Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While driving to work on day during a turn the power steering partially went out making the turn very difficult to hold and to straighten out after. Upon leaving work the steering worked fine until the next day when making a turn on my way home the same thing happened with the power steering but still no light indicating a problem. I then decided to take the car in but the whole drive to the dealership it would creak and not always want to turn completely making the trip take longer trying to avoid highways and to many sharp turns in fear of it locking up. This is very dangerous aspecialy coming out of winter season and going into spring with all the rain. This should be a recal in the us since it is a recal in other parts of the world.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda RX-8. While driving 45 MPH making a left or right turn, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to maneuver. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, but not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
I was sitting in the car in the parking lot of my job and the steering column moved while in the locked position and I left the parking lot and was driving home and a piece of the steering column broke and fell and hit my right leg as I was driving down the road I called Mazda USA and they had the car picked up and towed to the nearest dealership to be diagnosed on 11-14-2017 I received a call on 11-17-17 stating that the car is out of warranty and they were not going to fix the steering issue this is the first time I have had a steering column break on any vehicle I've ever owned I have a car that is 30 years old with the original steering column in it it is a huge safety concern the car is not safe to drive in it's current condition
The power steering on the car started to reduce and become much more difficult to turn when just off of center. Turn further and it will regain its power back to center. It then will do it again when you start another attempt at turning. I am afraid that it May go out completely which I have heard has happened to other similar cars. This needs to be checked as it can be very serious as it can occur at any speeds and result in an accident. Thanks
I'm writing to state on my rx8 shinka 2006 Mazda has a steering wheel problem most concerning. I have owned it and maintained it. As I was leaving my bank I noticed a white gasket of kind on the floor of the drivers side. I went to drive my car and there was a lot of play in moving the steering wheel. At first I tried unlocking and locking the steering column. This was no good. There was still play in the steering wheel. Meaning you can move the steering wheel column up and down with outside unlocking the column. This should not be an issue. It's just like the air bag recall. I shouldn't have to worry that my steering wheel will fail while driving my awesome car!
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.
The steering wheel sometimes its hard to control sometimes its normal and when going fast the steering is so loose like there's a gaps that you need your two hands on the steering all time and the weels Weigel at high speed 60mph. its hard drive the car on the freeway And everyday use i already spend $2800 at the dealership get fix but never get fix The car no accident to be like that. Car has 80k mileage
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda RX-8. While driving 65 MPH, the contact noticed that the power steering indicator illuminated as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the highway. The vehicle was turned off and then restarted approximately 20 times before the contact was able to regain full control. The dealer (midlands Mazda, 655 broad river rd, columbia, sc 29210) stated that the vehicle was known for having a ball joint issue and it could possibly be due to the rack and pinion. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda RX-8 years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (80), 2005 (17) and 2006 (6) model years. Steering complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Mazda RX-8 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for any Mazda RX-8 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mazda RX-8 steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles; 19% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist › power steering fluid (1 mentions), followed by the electric power assist system (1).
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.