2008 Mazda RX-8 inspection checklist
The 2008 Mazda RX-8 has 1 critical safety recall and a documented pattern of issues across 2 component categories. Before you sign anything, walk through this list with the seller. Skip nothing — the items below come from 17 owner reports already on file with NHTSA.
1 Verify safety recalls before you drive off
Recall fixes are free regardless of warranty status. Ask the seller for proof — or have the dealer pull the VIN history.
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles — fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.
2 Inspect the airbags
What to look for: Anything that looks, sounds, or smells different from peer vehicles of the same year and trim. (8 owner complaints on this vehicle · typical repair $1,100 · failures cluster ~64,609 mi)
3 Inspect the steering
What to look for: Wandering on the highway, clunks when turning, slop in the wheel before the tires respond, power steering whine. (4 owner complaints on this vehicle · typical repair $700 · failures cluster ~77,966 mi)
4 Paperwork — before you sign
The seller's transparency on these tells you what kind of seller you're dealing with.