Mazda Rx-8 ReliabilityAll Years Ranked (2004–2011)
Side-by-side reliability scores, risk levels, and owner-cost projections for every Mazda Rx-8 we've analyzed. Identify the best years to buy, the ones to avoid, and the problems that follow the Rx-8 across generations.
Average Score
38/100
Best Year
2008 Mazda Rx-8
Score 45
Weakest Year
2005 Mazda Rx-8
Score 35
Every Mazda Rx-8 Ranked
Sorted by reliability score. Each link opens the full year-specific report.
A driver's car with an Achilles' heel, demanding meticulous care or an engine swap.
Top risks: Renesis Rotary Engine · Ignition System (Coil Packs, Spark Plugs, Wires) · Catalytic Converter
A driver's car with an Achilles' heel, demanding constant vigilance and deep pockets for its complex rotary heart.
Top risks: Rotary Engine Compression · Ignition System & Catalytic Converter · Oil Metering Pump (OMP) & Oil Consumption
A passionate but perilous choice, offering driving exhilaration at the constant risk of financial ruin from its temperamental rotary engine.
Top risks: Rotary Engine (Renesis) · Ignition System · Catalytic Converter
A driver's car with an unavoidable ticking time bomb under the hood, demanding deep pockets and mechanical devotion.
Top risks: Rotary Engine · Ignition System · Catalytic Converter
A driver's car with a fragile heart, demanding constant vigilance and a readiness for major engine work.
Top risks: Rotary Engine (Renesis) · Ignition System · Catalytic Converter
A driver's car with a fundamentally flawed engine design that demands constant attention and significant financial commitment.
Top risks: Rotary Engine Longevity · Ignition System Failure · Catalytic Converter Clogging/Failure
A high-strung, high-maintenance enthusiast's car where engine longevity is a constant concern.
Top risks: Engine (Renesis Rotary) · Ignition System · Catalytic Converter
A driver's dream that often becomes a mechanic's nightmare due to its temperamental rotary heart.
Top risks: Rotary Engine Compression (Apex Seals) · Ignition System (Coils, Plugs, Wires) · Catalytic Converter Failure
Problems That Follow the Rx-8 Across Generations
Issues that appear in the top-3 risks across multiple model years — the cost of ownership you can actually predict.
Catalytic Converter
Appears in 5 model years · 62% of generations
Ignition System
Appears in 4 model years · 50% of generations
Rotary Engine (Renesis)
Appears in 2 model years · 25% of generations