Problems · by component
2004 Mazda RX-8 steering problems
81 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 cite steering, 16% of all 515 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
81
16% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The electric power steering randomly pulls hard to one side while driving. There are brief spasms of forceful jerks each jerk is 1-2 seconds the series of jerks lasts 10-20 seconds and usually stops with power steering failure all while driving.”
“JULY 2017 WHEN I START THE CAR THE STEERING GEAR TURN TOO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. FEW MILE THE STEERING GET HARD AND START SHACKING BY IT SELF. NOW THE STEERING IS HARD WITH ABS AND CONTROL TRACTION LIGHT ON. I SEND IT TOO A MECANIC TOO CHECK THE WIRING AND RACK AND PINON AND THE MECANIC INDICATE THAT IS THE TORQUE SENSOR AND I HAVE TOO CHANGE THE RACK AND PINON.”
“WHILE DRIVING MY 2004, MAZDA RX8 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED, AND JERKED THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE FORCE WAS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WASN'T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF ROAD. WHEN REVIEWING THE MAZDA FORUM THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF CONTROL OR FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, MAZDA HAD POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, REF. MAZDA3/MAZDA5 POWER STEERING RECALL NOTIFICATION 6010H.”
“MY POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT FROM TIME TO TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS.”
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY,THE POWER STEERING OF THE VEHICLE FAILED SND 2 MADE IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. I'VE HEARD OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT MAZDA HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT”
“ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING, RANDOMLY IN THE PARKING LOT THE WHEEL WILL TURN ALL BY ITSELF, ONE WAY TURNS EASIER THAN THE OTHER, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND OTHER TIMES YOUR STEERING WHEEL TURNS LIKE BUTTER, I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH A VERY WINDY AND DANGEROUS ROADS, I'VE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS FINALLY ONE MECHANIC JUST UNPLUG THE WIRING HARNESS SO THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH A NEWBORN BABY. THERE ARE A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS ISSUE I KNOW 10 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF POWER STEERING ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I'M SURPRISED THERE IS NOT A RECALL YET ON IT. I'VE HAD TWO FRIENDS THAT ARE CLOSE TO ME THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL, ONE FRIEND WRECKED HIS CAR THE OTHER FRIEND SOLD IT I BELIEVE TO PICK-N-PULL SO IT WOULD NOT HURT ANYONE, PLEASE HELP AND MAYBE HELP SAVE A FEW LIVES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU”
Showing 6 of 81 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.