The 2007 RX-8's 13B Renesis rotary engine is a mechanical marvel that requires religious maintenance and realistic expectations. Apex seal failure and oil consumption are not 'problems' but characteristics—neglect them and you'll rebuild the engine by 80k miles.
Rotary Engine Apex Seal Failure / Loss of Compression
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard cold starts requiring extended cranking, Rough idle with misfires, Loss of power especially above 6,000 RPM, Failed compression test (should be 6.5+ kg/cm² all faces)
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or reman swap required. DIY rebuild takes 25-35 hours for experienced techs, shop jobs run 20-30 hours labor. Includes apex seals, side seals, corner seals, springs, O-rings, coolant seals, and resurfacing rotors. Prevention: premix 4oz two-stroke oil per tank, redline weekly, change oil every 3k miles.
Estimated cost: $4,000-7,000
Engine Flooding Due to Weak Ignition Coils
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start after brief warm engine shutdown, Rough running with multiple misfire codes, Fouled spark plugs after failed start attempts, P0300-P0302 codes
Fix: Replace all four ignition coils and spark plugs as a set. Labor 2-3 hours. If flooded, remove plugs, crank with throttle floored to clear, reinstall plugs. OEM coils strongly recommended—aftermarket failures common. Always let engine warm fully before shutdown to prevent carbon fouling.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Severe Engine Oil Consumption (By Design)
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Oil level drops 1 quart per 500-1,000 miles (normal for this engine), Low oil warning light if neglected, Catastrophic engine failure if run low
Fix: This is not a defect—rotary engines inject oil into combustion chambers for apex seal lubrication. Check oil every 300 miles religiously. Use 5W-20 or 5W-30, never 0W-20. Supplemental oil metering pump can fail (2 hours labor, $300-500 parts), but oil consumption continues regardless. Running low even briefly destroys apex seals.
Estimated cost: $50-100/month in oil
Carbon Buildup and Cat Converter Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: P0420 catalyst efficiency code, Rough idle especially when cold, Loss of power under load, Rattling from exhaust on startup
Fix: Low-RPM driving and short trips kill these engines. Carbon clogs intake ports and exhaust. Cats fail from oil combustion byproducts. Prevention requires weekly Italian tune-up (15+ minutes at 5,000+ RPM). Cat replacement is 2-3 hours labor. Midpipe delete common but illegal in many states. Mazda dealership 'decarbon' service every 30k miles recommended.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Manual Transmission Clutch and Flywheel Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Chatter on engagement especially when cold, Difficulty shifting into first/second, Burning smell after spirited driving, Slipping under hard acceleration
Fix: Lightweight dual-mass flywheel and aggressive clutch compound wear faster than typical cars. Job requires 6-8 hours labor. Replace clutch, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and resurface or replace flywheel together. Transmission mount replacement often needed simultaneously (adds 1 hour).
Estimated cost: $1,400-2,200
Automatic Transmission Overheating and Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh 2-3 shifts especially when hot, Slipping or delayed engagement, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Transmission temp warning on track/mountain driving
Fix: The 6-speed auto runs hot behind the high-revving rotary. Supplemental transmission cooler mandatory for longevity (3 hours install, $300-500). Fluid changes every 30k miles non-negotiable—use Mazda ATF-MV only. Full rebuild/replacement runs 12-16 hours labor if neglected.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Starter Motor Failure from Excessive Cranking
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Slow cranking especially when hot, Click-no-start requiring jump even with good battery, Grinding noise during startup
Fix: Rotary engines require longer cranking than piston engines, wearing starters prematurely. Flooding incidents accelerate wear. Replacement takes 2-3 hours labor due to tight engine bay access. Upgraded high-torque starters available. Always use premium battery (750+ CCA minimum).
Estimated cost: $500-800
Owner tips
Check oil every fillup—running low even once destroys the engine
Redline the engine for 10-15 minutes weekly to prevent carbon buildup and cat failure
Never shut off a cold engine—always let it reach full operating temp first
Premix 4oz two-stroke oil per tank for apex seal longevity
Budget $2,000/year maintenance minimum—this is not a Civic
Compression test ($150) mandatory before buying any used RX-8
Avoid 2004-2005 models—2006+ Renesis has improved oil injection
Only buy if you're an enthusiast willing to treat it like a high-maintenance sportbike—incredible driving experience, but engine rebuilds are a 'when' not 'if' proposition under 100k miles.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2007 Mazda RX-8
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V402000
2018-06-15 · EA15001
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V404000
2018-06-15 · EA15001
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V474000
2017-07-26 · EA15001
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles. Heat from the engine and the exhaust may cause the main fuel pump pipe to crack.
Consequence: If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1017E.
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles manufactured April 10, 2003, to February 18, 2008. The affected vehicles have fuel pump sealing rings that may deteriorate due to exposure to heat from the engine or exhaust pipe.
Consequence: The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump sealing ring set and add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0516J.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.