Suspension
Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.
What Owners Say
"The worn ball joint caused some loose steering feel and was replaced without any other problems."
Anonymous, OH (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"They wore out on the rough Massachusetts roads. Normal wear for over 200k miles on them."
Anonymous, MA (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"I think the roads where I live might have contributed to these issues"
Jingran W., MI (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"I replaced both front end ball joints because they were loose and clunking"
Anonymous, ON (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"The rubber in the ball joints wore out and had to be replaced. I had to replace the whole unit (Control arm) as it was cheaper than replacing the rubber in the ball joints. I had the car for 6 years at that point with about 55,000 kms"
Steve M., BC (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Trailing arm pivot bushing failed completely"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Rear bushings on front control arms and bushings on rear trailing arms had completely worn out"
Anonymous, ME (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"I did not have any problem, but the dealer said the loer control arms cracked at the bushings"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Clunking noise, need replacement per dealer, approximately $900 to fix"
Anonymous, MN (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Lower front strut mount bushings and the front stabilizer bar bushings wore prematurely and needed to be replaced"
Anonymous, MB (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Told on inspection there was a major leak. Cost $2500 to replace."
Anonymous, WA (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Had to have them replaced"
Anonymous, AB (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"They wore out on the rough Massachusetts roads. Normal wear an tear."
Anonymous, MA (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"STRUTS WERE APPARENTLY "SHOT" @ 75K MILES. IN OVER 500K+ MILES OF DRIVING SEVERAL VARIOUS VEHICLES I HAVE NEVER REPLACED STRUTS. IN FACT MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX - 2000 HAD OVER 200K MILES BEFORE THE STRUTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT."
Anonymous, (2008 Mazda 3 Unsure 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Took the car to my mechanic for a checkup and tire change (seasonal to winter tires) shortly after buying it. The mechanic discovered then that the rear shocks were significantly worn and advised replacing them."
Anonymous, PA (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Leaks and cost to replace"
Anonymous, OR (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Leaking oil from the right front strut"
James R., PA (2008 Mazda 3 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Worn out, leaked"
Anonymous, CT (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Leaking shocks, broken strut, needed to replace all 4 - very costly"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Mazda 3 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"They are easily disrupted"
Anonymous, PA (2008 Mazda 3 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Broken & needed replaced"
Anonymous, OH (2008 Mazda 3 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"had to replace rear shocks and struts after hitting a pothole"
Lee W., PA (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Just replaced the struts and the ride is now much better. What has been frustrating the replacement of the protective under carriage...it's plastic and comes in 3 parts but you have to buy all and it uses plastic pins to attach...easy to have road garbage blow and break a part. Had to replace 2x in past 2 years. Had another incident with it but got it to the mechanic right after and he used metal screws to fix so I wouldn't have that problem anytime soon"
Anonymous, CO (2008 Mazda 3 Sport)"Both rear shocks needed to be replaced. One was broken, the other leaked."
Anonymous, QC (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Strut leaked"
James R., PA (2008 Mazda 3 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"I had to replace them due to potholes"
Anonymous, MA (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Sudden onset. Had rusted through both sides. Had to totally replace rear struts."
Anonymous, OH (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Front struts and rear shocks died in 2010. Replaced all 4 with Bilstien Race struts and shocks."
Anonymous, ON (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Stock strut broke, I replaced with aftermarket parts"
Michael D., OH (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"leaks"
Anonymous, CT (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"OEM rear shocks leaking at 138000 miles. Replaced at 143000 miles"
Robert J., VA (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Noise going over bumps, was told by Mazda that it was my shocks, they fixed them and the noises are gone"
Allan K., MN (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"The car is old with a lot of mileage and the shock/struts are wearing out"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Leaking/failed. Rear only. Third time in life of car"
Joshua A., NY (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Large noise turning the steering wheel to all the way left or right at low speed (in the garage)"
Ron W., CA (2008 Mazda 3 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Significant fluid leakage and decreased operational performance in the right-front strut; both front struts, bushings and bearings replaced with OEM parts"
Andrew K., MN (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Replaced front struts"
Scott H., OH (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"One strut was leaking, replaced both"
Gord P., BC (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Car is 7 years old. Rear shocks went and had to be replaced. I ticked the box because of safety but realize that after 7 years things have to be replaced"
Anonymous, ON (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Shocks struts seem to go bad every 30,000 miles causing clunking in the front end"
John R., NY (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Had to replace the shocks and struts. Cost about 1200 dollars"
Anonymous, MO (2008 Mazda 3)"Same as everyone. The shitty road conditions wrecked my shocks"
Anonymous, ON (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Shocks were nearly worn so my mechanic recommended replacing both shocks and second spring"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Had to replace them"
Anonymous, AB (2008 Mazda 3 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Had to remove and replace both rear coil springs"
Anonymous, SK (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Passenger rear spring broke, causing a rattle, both rear springs and shocks had to be replaced"
Anonymous, OH (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Spring rusted out and broke. Had to replace it"
Anonymous, MN (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Rear passenger coil spring broke"
Scott S., KY (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"rear spring broken, causing persistent rattling over even minor bumps. easy and fairly inexpensive repair"
Anonymous, NY (2008 Mazda 3 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"The rear springs sit in a cup-like piece that holds water and causes the springs to rust out."
Anonymous, ON (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"shocks and strut failure. Probably normal wear and tear age related"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Mazda 3 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Broken spring found when brakes checked in regular maintenance. Had a broken shock the year before. Had to take car to dealer twice to get issue resolved. Spring had broken near the top. The shock was broken near the top. Believe potholes in Calgary are why they broke. Declarer did wheel alignment and toed the wheels inward on the front too much and this caused wear on the inside on brand new tires."
Anonymous, AB (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Rear left spring was cracked and needed to be replaced (it was the OEM/original spring)."
Seth G., VA (2008 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"A rear spring broke"
Jim W., PA (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"replaced front sway bars"
Scott H., OH (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Broken spring"
Anonymous, AB (2008 Mazda 3 Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Springs rusted through at about 40,000"
Anonymous, NJ (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Rear springs broke"
Anonymous, MA (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"At 58 mph, high vibration. Dealer is not able to correct or won't. Published service notices indicated motor mount problem. Dealer won't investigate."
Anonymous, PA (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"braking going downhill"
Ron W., CA (2008 Mazda 3 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Steering wheel vibration that auto shop couldn't fully diagnose even after alignment"
Dustin N., MO (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"tie rod need to be replace"
Elmer B., IL (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Replace. Rubber bushings had deteriorated and grease was gone"
Andres B., FL (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"control arm replaced; regular alignment check; reduced tire mileage; vibrations mostly in rear; heavy noise; replaced all 4 bearings but only two this past year and front ball joint"
Anonymous, BC (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Tires became noisy before they needed to be replaced"
Jim W., PA (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)"Unadjustable negative rear camber by design from Mazda. Said to improve handling but causes rapid, uneven tire wear. Hopefully corrected with aftermarket suspension parts that allow setting zero degree rear camber"
Stephen W., FL (2008 Mazda 3 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Due to the Mazda3 rear tire alignment the tires cup on the inside causing road noise and accelerated tire wear"
John R., NY (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Had to get new tires because of uneven wear"
Anonymous, MO (2008 Mazda 3)"Affect tire noise and road handling; wear out quickly and have to be replace (NAPA)"
Anonymous, BC (2008 Mazda 3 Sport 2.0-L 4 Cyl)
"Alignment was improperly done by the dealer. Front wheels were toed in causing wear on brand new tires."
Anonymous, AB (2008 Mazda 3 Grand Touring 2.0-L 4 Cyl)