2004 Mazda Mazda3 Brakes Problems

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILS PREMATURELY. MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 58K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS FAILING AT 68K MILES AND NEEDS REPLACING. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER, AND THAT CONTINUED DRIVING WITH A BAD BEARING COULD LEAD TO WHEEL LOCKUP AND AN ACCIDENT. MANY OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR FAILURE ON INTERNET FORUMS. MAZDA WON'T REPAIR THIS FREE OF CHARGE SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418412

Incident

Jul 29, 2011

Mileage

59,237 mi

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE , TOWED TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY BRAKES FAILED, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A RUBBING OF THE BRAKE LINE ON ANOTHER PART OF THE CAR, IT WAS REPAIRED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE OTHER SIDE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE TECHNICIAN, SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND TOOK A PHOTO FOR US, AND WE CONTACTED MAZDA ABOUT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HEARD BACK FROM THEM AS OF TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303808

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

94,501 mi

PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CAR AND DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280210

Incident

Aug 9, 2009

Mileage

89,500 mi

EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, CAUSED DAMAGE TO CAR AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236591

Incident

Jul 31, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA 3-MANUAL (5 SPEED). IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND EACH YEAR I GET IT INSPECTED. EVERY YEAR LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATES ON THE REAR WHEELS FROM THE REAR BRAKES. AS A RESULT THE BRAKE PADS ON THE REAR ARE COMPLETELY WORN WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO BE UNTOUCHED. THIS, ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE PROFESSIONAL IS AN INDICATION OF A FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS IN THE PAST AND HAVE ONLY REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES A FEW TIMES WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN CONTACTING 3 DIFFERENT MAZDA DEALERSHIPS I WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BACK BREAKS AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR THE FRONT SINCE THEY DO NOT SEE A PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE THE ABS 2 TIMES, LUCKILY THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND ME AND MISS ME. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO MY BRAKES FAILING TO ENGAGE ON THE FRONT! THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MAZDA IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10229081

Incident

May 18, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

I AM GETTING 13MPG ON A MAZDA3. COMPANY IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR. BRAKES NEEDED SERVICE AT 12 AND 20,000 MILES. ONLY 20,000 MILES IN 4 YEARS. ALWAYS FEELING OF DRAGGING AND THEY CLAIM NO BRAKE OR OTHER PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227445

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

1 mi

2004 MAZDA 3, BROUGHT BRAND NEW FROM DEALER. HAD REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS, WAS FIXED DUE TO BAD EQUIPMENT/METAL USED FOR ROTORS OR THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD. WARRANTY COVERED. NOW I AM AT JUST UNDER 50,000 MILES AND MY CLUTCH NEEDS REPLACED, CAUSE THEY SAID I BURNED IT UP. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM OVER A YEAR AGO, THAT IT WHINED/SCREECHED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, BUT ONLY WHEN IT WAS COLD. TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST WARM THE VEHICLE UP FIRST. NOW A SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND THEY KEEP SAYING IT WAS MY FAULT. I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES IT, GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND DROPPING MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. VERY FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD ITS GOING TO COST OVER $1,000 TO FIX...... *TR

NHTSA ID

10221569

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

49,750 mi

THE REAR BRAKES ON OUR 2004 MAZDA3 ARE WORN TO THE ROTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 77,000 MILES. WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE REAR BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING, SO WE INFORMED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE ASSURED THAT THIS IS NORMAL, IT SHOULD GO AWAY IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. IT NEVER WENT AWAY. I NOW NEED A THIRD SET OF REAR BRAKES, AND THE FRONTS ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. IN ALL MY YEARS OF WORKING AROUND VEHICLES, I'VE NEVER SEEN A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER CAR THAT THE REAR BRAKES WORE FASTER THAN THE FRONT. IT'S NOW OBVIOUS TO ME AFTER DOING IN DEPTH INTERNET RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE MAZDA3 AND MAZDA6. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL YET? IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOME GETTING INJURED OR EVEN KILLED DUE TO BRAKE MALFUNCTION BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED? IF ONE REAR BRAKE WEARS FASTER THAN THE OTHER, AND A DRIVER HAS TO MAKE A PANIC STOP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ONE BRAKE IS APPLIED AND THE OTHER......YOU GET THE POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213128

