Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Mazda RX-8 problems

Owners filed 4 complaints about the 2011 Mazda RX-8 with NHTSA between Jun 2013 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (1).

Complaints
4
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel system, gasoline1
  2. Fuel/propulsion system1
  3. Visibility/wiper1
  4. Suspension1
  5. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20131
20140
20150
20160
20170
20181
20190
20200
20210
20220
20232

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel system, gasoline

1 report1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Rx 8. The contact stated after performing NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V744000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) while driving at 35 MPH, the contact smelled the odor of smoke in the vehicle, but no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. While the vehicle was being diagnosed, the vehicle caught on fire and burned. The contact did not have any details of the fire. The vehicle was diagnosed and stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2023Fuel system, gasolineFire reportedODI 11531601

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report1 fire
“The incident occurred on 02/08/2023. Prior to this, I brought my car to the dealership due to a recall to fix gas mounting rings, recall number . I do not feel comfortable with their repairs and I do not believe that the dealership performed the repairs properly which caused my car to smoke and stall on the road and then caught on fire at their shop. They claimed that their own business insurance fire fixed the damages but I believe that the car is damaged beyond repair. Furthermore, they held the car since February 2023. Until now, July 2023 the Guam dealership is unable to fix my car. To add, the repairs they claim far exceed the market value of the car and the car is at a total loss. I consider it totaled. I do not feel safe driving this car. 2011 Mazda RX-8 Recall Item Affected: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Date Announced: 09/24/2021Description of Recall: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 RX-8 and 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the fuel pump mounting rings. Action Need To Fix It: Dealers will install new fuel pump mounting rings. Dealers will also add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank on RX-8…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2023Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11531617

Visibility/wiper

1 report
“THE RING/ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR CRACKED WITH NORMAL USE (PUTTING THE VISOR DOWN (NO EXCESS FORCE WAS USED) AND THE VISOR FELL INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION, OBSCURING VISION. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PUT THE VISOR BACK UP AGAIN. THE RING FELL OUT OF THE CAR INTERIOR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2018Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperODI 11114136

Suspension

1 report1 crash
“ON MAY 7, 2013, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO PARETTI MAZDA OF METAIRIE BECAUSE A FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AND DIRECTED ME TO ENTERPRISE RENTAL FOR A RENTAL CAR. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER I OBTAINED THE RENTAL CAR, THE SERVICE TECH CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SHOCK HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE UPPER SEAL AND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK HAD ALSO FAILED, BUT WAS NOT LEAKING THAT MUCH FLUID. HE TOLD ME THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE AND ASKED THAT I RETURN THE RENTAL CAR AND PICK UP MY MY VEHICLE, WHICH I DID. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME HE WAS ORDERING THE REAR SHOCKS. ON MAY 9, 2013, I RECEIVED AN AUTOMATED CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING THAT MY PARTS HAD ARRIVED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I CALLED THE SERVICE TECH, WHO ASKED IF I COULD DROP THE CAR OFF ON MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013, FOR THE REPAIRS. I EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT WHEN I DROVE OVER THE SLIGHEST IMPERFECTION IN A ROAD, THE REAR END WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE, WHICH WAS REAR END SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE, AND THAT I COULD…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2013SuspensionCrash reportedODI 10515010
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.