Most common 2009 Mazda RX-8 problems
Share of the 8 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda RX-8 complaints by model year
Best RX-8 years: 2011, 2010, 2009. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
2009 Mazda RX-8 recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pump mounting rings. Dealers will also add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank on RX-8 vehicles. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under recall 18V-017 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington,…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Mazda RX-8:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2009 Mazda RX-8 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
2009 RX 8 Mazda VIN#[redacted] I was driving down the freeway and all the sudden the cruise control shut off causing the car to immediately slow down by 10 miles an hour. The cruise control would not re-engage. I am now having an issue where it feels my ABS is engaging when I first start driving in first and second gear. I have taken this car to the Mazda dealership where they said they could not recreate the problem. They simply stated it could just be the 100+ degree texas weather.
Normal driving and the clutch pedal popped and became unstable. Shifting the card became difficult. After further inspection discovered the metal bracket for the clutch broke.
Speed control & acceleration
I was driving on the hwy, the cruise control was on, I had been using it for about 20 miles, occasionally bumping the speed up or down as conditions permitted. My primary reason for that is on long trips I get better gas mileage that way. The divided highway came to an end and there was a traffic light about a half mile ahead, so I bumped it down about 2 MPH, then bumped it down a few seconds later another 2 or 3 MPH. The light turned red then, so I stepped on the brakes (doing about 65 at this point). The engine reved up, the cruise control did not disengage so I stepped on the clutch. The engine continued to rev up so I pressed the cancel button on the steering wheel. The engine continued to rev up (about 6K now) so I took the car out of gear and turned the cruise contol off. The engine continued to rev up (about 7K now) and I'm completely stopped at the light. …
Tl-the contact owns a 2009 Mazda rx8. While driving approximately 40 MPH the vehicle accelerated unintendedly to approximately 70 MPH. He engaged the vehicle into neutral and the engine continued to rev very hard. The contact stated he turned the ignition off to prevent the engine from blowing up. He then pulled over to the side of the road and engaged the accelerator four times and it released itself. He called the dealer after the first failure and was advised by them that they were not aware of this type of failure. The contact stated the failure had happen twice. The contact stated he called the dealer again and has an appointment for April 22, 2011. He contacted the manufacturer and they were attempting to get the vehicle in before the 22nd. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 39,600 and the current mileage was 39,700. Vwb
2009 Mazda RX-8 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 2-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 1.3L 2-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mazda RX-8 a good car?
Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 RX-8 rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RX-8 at the same age. It is one of the best RX-8 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Mazda RX-8?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the speed control & acceleration (3) and fuel & propulsion system (2).
How many recalls does the 2009 Mazda RX-8 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2009 Mazda RX-8, the most recent from September 24, 2021 (fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda RX-8?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2010 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. See the full Mazda RX-8 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Mazda RX-8 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 86% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.