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2006 Mazda RX-8 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2006 Mazda RX-8 has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Clutch pedal bracket weld failure.” Mazda's Skyactiv engines use unusually high compression ratios (13:1 to 16:1) and require strict adherence to oil intervals — extending oil life on a Skyactiv engine accelerates carbon buildup on intake valves. Mazda's published Schedule 1 (severe) covers most US driving conditions.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2006 Mazda RX-8.

Reported to NHTSA

Clutch pedal bracket weld failure

POWER TRAIN

13 NHTSA complaints · 2008-01 → 2019-02

“THE BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES. THE MILAGE IS CURRENTLY 81,000. I'VE CONTACTED MAZDA CORP AND THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM NEW. THEY'RE SAYING UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL WE HAVE TO KEEP BUYING A NEW PEDAL/BRACKET ASSEMBLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11181493
“CLUTCH PEDAL SNAP OFF ISSUE WITH RX-8 OWNERS CONTINUES TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AS THE WELDS HOLDING THE PEDAL TOGETHER CAN AND WILL SNAP, LEAVING THE DRIVER UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS OR USE THEIR VEHICLE, EVEN IF IN OPERATION AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11047529
“I AM A MEMBER OF A MAZDA RX8 WEBSITE. 25% OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE HAD THEIR CLUTCH PEDALS SNAP OFF AT A WELD POINT. MNAO HAS TOLD ALL OF US THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED WITH A NEW BRACKET”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10213523

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sun visor splitting at seam

VISIBILITY

9 NHTSA complaints · 2006-07 → 2014-09

“SUN VISORS REPEATEDLY BREAK AND CAUSE THE VISOR TO DROP DOWN AND IMPAIR VISION MOMENTARILY, THEN THEY WONT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. THESE COST ABOUT $200 EACH TIME TO REPLACE AND THEN THEY BREAK AFTER ABOUT 10 TIMES OF USE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10633831
“DURING DRIVE HOME ON FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, PULLED DOWN DRIVER SUN VISOR. VISOR SPLIT AT SEAM. TRIED TO FOLD VISOR BACK UP OUT OF THE WAY BUT WOULD NOT STAY. SPLIT FURTHER APART AND WOULD NOT STAY ON ROD. DANGLING IN FIELD OF VISION TO FRONT AND LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10166141
“DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FAILURE BLOCKS DRIVER'S VISIBILITY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10162790

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump leak and odor

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2012-06 → 2019-04

“THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FUEL PUMP. IT SMELLS REALLY BAD SCARED TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE GAS SMELL STAY IN THE CABIN. PEOPLE WHEN I PARK NEXT TO THEM SAY YOU HAVE A BAD GAS LEAK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10929855
“WHILE DRIVING AN INCREASING SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE WAS NOTICED IN THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE FUEL PUMP LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT THERE WAS AN ACCUMULATION OF GASOLINE BELOW THE FUEL PUMP OUTLET TO FUEL LINE COUPLING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10726745
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SMELLED A FUEL ODOR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10462175

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine loss of compression and no-start

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2023-05

“The contact's grandson owns a 2006 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while her grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11523434
“TAKATA RECALL THE VEHICLE WAS STUTTERING AS I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WASN'T HOT OR OVERHEATING OR LOW ON OIL, I DROVE IT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF I THEN LATER TRIED TO START IT IT WOULDN'T START IT JUST CRANKED AND CRANKED IT WOULDN'T EVEN START OR TRY TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11149977
“THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A STARTING ISSUE UNEXPECTEDLY. ONE DAY IT NO LONGER WANTED TO START I TOWED IT IN TO MAZDA THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS FLOODED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10682858

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering column play and power-assist failure

STEERING

5 NHTSA complaints · 2011-09 → 2020-02

“THERE IS A WHITE BUSHING THAT BREAKS AND IS NOT REPLACEABLE. THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE FACT THAT THIS CAR WAS MADE WITH THIS FLAW IS BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY LOOSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11310523
“I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING. IT WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. I PULLED OVER, SHUT MY CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THEN LATER THAT DAY IT WENT OUT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT NEVER CAME BACK ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10447177
“I WENT OVER TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE TO SWIM AROUND 1400 AND, AT THAT TIME, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. AFTER WE WERE DONE SWIMMING AND I GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE, I TURNED THE CARE ON AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10423817

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard cracking over passenger air bag

AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE

10 NHTSA complaints · 2014-02 → 2017-06

“THE DASH COVER OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS CRACKING A LOT IN ALL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. I TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THE RX-8'S AND THAT THE FACTORY WON'T COVER FIXING IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10563034
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DASHBOARD HAD A CRACK IN IT WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10651810
“CRACKED AIR BAG COVER. IT HAPPENS AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10780062

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag recall repair parts unavailable

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2016-02

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10836940
“AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER AND VERIFYING WITH THE MAZDAUSA WEBSITE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY RX-8 HAD A SAFETY RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAG. I CONTACTED TWO SEPARATE MAZDA DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS LESS THAN UNDESIRABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10683437
“TAKATA RECALL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V345000, AND 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10794711

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2 (highway-only): 7,500 miles. Turbo engines: 5,000 miles regardless of schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles; every 5,000 on AWD models, where the front-biased coupling wears tires unevenly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Skyactiv-G direct injection is sensitive to airflow restriction — inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Replace ATF every 60,000 miles severe / 100,000 normal. Use Mazda FZ ATF — substitutes cause harsh 1-2 shifts and torque converter shudder.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs every 60,000 miles on Skyactiv-G 2.0L and 2.5L; 45,000 miles on the 2.5L Turbo.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

FL-22 Long-Life Coolant

Every 60,000 mi

Mazda FL-22 (yellow): first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000. Do not substitute — silicate-free formula prevents water pump damage on Skyactiv engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. On most models it sits behind the glove box.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

10 crashes 1990–2024

How the 10 occupant deaths break down

8

driver deaths

2

passenger deaths

10

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

1

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2006 Mazda RX-8 reflects Mazda's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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