Incident

Dec 19, 2007

Mileage

76,800 mi

I HAVE NOTIFY BY THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE REAR BRAKE PAD IS NOT GOOD FIT WITH THE BRAKE SOCKET, IT HAVE A LOOSE SPACE, AND IT CREATED SOME NOISE I CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211795

Incident

Sep 18, 2007

Mileage

34,000 mi

12,000 MILES REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY WORN. PASSENGER SIDE ROTOR DEEPLY GROOVED. HAVE MORE THAN 3/4 PAD LEFT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169702

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

12,000 mi

REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR. ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO ACTIVATE PREMATURELY AT THE REAR WHEELS UNDER HEAVY BRAKING IN DRY CONDITIONS. REAR BRAKES WILL NEED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT 32K MILES WHILE THE FRONTS LOOK TO LAST 100K. DEALER SAYS WEAR IS NORMAL, INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS SAY NOT. THIS MAY BE EVIDENCE OF IMPROPER BRAKE BALANCE BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES EITHER DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR AND PARTS FAILURE OR UNDER CERTAIN BRAKING CONDITIONS. APPARENT PEMATURE ACTIVATION OF ABS SYSTEM DURING SUDDEN BRAKING STARTLED A YOUNG DRIVER OF THIS CAR WHO RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE MISTAKING ABS PULSATION FOR A BRAKE FAILURE AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAR AS A RESULT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169136

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

REAR BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, GROOVED AND WORN BEYOND REPAIR AT 49,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY DRIVING "STYLE" BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE EXCESSIVE WEAR. HOWEVER, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT IN THEM AND THE ROTORS ARE SMOOTH AS CAN BE (I EVEN CHECKED THE INSIDE). MY CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY WIFE AND I COMMONLY "DOWNSHIFT" TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED. MY DRIVING STYLE HAS GIVEN ME LONGER BRAKING SYSTEM LIFE ON CARS I DRIVE AND HAVE DRIVEN. I HAVE ALWAYS NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON THE REAR WHEELS OF MY CAR AND ON OTHERS ON THE ROAD SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 2004, AND THOUGHT IT ODD SINCE MOST BRAKING IS DONE BY THE FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS CLEANING THE BRAKE DUST FROM MY REAR WHEELS, SO I KNOW. UNFORTUNATELY, IT NEVER CLICKED IN MY HEAD THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE BEING CARVED UP. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, BUT IS IT NOT COMMON IN THE INDUSTRY FOR THE PADS TO WEAR OUT MUCH BEFORE THE ROTORS? I THINK THERE IS CAUSE TO RESEARCH THIS FURTHER. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE TWO MAZDA DEALERSHIPS THAT HAVE DONE ALL MY OIL FILTER CHANGES AND HALF OF MY TIRE ROTATIONS, TO HAVE NEVER MENTIONED ANY BRAKE WEAR BEFORE. OTHER THAN THAT, SO FAR, THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168731

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

Mileage

48,700 mi

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP COUPLE TIMES PAST COUPLE YRS FOR EXCESSIVE BREAK DUST & SQUEAKING NOISE REAR OF THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME ITS NORMAL & THEY COULDN'T LOCATE OR HEARD ANY SQUEAKING NOISE. RECENTLY I WENT BACK TO GET AN OIL CHANGE & THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT I NEED MY BREAKS REPLACED. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO TWO NATIONAL TIRE RETAILERS FOR PRICE QUOTES & BOTH RETAILERS TOLD ME ITS VERY RARE TO HAVE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR THAT HAS LITTLE WEAR DOWN ON FRONT BREAK WHEELS BUT YET THE BACK REAR BREAKS & ROTORS NEEDED REPLACED, JUST UNDER 40K MILES. AFTER BEING NOTIFIED OF THE SERVER DEEP LIPS OF THE ROTORS I WENT BACK TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP & IT SEEMS THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER IT UP & SAYING ITS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL OTHER CARS EXPERTS. I BELIEVE THEIR IS FAULTY BREAKING ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164993

Incident

Aug 8, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

REAR BRAKES WORN OUT. FRONT BRAKES HAVE MORE THAN 3/4 INCH LEFT ON THEM. ROTORS SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR GROOVING AND PITTING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164080

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

18,000 mi

2004 MAZDA, MODEL MAZDA3 PASSENGER CAR, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, 16,000 MILES. THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUALLY SHOW LOTS OF BRAKE DUST WHILE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE ALWAYS CLEAN. THIS INDICATES MOST BRAKING IS DONE BY REAR WHEELS CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS. DEALER IGNORES MY COMPLAINTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144821

