would not start, ran rough. Installed second set of plugs and wires since new. Issue was resolved | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Michigan, United States Mar 2011 - Mar 2012 | |||
| Jun 201189000 mi | Clutch pedal broken | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Arizona, United States Jun 2010 - Dec 2010 | |||
| Jul 201033000 miUS $5 | Loud rattle from steering wheel. There is a TSB for this requiring felt pad be placed over a piece of metal behind the steering wheel cover. There are no MAZDA dealers where I am so I placed a rubber strip in the edge of the steering wheel | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Virginia, United States Aug 2010 - Mar 2011 | |||
| Mar 201170000 mi | The car flooded causing the engine to to start. Dealership did a de-flood and de-carbon on the engine under warranty | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada Nov 2007 - Oct 2008 | |||
| Dec 200739680 miC $56 | Rear tail light water condensation and build up. Manufacturers defect. Well documented with Mazda Canada. While repairing Tail light. Automatic trunk release stopped functioning. | ||
| Jul 200842160 mi | Oil cooler hose recall repair > shortly after driver noticed inside the fender well > driver side > two retaining clips had worked loose. This would have occurred during the before mentioned recall work as that is the area worked on. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in California, United States Mar 2010 - May 2010 | |||
| Apr 201032000 miUS $330 | Tail light replaced because it had water in it. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States May 2009 - Sep 2012 | |||
| Jul 200925000 mi | Transmission rebuilt. Grinded going up or down into 5th gear at over 4k RPM. Dealer replaced every piece except housing and center shaft. Dealer attributed to GL5 fluid. | ||
| Jun 201135000 mi | Failure of 2nd gear syncro required complete tranny rebuild. Dealer subbed it out, shop had to keep it an extra week after first attempt resulted in tranny that would not go into any gear. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in North Carolina, United States Dec 2009 - Mar 2016 | |||
| Oct 200931000 miUS $600 | CEL indicating engine misfire.Lucky guess diagnosed it as a weak ignition coil.Replaced all 4. At $75 per coil, this should NOT be a maintenance item every 30k miles, but it is with this car.Replaced again at 55k miles (cost of both shown) | ||
| Sep 201350000 miUS $200 | Temp control stopped working. Dealer quoted $495 to replace the module. Thanks to RX-8 Club forum, saw similar problem that required resoldering the main wires to the module. Removed module, resoldered, and works correctly now. Condensation inside both taillights. Removed, dried, resealed. Low coolant light on dash (coolant level fine). Sensor in overflow reservoir bad, but it is integrated with the reservoir and can't be replaced. Had to buy and install new reservoir. | ||
| Oct 201352000 miUS $125 | Replaces SSV solenoid. Was an 8 hour job due to the location of the solenoid which required removing the upper intake manifold and everything preceding it. | ||
| Jun 201566000 miUS $150 | Rear O2 sensor failed | ||
| Nov 201572300 miUS $6 | Right rear taillight assembly filling up with water | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Indiana, United States Jan 2014 - Jun 2015 | |||
| Mar 201483000 mi | Replaced the cat, non-OEM with melted internals, with a catless mid pipe. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Oregon, United States Oct 2007 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Apr 200820000 mi | Moisture in rear-combination light, right side only. Repaired under warranty. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Guatemala Nov 2008 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Jan 200923560 mi$10 | Left rear view mirror rattle. Opened it and stuffed it with plastic cement to stop the noise, WORKS | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States - Mar 2007 | |||
| Mar 200745000 mi | Replaced gears 2 & 5 under factory warranty | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Connecticut, United States - Nov 2007 | |||
| Nov 200720500 mi | HVAC control unit stopped functioning. Unit only blows hot air, no AC. It was replaced under warranty. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States Jun 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Jul 201658000 mi | Thermostat failed. Engine overheated and radiator basically blew up. Clutch slave cylinder leaked and could not shift the transmission. Replaced slave cylinder and put in a new clutch. | ||
