Above all else, the most important thing I learned as a racing mechanic was to make sure the wheels were torqued on correctly and that the brakes worked. Before the car hits the track, we would go through a series of checks, including checking the brake fluid, looking for any loose nuts or bolts, especially on suspension components. Which is why it is difficult to understand the number of brake recalls lately. While working on a production line is much different than prepping a car for the track – perhaps it shouldn’t be treated that way. Just sayin’.

Mazda has issued a recall on certain Mazda 3 and CX-30’s for another braking issue. Earlier, Mazda had to issue a recall for a fault with the “3s” Smart Brake System (SBS) that can falsely detect an obstacle while driving, activating the automatic emergency braking system and suddenly stopping the vehicle. The latest recall is because some of the caliper brackets were not torqued correctly at the factor and are either loose or missing altogether. Not good, Mazda. Not good.

Here’s what Mazda issued about the recall:

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has filed a defect notification with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a safety defect, which exists in certain 2020 Model Year Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Mazda’s recall number is 4420F. Due to a manufacturing assembly process error, certain brake caliper mounting bolts may not have been tightened properly.

Loose or missing brake caliper bolts may cause reduced braking performance and/or caliper interference with wheel rotation, resulting in loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. Drivers may hear abnormal grinding or rattling noises due to the brake caliper contacting the wheel and possibly other vehicle components.

Vehicle owners do have the option of visiting the dealer for inspection and remedy prior to receiving an owner recall notification letter.

Approximately 7,804 Mazda3 units and 16,233 CX-30 units are affected in the U.S. and U.S. territories.

No accidents or injuries have been reported from the field to date as a result of this defect.