RoadVitals

2005 Mazda RX-8 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jun 21, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 162 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mazda RX-8 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 21, 2021

My cars steering will loosen up and stiffen up randomly also the traction control will randomly engage and the tire pressure lights and another light

NHTSA ID
11421597
Incident
Jun 18, 2021
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 11, 2019

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET BREAKS AT THE SPOTWELDS WHICH ALSO BREAKS THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND LUKILY THIS BROKE WHILE STARTING THE CAR

NHTSA ID
11267976
Incident
Oct 10, 2019
Mileage
110,200 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 11, 2017

THE EXTERNAL OIL LINES AND CONNECTION FITTINGS FOR THE ROTORY ENGINE LUBRICATION POINTS AND COOLING HAVE CORRODED AWAY FORM ROAD SALT IN MINNESOTA. DRIVING CAUSES ENGINE OIL TO BE SPRAYED ON FRONT WHEEL AND BRAKES CAUSING FRONT BRAKE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE PROBLEMS. THE CORROSION WAS SO BAD THAT EACH ATTEMPT TO FIX AN OIL LEAK ENDED UP BRAKING MORE CORRODED OIL FITTINGS OFF. THE TOTAL REPAIR IN 2017 ENDED BEING OVER $1,000 DOLLARS FOR JUST PARTS PLUS LABOR. MAZDA HAS PREVIOUSLY PAID TO FIX ALL MAZDA RX-8S SOLD TO PEOPLE IN CANADA BECAUSE OF ROAD SALT CORROSION FAILURES OF THESE SAME OIL LINES. WHY DOESN'T THE USA HAVE CONSUMER PROTECTION LIKE CANADIAN CITIZENS HAVE! I PAID A REPAIR SHOP BY ME $1,037.81 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC LOST ABOUT ANOTHER $1,000 IN AFTER MARKET FITTINGS AND HOSES PLUS TIME, BUT EACH FIX BROKE MORE FITTINGS. HE FINALLY BOUGHT ALL NEW FACTORY PARTS AND SOLD THEM TO ME FOR COST AND ONLY CHARGED US FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS LABOR. TONY BECK,S AUTO REPAIR IN PINEISLAND MN JUST COULDN'T CHARGE ANYONE WHAT IT REALLY COST HIM. US RX-8 OWNERS ARE GETTING SCREWED BY YOU NOT RECALLING THIS OIL LINE FAILURE PROBLEM. THESE OIL LINES AND FITTINGS GO ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND ARE HIGH PRESSURE 1/2 INCH ID HYDRAULIC LINES. HOW CAN OIL SPRAYING FRONT DISC BRAKES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE! STEVE W. FROM MINNESOTA, WE HAVE LOTS OF ROAD SALT JUST LIKE CANADA, THAT'S WHY THE I-35 BRIDGE FELL DOWN. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE SALT CORROSION CAUSED OIL LEAKS! CAUSED MASSIVE OIL LEAKS THAT CAN ALLOW ENGINE

NHTSA ID
11053886
Incident
Jun 8, 2017
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 10, 2017

CLUTCH PEDAL KEEPS BRAKING EVERY 20,000 MILES. :-/ THIS IS THE 4RTH REPLACEMENT I AM LOOKING AT, CURRENTLY IS BRAKING GRADUALLY. AIR BAGS SENSORS KEEP FAILING EVERY 30,000 MILES AND PASSENGER AIRBAG IS CRACKING.

NHTSA ID
10960021
Incident
Feb 23, 2017
Mileage
14,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jul 15, 2011

2005 RX-8 LEAKING OIL COOLER LINE FAULTS BREAKS CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO RIGHT SIDE GRASS UNDER HEAVY BREAKING DUE TO SUDDENLY SLOWING TRAFFIC. NORMALLY, CAR BREAKS VERY WELL, LINEARLY, AND STRAIGHT. AFTER CHECKING WHAT CAUSED THIS, I FOUND THE ENTIRE LEFT UNDERSIDE SPRAYED WITH ENGINE OIL. OIL CAME FROM RUSTED ENGINE COOLER LINES LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. ABOUT A 10 SECOND ENGINE RUN SHOWED A STREAM OF OIL SPRAYING TOWARDS THE TIRE THROUGH A CRACK IN THE RUSTED COOLING LINE. UNDERBODY, LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BREAKS WERE COVERED WITH OIL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION ONLY BECAUSE THE AREA WHERE CAR WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE HAD NO OBSTACLES. LUCKY ME! CAR IS OBVIOUSLY NOT DRIVABLE AS ENGINE OIL IS VISIBLY LEAKING AND BREAKS ARE COMPROMISED WITH GREASY OIL RESIDUE. APPARENTLY CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY COOLING LINES - 'RX-8 OIL COOLER HOSE ' SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP) 76' ' SEEMS UTTERLY APPROPRIATE AS IN AN UNLUCKY SITUATION THIS COULD TURN OUT FATAL! *TT

NHTSA ID
10413105
Incident
Jul 15, 2011
Mileage
35,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+4 more
Filed Nov 24, 2008

I'M GOING IN TODAY FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE MY AC CONTINUES TO MAKE A NOISE WHEN THE FAN IS BLOWING. I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO LIST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. JUST TO NAME A FEW I'M ON MY SECOND ENGINE, NEW BRAKES, BATTERY AND TIRES BEFORE 40K MILES AND I WAS TOLD BY THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES BUT MAZDA CLAIMS OTHER WISE. I'VE HAD A TWO NEW RADIATORS AND MY DRIVER WINDOW WENT OUT ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE FROM THE VISOR FALLING OFF DURING THE HOT SUMMER BECAUSE IT JUST MELTED. HOW DOES A "SUN VISOR" MELT. I'VE HAD THE SHIFTING PADDLES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T WORK AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY USE THEM, THE GAS CAP LOCK BROKE AND I HAD TO PRY IT OPEN SINCE THE EJECT NO LONGER WORKED... I THINK YOU GET THE POINT AND I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION SOME OF THE BI ITEMS. I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN MY LIFE. I CANT WAIT UNTIL I CAN SELL IT OR MAYBE ILL GET LUCKY AND IT WILL IMPLODE. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AT THIS POINT. THIS CAR IS JUNK!!! I'M GOING BACK TO HONDA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249650
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
6 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 6, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 6 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10187214
Incident
Apr 6, 2007
Mileage
600 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 19, 2007

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES (DUE TO TSB) REPAIRED THREE TIMES NOW. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 4K MILES AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THEM AND WITHIN 1 WEEK THEY BEGAN TO SQUEAK AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY CLEANED & ADJUSTED THEM. THEY STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN I TOOK TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS AGAIN DUE TO THE BACKPLATE AND PAD WAS SOAKED WITH OIL.

NHTSA ID
10185550
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 2005

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED BY DEALER DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKES. BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AND VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10140403
Incident
Oct 21, 2005
Mileage
5,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 13, 2005
Crash reported

MAZDA RX-8: CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TOP OF A GRADUAL SLOPE, WITH PARKING BRAKE FIRMLY PULLED UP. NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR HAD BACKED UP INTO BOTTOM OF A DITCH. THE CAR WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $15,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKE. WITNESSES AT THE SCENE CONFIRM THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS SET.

NHTSA ID
10128671
Incident
Jul 10, 2005
Mileage
2,900 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .