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Service bulletins for the 2004 Mazda RX-8

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

202 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

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Bulletins, newest first
00-001-18-3446a2018-11-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; EQUIPMENT. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle- specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
01-016-18-35222018-10-09. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM. On some vehicles, a sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor may be noticed coming from the exhaust system. The odor is usually noticed after a cold start, fast idle, extended periods of idling and full throttle acceleration. Sulfur smell is not an indication of an engine concern and will not cause reduced driveability or durability of the engine or any of its emission components. The sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor is caused by high amounts of sulfur in the gasoline being used in the vehicle. Sulfur is normally eliminated during the refining process, but the EPA regulation of sulfur in gasoline differs from state to state. Vehicles using fuel containing high amounts of sulfur will most likely emit sulfur smell from the exhaust system. When high sulfur fuel is burned, there is a chemical reaction in the catalytic converter causing the sulfur to oxidize. As the vehicle is driven, the oxidizing reaction odor in the converter will decrease with mileage and age.
09-034-18-34302018-09-10. Service bulletin. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
09-025-18-34792018-07-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.. Mazda infotainment systems require contacting the proper source for diagnostic support, parts authorization, and parts exchange. Some components require prior authorization before ordering as exchange. Refer to DAG Exchange Central (MXConnect>Parts and Accessories>Parts>Programs>Exchange Central) for component availability, source of technical support and prior authorization requirement. NOTE: Always check for a TSB that may modify or eliminate prior authorization for a specific symptom for a given component.
02-010-18-34772018-07-02. Service bulletin. STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR. Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
00-003-18-34802018-07-02. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. Mazda North American Operations has approved an additional on-car brake lathe as an option for MNAOauthorized equipment. The Pro-Cut On-Car Brake Lathe has been added to the MNAO authorizedequipment program.NOTE: Accu-turn is still an approved brake lathe, but it is no longer available for purchase from our vendor. IMPORTANT: Rotors must be machined using a Mazda approved on-car brake lathe, or warranty claimsare subject to denial or debit.
04-004-18-34682018-05-14. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern.
04-003-18-34552018-05-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Some customers may report a slight clunk/bang/buzz noise or jolt from the front of the vehicle. This concern will most likely occur during the vehicles first forward movement after starting the engine. This is a normal operating noise of the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS). Do not attempt any repairs. If you encounter a customer complaint for this concern, explain that the noise comes from the ABS/TCS/DSC "Malfunction Detection Function" initial check and that there is no problem. This initial check is a necessary function to ensure the normal operation of the ABS/TCS/DSC system. It occurs when the vehicles first moves forward under the following conditions. NOTE: Some customers may describe that the noise does not occur all the time. It does occur all the time, but the sound is more likely to be heard on a slow start and not on a quick start (quick acceleration) when engine noise is louder.
02-008-18-34672018-05-14. Service bulletin. WHEELS. Some automotive cleaning products contain strong acid or alkali. When these types of cleaners are used to clean the wheels on Mazda vehicles, the chemicals contents penetrate the clear coating of the wheel surface and damage the paint under the clear coating. The damaged area has the appearance of dark stains.
02-006-18-34492018-04-23. Service bulletin. SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER; SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER. Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the shaft seal. Follow the inspection guidelines to determine if the condition is a result of the normal sweeping process or a failure of the shaft seal.
01-009-18-34522018-04-23. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. The Mazda GR8-1291 is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda GR8-1291 is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this Service Bulletin to test Mazda vehicle batteries and to generate a Warranty Code.
01-008-18-34512018-04-23. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, inspect and maintain the battery periodically according to the repair procedure.
MT-003-182018-04-23. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; AIR BAGS. The Workshop Manual has two-different airbag procedures, one for Standard Deployment and one for Two-Step Deployment. Standard Deployment is for Mexico spec vehicles and Two-Step Deployment is for US and Canadian spec vehicles.
