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. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
2006 Mazda RX-8 airbags problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 17 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Mazda RX-8, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 28% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2006 Mazda RX-8s consistently report cracks developing in the passenger-side dashboard directly above the airbag cover. These cracks start small—as little as 1 cm—and expand over months to multiple breaks up to 8 cm long, typically following the seam lines where the airbag cover would split open during deployment. Owners in hot climates (Florida, Georgia) and those leaving vehicles in the sun all day report the cracking pattern, though some in cooler regions also experience it. The dashboard cover and airbag are built as one unit, meaning repair requires replacement of the entire passenger-side airbag assembly.
Mazda acknowledged this issue through NHTSA Campaigns 14V344000 and 15V382000 starting in 2014, but a critical problem emerged: repair parts were unavailable for extended periods. Multiple owners reported dealers refused loaner vehicles while parts remained backordered, leaving them driving recalled vehicles with known defects. One owner stated a dealer charged $500 for the replacement airbag, and at least one dealer replaced only the airbag inflator while reinstalling the original cracked cover. A Mazda mechanic confirmed the cracking is a widespread RX-8 issue, yet the factory will not cover repair costs under warranty.
Same Mazda RX-8 airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger-side dashboard cracking over airbag
The dashboard cover above the passenger-side airbag develops cracks that progress from single small cracks to multiple cracks spanning up to 8 cm in length. Cracks follow the seam lines where the airbag cover would split during deployment. Multiple owners report the cracks appear to originate from sun exposure and heat. Dashboard and airbag are constructed as a single unit, requiring full airbag system replacement to address.
When: Appears 1–1.5 years into ownership; reported at 50,000–63,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks in passenger-side dashboard over airbag; Cracks progress and expand over months; Cracks appear in multiple locations on the cover; Cracks follow airbag deployment seam lines
Repairs/costs cited: Full passenger-side airbag system replacement required; some owners report dealers replaced inflators only and left old cracked airbag in place. One owner reported dealer quoted $500 for the defective replacement part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 14V344000 (Takata recall) and 15V382000 (airbags). Mazda acknowledged the issue per 14V-344 letter dated June 20, 2014, VINs in potentially affected range. Multiple owners report parts unavailable for extended periods during recall execution. Dealers refused loaner vehicles pending repairs. Mazda stated to one owner that dashboard cracking is a common RX-8 issue not covered by factory warranty.
Airbag recall parts shortage
Multiple owners received formal recall notifications but dealers reported repair parts were unavailable for extended periods, creating a gap between recall issuance and actual repair capability. Owners faced delays measured in months while driving recalled vehicles.
When: Recall notifications dated 2014–2015; parts shortages reported through 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts not available; Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for recall completion; Owners unable to schedule repairs despite formal recall
Codes mentioned: 15V382000, 15V345000, 14V344000
Repairs/costs cited: No parts available; repairs not performed pending parts availability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 14V344000, 15V345000, 15V382000. Recall issued; parts distribution disconnect noted by NHTSA intake. Mazda did not provide loaner vehicles during extended parts shortage.
Airbag warning light intermittently illuminating
One owner reported an intermittent airbag warning light accompanying the dashboard crack issue over the passenger-side airbag.
When: At approximately 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side dashboard crack; Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired per owner report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Crack appeared in the dash where the passenger air bag is contained. The crack started several months ago and the car is not garaged and is in the sun all day so I thought it might be caused by the sun. I live in georgia and this car originally came from the port authority in florida where it is also very hot. My VIN number is included in the range of "potentially affected vehicles" in the…
Tl-the contact owns a 2006 Mazda rx8. 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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. Ne
Cracked air bag cover. It happens after sitting in the sun.
The passenger airbag cover is cracked really bad. I've got a notice saying there was a recall for airbags. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the inflators only leaving the old airbag in there.
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Mazda RX-8?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2006 Mazda RX-8?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 63,000 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 75,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,000; a quarter make it past 86,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Mazda/RX-8.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.