2004 Mazda RX8 from North America - Comments

Changed CD player twice.

My visor over driver seated has changed 4 different times.

My middle console has came off track and broke 3 different times.

Engine replaced.

Back headlights leak in moisture, so they are cloudy.

Floods out if moved short distance.

Replaced batter 3 times.

Air Conditioner quite cooling after 5 months of owning car.

First off, I'll start my saying I absolutely LOVE the way my car looks. I get compliments on it, seems like, all the time.

My first car was a Mazda 626. I bought it second hand and had it for about 1 yr. I had problems with it and should have known better, but in 2004 I saw the RX8's and just HAD to have one.

I have had some major difficulties with my RX8 though. The first year was great. I bought this car in 2004 and I thought that I was in heaven. Then it started nickel and diming me to death. Small things started going wrong with it. My visor (still) breaks at times in the seam when I pull it down. Its like there is too many wires that operator the light for such a small visor. This has happened at least 4 times. My middle console slides and it has broke several times also. I kept bring it to the dealership and they just kept replacing it. My car was under warranty. My cd player has been changed out 2 different times and then they told me that I couldn't play "burnt" cd's in my cd player. They tried to tell me that that was the reason it broke. Which, is a bunch of crap, I never stopped playing burnt cd's and it hasn't happened again.

My car has been towed from my home 5 different times. I didn't realize that I couldn't move a small distance without it flooding out. For example, I could back out of my garage, sweep it out, pull the car back in and the next day, you could mark it down, it would not crank. Finally after it being towed in so much, I received a letter in the mail stating that there was a recall on my car, claiming that when I was about to turned my car off, I needed to put it in park, ramie up the RPM's to 3000 and get off the excess gas out of the engine. Made sense.

Around 34,000 miles my car started acting as if it had bad gas. Infact, that's what I thought it was for about the first 2 months. I would put an octane buster and fuel injection cleaner (Sea Foam) in my car, on top of Supreme gas and it would run fine for about 2 weeks then it would start missing really bad and it did not have much power. After almost one whole year my dealership told me that it needed a new engine. My dealership worked with me well and I have no complaints about them actually fixing most of the problems. They gave me an extra 50,000 mile warranty on my engine and it seems to be running fine now.

I've said all of that to say this. I really do like my car even though I've been through all that I've been through. I just think that when you spend 32,000 dollars on your car (Rx8 Grand touring Pkg), you don't want to have to deal with all this crap! My first Mazda gave me problems and I should have known better! I still currently have my car, (54,000) and it seems to be running fine since they changed the engine. (Knock on wood!!!)

Regarding the 2004 and 2005 RX8 starting and flooding problems, an update to the new revised starter will fix this problem. It is not expensive, the engine will turn over twice as fast when starting, and the starting problems disappear. My RX8 is a 2004.

I also love how my car works, yet would never buy one again. The same issues, my CD player is broken, I had to replace the visor and I have been nickeled and dimed for 3 years.

My boyfriend also owns a 2004 RX8, that thing has been nothing but problems. I beg him all the time to get rid of it.

With less than 50,000 miles, the engine has been replaced due to the compressions going "bad," it has had to be towed to the dealer at least 4 times from a flooded engine, that costs at least $200 each time. The car cannot be towed using a dolly, it has to be towed on a flatbed truck because of the design of the car.

It has had about 3 sets of brakes, do not put aftermarket brakes on one unless you want squealing every time you stop.

Anytime you get close to needing a oil change, the car idles so rough you feel like it is going to throw you through the moon roof.

I could go on and on. DO NOT buy this car, they are pieces of crap!!!

It's really sad to hear all the negative comments about the car. I own a 1986 RX-7 with 93k miles and it has been great, I've had no problems with it. I was considering upgrading to an RX-8 because I thought they were supposed to improve upon the rotary, but I guess not! Never have I had to have my car towed because of flooding, and I still have the original engine. Oh, and my factory CD player still works too. I really like the styling of the RX-8, but I am more than content with my RX-7 =)

Well the RX-8 is not like every other car. You need to spend a lil more time with the 8. If you have an RX8, join the RX8 club, www.rx8club.com, they will tell you what you need to do. Like redlining the car at least once a day to keep the carbon level down, also to check your oil level every other fill up. Do your research on this car. And like everyone says: "Drive it like you stole it"

I own a 2004 RX8 as well, except I've had absolutely no problems with it whatsoever. In fact, I even get mid 20 miles per gallon with combined highway and city driving (averaging 24, but I've gotten up to 28). The cars just require a slightly higher degree of maintenance than the average car, but that is with all sports cars.

I've owned my RX8 for a year and a half, and put over 30,000 miles on it in that year and a half. I had a flooded engine once due to the battery dying on me while trying to start it. All that requires is pulling the fuel pump fuse, cranking it over for a few seconds, putting the fuel pump fuse back in.

It is sad to read such bad reviews of the car, and even worse knowing people have had such horrible problems with their cars; however, not all of the RX8s are that bad. Just be extremely picky about picking one out, especially from the first two production years.

I bought a used RX-8 and kept it for a year. I was warned about the engine flood issue after I purchased the vehicle. I did not have any issue with the engine flooding but had some other engine issues that cost a few hundred dollars. I was told by multiple employees at multiple Mazda dealers that the RX-8 is not a good vehicle. I love the interior and the exterior. I am expanding my family so I had to trade it in. I would not recommend this vehicle unless you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on an unreliable engine.

I own a 2004 RX8. Bought it with 10,000 miles 3 years ago.

Love the way it looks and handles UNTIL 8 months ago (37000 miles). Yes, we too were products of it "flooding"...towed and "dechoked" for $500. Three weeks later..."check engine light". Failed compression test and they installed new engine. When test driving, new replacement failed. So #3 engine installed. (Dealer kept 2 months!) After driving only 823 miles..#3 engine blew. We are now on the 4th engine but only 200 miles to date. Can't trade it... not worth anything. Can't sell it... who wants a car after 4 engines (and counting). We contacted a attorney and they are pursuing. Mazda knows the RX8 is junk. That's why they extended warranty but who wants to buy a RX8 and have it in the shop more than it isn't. I wouldn't wish this ordeal on anyone! Still like the way it looks but would rather drive it then see it on a rollback!

MY YELLOW 2004 RX8 - WHAT CAN I SAY... I would never buy one again. Nothing but problems.

New motor, new transmission, unknown rattles, leaking tail lights, broken 6CD player, and continuously breaking visors.

My car spent at least 4 months during the first 2 years at the dealership (10,000 miles). Couldn't afford to lose my money, I still have it and it now has 30,000. Have not had any motor or running issues since I was rear ended and the muffler was replaced by the body shop.

If you are having compression issues or carbon build up, have someone check the muffler.

Still love the body style.

The car is a joy. Unique, yes. It does require more maint than an econo-car. This is the price you pay for an outstanding driving car that is a rotary. Flooding the car isn't an issue if you understand once again that you own a rotary and aren't turning it off/on on short trips from the driveway to the mailbox.