09-019-18-34502018-04-23. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the driver's floor mat to avoid any potential interference with the foot pedals. The following are possible causes of floor mat interference, which can be avoided with proper usage. Floor mat moves forward due to improper installation. Inappropriate floor mat (such as aftermarket, non-factory-equipped, or non-genuine) is used. Floor mat is stacked one on top of another. Use these points at your dealership to protect our mutual operations and to help ensure our customers' safety.
09-014-18-34432018-04-23. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE. When encountering a vehicle with paint damage, refer to the "Mazda Pocket Paint Guide" to determine cause, prevention, remedy, and warranty coverage (if applicable).
09-011-18-34482018-04-23. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with a clear lens which can cause the symptom to be more noticeable, however, it does not affect the performance of the light. This condensation/fog is a natural phenomenon that occurs when there is a fairly large temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the light housing. It is normal for very small water drops to appear incertain locations on the light units where the air is stagnant (condensation), making the lens look whitish (fog). This happens mostly in the corners and narrow spaces, and will typically clear during warmer ambient temperatures, or when the lights have been on for some time.
00-001-18-34462018-04-23. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
08-003-17-33452017-10-21. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Mazda Motor Corporation is going to evaluate the following inflators to ensure the safety of the inflator with a desiccant. In order to do this, MNAO is collecting inflators for evaluation in certain zones. For 2003-2008 Mazda6 (including Mazdaspeed6) and 2004-2011 RX-8: Collect 30 Driver-side and 30 Pas-senger-side inflators (60 total) from vehicles that have completed Recall 8215F for Driver-side and Recall 9416E for Passenger-side airbags in the following zones. For 2010-2013 Mazda3: Collect 200 Passenger-side inflators from vehicles in the following zones.
SA-068-172017-10-12. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS. STOPPER PLATES FOR AIR BAG MODULE CONNECTORS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AS NEW SERVICE PARTS. When removing the connector (1) to the air bag module (2), make sure to first lift the stopper plate (3) carefully using a flathead screwdriver (but do not remove it), and then pull out the connector.
09-035-17-30802017-10-04. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometerand related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the ?SpeedometerReplacement Label?.Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda?s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service.With the use of SPECMO?s services, a Mazda dealer can get the odometer setting updated to reflect the correct mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs, therefore resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
090181733512017-09-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. Some customers may complain that the ambient temperature display is not accurate, or it takes too long for the display to show actual temperature. When you encounter a customer with this concern, first verify the condition when the customer noticed this symptom. If the condition is similar to the following "CONTROL LOGIC OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURE" or "DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY AND OTHERS", advise the customer that this is a normal characteristic of the vehicle and not a malfunction. If the condition does not meet the following and the sensor malfunction is suspected, make sure to inspect the sensor according to MGSSonline or Workshop Manual (section 09-22 AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SENSOR INSPECTION). Replace the sensor only when it fails the Workshop Manual inspection.
SA-061-172017-08-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is© 2017 Mazda North American Operations, U.S.A. allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, a Mazda dealer can get the odometer setting updated to reflect the correct mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs, therefore resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
09-008-17-33242017-08-10. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Take caution when cleaning plastic headlight lenses. Damage can occur when using some cleaners that contain strong acid, alkaline cleanser or organic solvent. Damage caused by using these cleaners is not covered by Mazda's New Vehicle Limited Warranty term.
04-004-13-28532017-08-10. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern.
02-009-13-28542017-08-10. Service bulletin. WHEELS. Some automotive cleaning products contain strong acid or alkali. When these types of cleaners are used to clean the wheels on Mazda vehicles, the chemicals contents penetrate the clear coating of the wheel surface and damage the paint under the clear coating. The damaged area has the appearance of dark stains.Use extra care when cleaning wheels. The following are guidelines to follow when cleaning the wheels.-Mazda recommends using a mild soap or neutral detergent as stated in the owner's manual under Appear-ance Care in the Maintenance and Care section.-DO NOT use a cleaning products containing strong acid or alkali contents to clean the wheels.-DO NOT apply any type of specialized wheel cleaner to the wheels when they are hot (such as after driving the vehicle or if the vehicle has sat in the sun). Ensure wheel temperatures are the same as ambient tem-perature before cleaning.-Within 15 minutes after any cleaner is applied, rinse the wheel thoroughly to completely remove cleaner.-Stains on Mazda Wheels caused by improper cleaning are not covered under the Mazda Vehicle Warranty.

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.