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BrakesPart report

2005 Mazda RX-8 Brakes Problems

Complaints
10about this part
Share
6%of 162 total for the year
Median mileage
5,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 Mazda RX-8, 6% of the 162 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 5,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10249650, filed 2008-11, 6 miles

“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 complaint #10960021, filed 2017-03, 14,000 miles

“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 complaint #10128671, filed 2005-07, 2,900 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10413105, filed 2011-07, 35,000 miles

“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 complaint #10185550, filed 2007-03

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200816%
2005106%
200461%

Other parts of the 2005 Mazda RX-8

Transmission and drivetrain
54 complaintsEngine cooling
28 complaintsAir bags
22 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsEngine
9 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Mazda RX-8

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology