Head-to-head reliability
Mazda RX 8 vs Toyota Camry
How the Mazda RX 8 and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda RX 8 vs Toyota Camry: The RX-8 has fewer complaints per year (90.4) but more severe issues like engine and steering failures, while the Camry has more complaints (214.3/yr) but they are less concentrated. The RX-8 has 42 recalls, the Camry 31. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda RX 8 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda RX 8
The Mazda RX-8 is a niche sports car that demands attention. Its complaint history is dominated by powertrain and engine issues, with owners reporting loss of acceleration, clutch failures, and oil cooler line corrosion that can spray oil over the engine bay and tires. Airbag recalls (Takata) and steering column failures add to the list of concerns. While it offers a unique driving experience, the RX-8's reliability record suggests it can be a costly and potentially unsafe vehicle to own.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume, but that's partly due to its popularity. Its issues span multiple systems, including transmission grinding, sudden acceleration reports, brake failures, and electrical glitches. While some complaints are serious, the Camry's overall pattern is less concentrated in one area, and its recall history is less severe. For a buyer, the Camry may have more frequent issues but they are often less catastrophic than the RX-8's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda RX 8 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 814 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 42 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 33 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 90.4 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 25 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mazda RX 8
- 01POWER TRAIN239
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING150
- 03AIR BAGS117
- 04STEERING112
- 05ENGINE50
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, clutch pedal unresponsiveness, and smoke from under the hood, indicating transmission and clutch failures that can leave you stranded.
Oil cooler lines rust and corrode, especially in salt-belt states, spraying oil over the engine bay, tires, and brakes, leading to loss of traction and potential fire hazards.
Takata inflator recalls are common, and some owners report dashboard deterioration exposing airbags, which could affect deployment in a crash.
Power steering can partially fail during turns, making the car hard to control, and there are reports of steering column parts breaking and falling onto the driver's leg.
“I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS I FELT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCELERATION. THE TOP SPEED I GOT TO WAS 55MPH. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GET OFF THE CAR, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FROM INSIDE WHERE THE SHIFT KNOW IS LOCATED. I CH…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE GEAR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE W…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues include grinding noises on acceleration and the need for full replacement, with some owners noting backorders for parts.
Reports of sudden unintended acceleration, which can lead to crashes, and engine warning lights related to coolant valve bypass recalls that may not cover all VINs.
Brake failure on hills, where the pedal goes to the floor with no response, is a serious safety concern reported by multiple owners.
Air conditioning condenser damage from rocks and recurring mildew odors from the HVAC system are common annoyances that affect comfort.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mazda RX 8 — 42 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 RX-8 and 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the fuel pump mounting rings.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install new fuel pump mounting rings. Dealers will also add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank on RX-8 vehicles. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners…
The defect: 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, Ind…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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…
The defect: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under recall 18V-017 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…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's nu…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under recall 18V-716 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…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 201…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mazda RX 8 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mazda RX-8 has fewer complaints per year (90.4) than the Toyota Camry (214.3), but its issues are more concentrated in critical systems like engine and steering, making it riskier. The Camry's higher volume reflects its popularity, but its problems are more varied and often less severe. In practice, the RX-8 may require more frequent and costly repairs, while the Camry might have more niggling issues but fewer catastrophic failures.
Key differences
- The RX-8 has a higher proportion of powertrain and engine complaints (239 and 150) compared to the Camry's 395 and 315, but the RX-8's issues are more likely to cause breakdowns.
- The RX-8 has more airbag recalls (Takata) and steering failures, which are safety-critical, while the Camry's recalls are less severe (seats, labels).
- The Camry has more brake complaints (290) than the RX-8 (not in top 5), but the RX-8's oil cooler line corrosion can lead to loss of traction and fire risk.
- The RX-8 has zero reported deaths, while the Camry has one, but the RX-8 has more injuries per complaint (25/814 vs 163/2143).
- Inspect the oil cooler lines for rust or corrosion, especially if the car has been driven in winter salt states.
- Check for any signs of clutch or transmission issues, such as difficulty shifting or unusual smells, and verify all airbag recalls have been completed.
- Test the brakes on a hill to ensure they respond properly, and listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration.
- Check for any open recalls, especially the coolant valve bypass, and ask about the AC condenser and HVAC odor issues.
Before you buy
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with rotary engines (RX-8) or Toyota transmissions (Camry).
- Check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- For the RX-8, inspect the oil cooler lines and ask for maintenance records; for the Camry, test drive on hills and listen for transmission noises.
- Review the vehicle's complaint history on NHTSA to see if the specific VIN has any reported issues.
- Consider the cost of potential repairs: RX-8 engine rebuilds are expensive, while Camry transmission replacements are also costly but less frequent.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mazda RX 8 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda RX 8 vs Toyota Camry
- Mazda RX 8 total complaints
- 814
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mazda RX 8 total recalls
- 42
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mazda RX 8 avg complaints/year
- 90.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mazda RX 8
- Mazda RX 8 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN