Mazda RX-8 - 2004
273.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda RX-8, model year 2004.
Sample size: 546 cars, 1,024 tests and 2,800 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 546 cars
The 2004 Mazda RX-8 has an overall defect rate of 273 per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 382 per 100, representing a 28% improvement. The vehicle performs particularly well in categories such as brakes, steering, and visibility, with defect rates well below the average. However, it shows a higher incidence of defects in the 'Other' category compared to the average. As mileage increases, the defect rate for the RX-8 rises steadily, indicating that older models may require more attention. Overall, the RX-8 stands out for its reliability in several key areas while facing some challenges as it ages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 546 cars
More model years for Mazda RX-8
Other models from Mazda
Categories
Brakes
▲ 31.9% better
111.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 65.5% better
8.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Excessive roughness in operation of steering
Visibility
▲ 55.3% better
13.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 43.9% better
61.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 28.8% better
222.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 22.3% better
49.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 0.7% worse
13.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▼ 29.5% worse
65.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 211
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 162
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 142
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 123
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 122
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 120
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 118
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 103
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 98
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 46
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 23