2005 Ford Mustang vs 2005 Mazda RX-8
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Ford Mustang | 2005 Mazda RX-8 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 705 | 162 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 46 | 179 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–20 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 51,000 mi | 63,400 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Mazda RX-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 235 | 22 |
| Electrical System | 225 | 8 |
| Power Train | 25 | 54 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 68 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 54 | 11 |
| Structure | 56 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 25 | 28 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 29 | 13 |
| Water leaks | 17 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 7 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 0 |
| Overheating | 11 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 8 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 0 |
2005 Ford Mustang
2005 Mazda RX-8
Compare all Ford Mustang vs Mazda RX-8 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.