There are 5 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2005 Mazda RX-8in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, COMING TO A STOP FROM 65 MPH SPEED BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AHEAD, AND AS SOON AS I PRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IT SNAPS. THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOW MOVES FREELY MAKING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO TOW MY CAR WITH HER TRUCK. AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP BY PULLING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER, THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP OR ACCELERATE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND I WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO THIRD BUT I HEARD A POP AND IT WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. MY PEDAL STAYED DEPRESSED AND WOULD ONLY COME UP IF I KICKED IT FROM BEHIND. I DID HEAR A FEW CREAKS WHEN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH THE DAY BEFORE AND JUST THOUGHT IT NEEDED OIL. TURNS OUT THE LEFT SPOT WELD BROKE AND THE BRACKET CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE UNTIL THE MATS WERE TAKEN OUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAULTY DESIGN. WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. I HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR
JUST STOPPED IN A PARKING SPOT. TEMPERATURE WAS APROX 47 DEGREES. VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY JUMPING THE CURB AND CRASHING THROUGH A CONCRETE GARBAGE CAN. APROX DAMAGE $6000 LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. *NM
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 25, 2026