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.
2008 mazda RX-8 steering problems
moderate 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
POWER STEERING FAILED AT ONLY 85000 MILES, ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH WITH MY TWO TODDLERS IN THE BACK SEATS!!! NOW IT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER 2K TO FIX IT, I AM A MILITARY WIFE, IN GERMANY, AND ALMOST CRASHED DUE TO MAZDA'S LACK OF QUALITY!!!!
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 DEAL…
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY PULL SLIGHTLY IN ONE DIRECTION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF THIS, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE AS I WAS DOING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY START TO PULL TO ONE DIRECTION. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. I LOWERED MY SPEED TO THE MINIMUM OF 55MP…
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 mazda RX-8?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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