Two problems related to brake disc pads have been reported for the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 based on all problems reported for the 2008 MAZDA3.
When I braked, the rotor separated into two pieces effectively removing my front brakes. Upon inspection of the rotor, it looks like they preferentially rusted at the interface between the rotor body and where the brake pads grab. It seemed strange, like a defect and no one I talked to had ever seen this before. May have just been a freak thing but figured I would report it because the situation could have been a lot worse if I was on a highway.
My daughter noticed at when stopping that the steering wheel would shack. Upon having the dealer look at this issue they said it was due to hi-speed stopping, and that it could be corrected by replacing the rotors and pads with oem parts. I think that at just 17,000 miles that this should not be a issue. I could only speak to a customer service rep and not a district rep, and was told they would check into this and get back to me. This never happened.