| Aug 201658000 miUS $7000 | Low compression. Had to have a rebuilt engine installed. | ||
| Nov 201761000 mi | Tire pressure sender failed. | ||
| Mar 201863000 miUS $380 | Dash developed cracks on passenger side just above the air bag. Replaced dash pad. | ||
| Jun 201864000 mi | Got a check engine light. Code indicated the fuel mixture was too lean. I couldn’t find a problem so I cleared the code and it has not come back. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Pennsylvania, United States Mar 2015 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Jul 2015130000 miUS $150 | Alternator failure | ||
| Feb 2016147000 miUS $400 | Release bearing failure, clutch slave failure | ||
| Mar 2017163000 miUS $140 | Caliper failure left front, replaced left and right front calipers | ||
| Jun 2017166000 miUS $135 | Battery failure | ||
| Aug 2017169000 miUS $35 | Right rear caliper bracket pin seized, replaced bracket | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Michigan, United States Mar 2016 - Jul 2016 | |||
| Jul 2016114000 miUS $100 | Trying to find blockage and leak in ac system | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in California, United States Jul 2015 - Aug 2016 | |||
| Apr 2016133200 miUS $157 | I noticed a drastic decrease in fuel economy, so I decided to change the ignition system with OEM parts. Fuel economy has increased by 7 MPG. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Minnesota, United States Feb 2010 - Mar 2015 | |||
| May 201144000 miUS $50 | Saw smoke coming out of tailpipe when floored. Oil got into intake somehow, even though oil wasn't overfilled. Cleaned out oil, changed airfilter. Installed oil catch can to prevent reoccurrance. Believe oil recovery process was changed on later RX8s. Oil got into the intake somehow, even though my oil wasn't overfilled. Cleaned out oil and changed airfilter. Installed oil catch can to prevent future occurrance. | ||
| Oct 201488200 miUS $500 | Hot start problem. Replaced coils and plugs. Did not solve. Later checked compression - 90psi. Battery is only 2.5 years old and this car got the faster starter in 2006 so the problem is prob not electrical. | ||
| Mar 201589000 mi | Hard start not fixed. New owner aware of low compression, will try to drive it this way. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada Jan 2010 - Dec 2014 | |||
| Nov 2014106020 miC $1300 | Coils, spark plugs, and wires. stabilizer links | ||
| Dec 2014106020 miC $400 | Rotary seal was gone. Engine required a rebuild. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States Jun 2008 - Sep 2011 | |||
| Jul 200847000 mi | Tail light condensation/seal problem fixed under warranty/TSB. Whole tail light assembly replaced and proactive replacement of second non-damaged tail light. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States Sep 2009 - Apr 2017 | |||
| Aug 201038000 miUS $100 | Replaced failed alternator. | ||
| Dec 201260000 miUS $2500 | Broken mount | ||
| Mar 201469000 miUS $1700 | Replace radiator, water level sensor | ||
| Sep 201472000 miUS $1500 | Emissions sensor | ||
| Mar 201685000 miUS $256 | Replaced clutch pedal. | ||
| Nov 201687900 miUS $300 | Gas tank fuel ring broken. | ||
| Apr 201790000 miUS $70 | Engine not starting when hot. Loss of compression on front rotor and rear rotor is marginal. Fix is replacement engine at cost $5,000. No repair. We plan to trade off car. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in New York, United States Mar 2008 - Apr 2009 | |||
| Jul 200823000 mi | Left tail light replaced because moisture in it. TSB for this. | ||
| Sep 200825000 mi | Right tail light replaced because water in it. TSB for this. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Maryland, United States Oct 2007 - Oct 2013 | |||
| Jun 200839000 mi | Both rear taillights had condensation in them. replaced under warranty, tsb for them. | ||
| Sep 200842000 mi | The tire pressure monitoring system has had its low tire pressure light on for the last few weeks. I took it to the dealership, they could not replicate it and oddly enough the light did not come on until the next day. It has been on since then too. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Ohio, United States Oct 2007 - Aug 2013 | |||