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR AND NOISE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY MAZDA3 I PLACED A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM WAS CREATING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE AND BRAKE DUST FROM WEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT DURING THE FIRST WEEKS OF A NEW CAR THAT THIS WAS EXPECTED. THE GENTLEMAN REFERRED TO IT AS SEATING. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY (NO BRAKES REQUIRED), THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE BOTH DEEPLY GROOVED AND WORN. MOST WEAR OCCURS ON THE REAR BRAKES. MOST ALL BRAKING IS DONE BY THE FRONT; THEREFORE, IF WEAR SHOULD OCCUR IT WOULD BE PRESENT IN THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM. DEALER REQUESTED PERMISSION TO TURN THE ROTORS, WHICH I DECLINED. TURNING THE ROTORS WOULD DO NOTHING MORE THAN QUITE THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW HUNDRED MILES, UNTIL THE GROOVES AND DUST WOULD REAPPEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OVERTLY OBVIOUS; HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. VEHICLE'S SAFETY IS COMPROMISED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138298

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

100 mi

FRONT ROTORS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND RIDGING AT 300 MILES. REAR ROTORS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND RIDGING, DEEP GROOVE/PIT IN RIGHT REAR AT 300 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091159

Incident

Sep 16, 2004

Mileage

300 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE A LUXURY SUV APPEARED FROM ONE SIDE, REQUIRING ME TO STOP SUDDENLY. HOWEVER, WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR), THE BRAKES SEEMED VERY HESITANT TO RESPOND, EVEN WITH ABS. THANKFULLY THE CAR DID STOP IN TIME. I HAVE HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES AND HAVE ALSO NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A FEW GROOVES IN THE DISCS/ROTORS IN THE REAR AFTER ONLY 1000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090659

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

Mileage

1,100 mi

THE REAR ROTORS OF MY 2004 MAZDA 3 HAVE HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON THEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003. RECENTLY I NOTICED GROOVES ON THE SURFACE OF THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088904

Incident

Aug 24, 2004

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE CREATING MORE DUST THAN THE FRONT BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089816

Incident

Aug 26, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

I BOUGHT A NEW MAZDA 2004 I SEDAN.THE BRAKES MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE AT ALL TIMES ESPECIALLY AFTER IT RAINS AND WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.WHEN I BRAKE THE NOISE IS WORSE. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL.AFTER IT RAINS AS I WROTE IT IS MUCH WORSE.THE MACHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THE NOISE AT TIMES IS THE TIRES DUE TO THEIR SIZE 16 INCH.THE CAR ALSO WHEN I BRAKE AT A STOP GOES RIGHT OR LEFT AT TIMES.THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IF I GO DOWNHILL LEFT THEY WILL GO LEFT IF I GO DOWNHILL AND RIGHT AND BRAKE IN A RIGHT LANE THE TIRES WILL VEAR GO RIGHT. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE THE CAR VEARING LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN I COME TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082905

Incident

Jul 28, 2004

THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST AND ROTOR WEAR ON MY REAR BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE ALMOST NO DUST AT ALL. THIS STARTED RIGHT AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, IT ONLY HAS 2700 MILES ON IT NOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082504

Incident

May 8, 2004

Mileage

2,700 mi

BRAKES LEAVE A LOT OF DUST ALL OVER THE TIRES, RIMS, AND BODY OF CAR. THE CAR STOPS SHARPLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. NOT A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10074826

Incident

May 28, 2004

EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE DISC/PAD WEAR. DRIVER DOOR RATTLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074639

Incident

Mar 19, 2004

THERE IS BRAKE NOISE IN MY 2004 MODEL YEAR MAZDA 3. I HAVE JUST BOUGHT MY CAR 3 DAYS AGO. I NOTICED THE NOISE IN THE FIRST DAY, I CALLED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE CAR IS NEW AND IT WILL DISAPPEAR IN A FEW DAYS. BUT IT IS NOT DISAPPEARING ON THE CONTRARY IT IS NOW MORE NOTICEABLE. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE COLD OR HOT. IT ALWAYS MAKES THAT NOISE. VIN NUMBER OF MY CAR IS: [XXX] THANKS, [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10072924

Incident

May 17, 2004

Mileage

150 mi