There are 3 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2005 Mazda RX-8in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE EXTERNAL OIL LINES AND CONNECTION FITTINGS FOR THE ROTORY ENGINE LUBRICATION POINTS AND COOLING HAVE CORRODED AWAY FORM ROAD SALT IN MINNESOTA. DRIVING CAUSES ENGINE OIL TO BE SPRAYED ON FRONT WHEEL AND BRAKES CAUSING FRONT BRAKE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE PROBLEMS. THE CORROSION WAS SO BAD THAT EACH ATTEMPT TO FIX AN OIL LEAK ENDED UP BRAKING MORE CORRODED OIL FITTINGS OFF. THE TOTAL REPAIR IN 2017 ENDED BEING OVER $1,000 DOLLARS FOR JUST PARTS PLUS LABOR. MAZDA HAS PREVIOUSLY PAID TO FIX ALL MAZDA RX-8S SOLD TO PEOPLE IN CANADA BECAUSE OF ROAD SALT CORROSION FAILURES OF THESE SAME OIL LINES. WHY DOESN'T THE USA HAVE CONSUMER PROTECTION LIKE CANADIAN CITIZENS HAVE! I PAID A REPAIR SHOP BY ME $1,037.81 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC LOST ABOUT ANOTHER $1,000 IN AFTER MARKET FITTINGS AND HOSES PLUS TIME, BUT EACH FIX BROKE MORE FITTINGS. HE FINALLY BOUGHT ALL NEW FACTORY PARTS AND SOLD THEM TO ME FOR COST AND ONLY CHARGED US FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS LABOR. TONY BECK,S AUTO REPAIR IN PINEISLAND MN JUST COULDN'T CHARGE ANYONE WHAT IT REALLY COST HIM. US RX-8 OWNERS ARE GETTING SCREWED BY YOU NOT RECALLING THIS OIL LINE FAILURE PROBLEM. THESE OIL LINES AND FITTINGS GO ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND ARE HIGH PRESSURE 1/2 INCH ID HYDRAULIC LINES. HOW CAN OIL SPRAYING FRONT DISC BRAKES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE! STEVE W. FROM MINNESOTA, WE HAVE LOTS OF ROAD SALT JUST LIKE CANADA, THAT'S WHY THE I-35 BRIDGE FELL DOWN. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE SALT CORROSION CAUSED OIL LEAKS! CAUSED MASSIVE OIL LEAKS THAT CAN ALLOW ENGINE
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SET OF POTENZA'S ON THE DEC 7. I HAD THEM MOUNTED ON IN THE AFTERNOON DEC 8. WENT STRAIGHT HOME 10 MILES AWAY. ON DEC 9, I NOTICED MY CAR WOULD SWERVE A BIT I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY, I SPUN OUT SIX OR SEVEN TIMES AT 45 MPH. WHEN I PULLED OVER I SAW THAT I WAS DRIVING ON MY RIM, MY TIRE ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WASN'T ON. I RETRIEVED THE TIRE. THE TREAD AND WALL TORE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HIT ANYONE/ANYTHING FROM THE SPIN OUT, MY CAR, A 2005 MODEL, IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL WRECK FROM ALL THE DAMAGES THAT RESULTED FROM THE TIRE LOSS. *NM
THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL SHOWS THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT INFORMATION AND THE VIN NUMBER, BUT THE TIRE PRESSURE AND WHEEL SIZE INFORMATION IS LEFT BLANK. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026