| Dec 200720000 mi | Transmission whine in 6th gear. Noise stopped when clutch depressed or foot off gas. Interior trim breakage. Center console lid broken (glider for sliding cover broken off) and dust shield for e-brake lever broke off in cold weather. Dust cover has known TSB. Engine making a rattling sound when accelerating. Commonly known on the RX8 forums as "marbles in a can". Not diagnosed by dealership (unable to reproduce), however I've read this is detonation or knock. Noise is obvious, but dealer couldn't hear. | ||
| Mar 201043000 mi | Water pump leak...replaced under warranty. Rust formation at contact point between rear freestyle doors and kick panel. Known issue with TSB. Repaired under warranty, though took some wrangling with Mazda. | ||
| Sep 201157000 mi | Headlight leveling sensor failure. Headlights aiming too low. Removed sensor, disassembled. Lot of corrosion inside, cleaned as well as posssible, reassembled. Front sensor cleaned only, will do rear sensor soon. | ||
| Nov 201158000 mi | Condensation in tail light, results in fogging. Removed taillight, cleaned gasket and clogged water drainage channel (was full of dirt, prevents proper drainage, which then leaks into taillight). Fix was not succesful, moisture persists. Headlight leveling sensor failed after prior repair (warning light). Lights aimed too high, blinding other drivers. Sensor removed again, re-cleaned. Sealed wire harness with silicone, reinstalled. After re-aiming headlights, repair OK. Sputtering at low RPM & rough idle. Ignition coils required replacement (coils are "weak" in this vehicle and fail prematurely). Coils purchased and replaced. Also replaced plugs & wires. Total cost for all parts roughly $350. HVAC temp control dial failure. Known issue with these vehicles. Found fix on RX8club.com. Removed stereo/HVAC unit, disassembled. Soldered connections on control board for heater control. Reinstalled. Repair was successful (& easy). | ||
| Nov 201269100 miUS $400 | Corroded oil cooler line cracked and developed massive oil leak. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Idaho, United States Jan 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Sep 200938000 mi | Power window made popping sound when being lowered. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Connecticut, United States May 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Sep 200940000 miUS $500 | Needed to clean throttle body and other intake parts Bad coil packs and spark plugs | ||
| Nov 201052000 miUS $550 | Throwout bearing replaced. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Quebec, Canada May 2008 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Feb 200828520 miC $130 | Repair rear license plate bolt holder. | ||
| Mar 200830380 mi | Warranty repair: Replaced 1 rear tail light | ||
| Jul 200834100 mi | Warranty repair: 2 x Rear tail light gasket (Feb replaced rear was already taking in water) 2 x lower engine mounts Climate control module Front Headlight level sensor Clutch bearing Headlight adj. Recall: Fuel Tank shield Oil cooler hose, mudg | ||
| Jun 201172540 miC $1200 | Engine compression low, couldnt start car when warm, car stalled at idle. Engine had to be replaced. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Virginia, United States Oct 2007 - Oct 2010 | |||
| Oct 200822000 mi | Pass. side rear taillight assm.leaked. Taillight assm. was in stock and replacement was done in 2-hours. | ||
| Dec 200822000 miUS $400 | Engine flooded rotary engine, weak battery, new battery replaced twice. | ||
| Sep 200923000 mi | would not start. engine flooded. Also weak battery which was replaced with new upgraded one. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Iowa, United States Jul 2009 - Sep 2011 | |||
| May 201155800 mi | Engine died, lost compression. Mazda warrenty replaced the engine for free with a new one. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada Jul 2009 - Apr 2014 | |||
| Mar 201148980 miC $600 | starter went and was draining battery when starting car. Battery replaced and starter and spark plugs replaced | ||
| Jul 201259520 miC $900 | Master seal in clutch Some emissions coil | ||
| Apr 201362300 miC $1100 | Flooded car, towed to shop. While deflooding car preventively replaced plugs and wiring, water pump, thermosat, air filter, upper and lower radiator hoses. | ||
| Sep 201364480 miC $1072 | Coils all replaced and battery replaced ... and maintenanace done also | ||
| Feb 201466420 miC $1060 | Heater - no hot air blowing | ||
| Apr 201468200 miC $212 | Engine - compression off and was told needed new engine ... Have been complaining to dealer for over a year about light coming on... now the engine is toast. THEN I find out Engine warranty WAS in effect until Sept 2013.Did not honor | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in California, United States Apr 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Jul 200957000 mi | loss of torque, failed compression test, dealer replacing engine under warranty | ||
| Aug 200957000 miUS $110 | Engine was failing vacuum test. Dealer replaced engine. | ||
| Jan 201071900 miUS $300 | HVAC controls fixed. | ||
| Sep 201075000 miUS $1200 | AC condenser broke a few months after Heater was fixed | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Rhode Island, United States Jul 2008 - Feb 2013 | |||
| Dec 200831000 mi | Water collected in taillight due to failed gasket, approximately 3 inches. Taillight replaced under warranty. Heater Control knob failed, heat control stuck on max cold regardless of setting. Replaced under warranty. | ||
| Jan 201054000 mi | Clogged Catalytic Converter. Replaced under warranty. | ||
| Sep 201075000 miUS $240 | Front O2 Sensor failed | ||
| Dec 201192000 miUS $400 | Clutch disc shattered, destroyed starter and clutch bearings. A risk with these clutches when the lining is nearly gone, as the disc it's riveted to is very thin. Dampening springs broke in the process. | ||
| Mar 201296000 miUS $54 | Low compression, engine replaced under warranty | ||
| Sep 2012109000 miUS $700 | General cooling system failure. Slowly pushing coolant out of overflow, even at idle before thermostat opening. Not sure of specific cause. Everything replaced (rad, thermostat, coolant hoses, coolant bottle). | ||
| Nov 2012109300 miUS $450 | Clutch disc burst, replaced disc, pressure plate, clutch master and slave cylinder | ||
| Jan 2013110000 miUS $130 | rear O2 sensor replaced | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States Sep 2008 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Dec 200824000 mi | Replaced gasket on passenger side tail light (held water). | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States Feb 2009 - Aug 2009 | |||
| Mar 200936000 mi | Air conditioner would start blowing heat even when on cold. Fiddle with the knob and it would blow cold again but a minute later would start blowing hot for no reason. Replaced temperature control, A/C works now. | ||
2005 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
197-horsepower 1.3L R2 4-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States Oct 2007 - Apr 2015 | |||
| Feb 201034600 mi | Coolant level sensor went bad, causing the light to come on when the coolant was not low. They replaced the reservoir to fix the problem. | ||
| Feb 201248000 mi | Dash heater control unit needed to be replaced. Temp control would only give full hot or full cold. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Arizona, United States - Nov 2006 | |||
| Jul 20063900 mi | front brake pads replaced due to squeaking A/C system recharged to specs. replaced rear differential due to excess metal in fluid. replace lower right and left side rocker panel moldings/deformed | ||
| Nov 200613259 mi | Replaced both engine mounts and engine mount bracket. Adjust headlight beam height. Replace lower right and left side rocker panel moldings/deformed,again | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Minnesota, United States Nov 2012 - Dec 2015 | |||
| Dec 201282000 miUS $900 | Compression failure. Engine to be replaced. | ||
| Nov 2015115100 miUS $300 | Replaced front shock absorbers. Replaced rear sway bar link that had broken. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Indiana, United States Jun 2009 - Feb 2010 | |||
| Dec 200936000 mi | Heater control switch failure. est $450 repair | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Georgia, United States Oct 2012 - Dec 2012 | |||
| Nov 201268200 mi | Engine Failure/low compression/engine replaced with reman. engine | ||
2005 Mazda RX-8 4-door
4-cylinder manual 2WD
| Mazda RX-8 in Michigan, United States Oct 2007 - Nov 2009 | |||
| Apr 200920000 mi | Condensation in tail lights. | ||
2005 Mazda RX-8 4-door
2-cylinder manual 2WD
| Mazda RX-8 in Victoria, Australia Oct 2007 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Nov 200722320 mi | Coils burnt out | ||
| Jul 200826660 mi | Replaced coils. | ||
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