2004 Mazda TRIBUTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
157 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 130 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 157 complaints (30.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 15.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 11.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 48 |
| Structure:Body | 36 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Wheels | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 7 |
Suspension: 48; Structure:Body: 36; Vehicle Speed Control: 24; Air Bags: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Wheels: 10; Vehicle Speed Control:Cables: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 31
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 27 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 9; 2005: 11; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 11; 2009: 11; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 8; 2013: 9; 2014: 16; 2015: 27; 2016: 13; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 6; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10105214 · 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 110 MPH FOR NO KNOWN REASON, THE CONSUMER STATED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE, WHICH FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL SEVERELY. THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE,A LITTLE WHILE LATER SHE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COU…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119300 · 2005-04-28 (April 28, 2005)
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *MR THERE WERE TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING UP TO A BUILDING AND DAMAGED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049421 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
HARD SHIFTING TRANSMISSION ON NEW 2004 MAZDA MPV. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166435 · 2006-08-24 (August 24, 2006)
I OWN A MAZDA TRIBUTE 2004, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE MAZDA SERVICING SHOP FOR VARIOUS REPAIRS RANGING FROM A LEAK OF WATER OF RAIN THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THE TRANSMISSION OF THE SUB WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE, THE CONDENSATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS ON TOP OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS RUSTED, ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER COMPLAINTS. THE SUV CURRENTLY HAS A MILEAGE OF 8695 MILES AND IS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, IT DOES NOT SHIFT INTO THE 40-55 MPH SHIFT AND EXCEEDS THE #3 RPM'S. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ONCE AGAIN TO THE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058546 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
THIS IS BASICALLY A DESIGN FLAW. OUR 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE SUFFERED "HYDRO-LOCK" AFTER TRAVERSING A FLOODED PAVED ROAD DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD CROWN. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT THE CENTER YELLOW LINE WAS VISIBLE THROUGH THE MUDDY WATER AND THE WATER LEVEL WAS BELOW THE RUNNING BOARDS. THE VEHICLE STALLED NEAR THE END OF THE FLOODED CONDITION AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES BUT WOULD STALL AGAIN. WHILE STALLED IN THE FLOODED ROADWAY, SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDING PASSENGER CARS (CHEVY MALIBU, NISSAN MURANO) PAST BY OUR STALLED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083678 · 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141927 · 2005-11-07 (November 7, 2005)
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. NO WARNING LIGHTS, CAR JUST DIES AND COASTS TO A COMPLETE STOP. LOSE STEERING CAPABILITY. DIES IN A MATTER OF 5 SECONDS AND SOME TIMES DO NOT EVEN HAVE TIME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. USUALLY RESTARTS AFTER 5-10 MINUTES OF TRYING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 3-4 WEEKS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281285 · 2009-08-21 (August 21, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECREASED SPEED AND FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS LOSING POWER. THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE ABOVE 5 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IT WOULD TAKE 1-3 MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE PART. AFTER 4 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, WHEN THE SHIFTING GEARS FROM PARK, REVERSE, AND DRIVE SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WAS ALSO LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226949 · 2008-05-07 (May 7, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED A FAILURE WITH THE SYSTEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED A SEAT MODULE, THE THIRD TIME THEY HAD TO REINSTALL THE HARNESS BECAUSE THEY CONNECTED IT IMPROPERLY, THE FOURTH TIME, THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SENSOR, THE FIFTH TIME THEY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR, AND MOST RECENTLY, THEY REPLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282025 · 2009-08-27 (August 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC SIGN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND MISFIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL PACK, SPARK PLUGS AND BY PASSED THE WIRING HARNESS. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL INJECTION WAS CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,300. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO AN AU…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052847 · 2004-01-11 (January 11, 2004)
GAS TANK SPEWS GASOLINE OVER CAR AND OPERATOR WHEN REFILLING. OCCURS WITH REGULARITY WHEN PUMP AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF ACTIVATES FOR THE FIRST TIME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223569 · 2008-04-07 (April 7, 2008)
VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXTENDED CRANK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AS IT WAS NEARING 30K MILE SERVICE, WE DECIDED TO WAIT AND HAVE DEALER INSPECT AT THAT TIME. BEFORE THE CAR WENT IN FOR MAINTENANCE, IT SHUT DOWN GOING UPHILL. ALTHOUGH IT WOULD RESTART, IT RAN ROUGH AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. #3 IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED THAT THAT VISIT. THE CAR BEGAN STARTING HARD AGAIN IN LATE 2007 AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN - THIS VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE IDLE AIR VALVE, HOPING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT CONTINUED TO START HARD AND 2…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223569 at NHTSA ↗