2005 Mazda TRIBUTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
377 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
101,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 313 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 134 of 377 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 43 | 11.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.1% |
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 | 134 |
| Structure:Body | 107 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 75 |
| Engine | 23 |
| Wheels | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Power Train | 14 |
Suspension: 134; Structure:Body: 107; Vehicle Speed Control: 75; Engine: 23; Wheels: 21; Unknown Or Other: 19; Electrical System: 16; Power Train: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 28 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 63 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 115 |
| 150,000 and above | 51 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 63; 100,000 to 149,999: 115; 150,000 and above: 51
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (115). 64 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2004: 6; 2005: 10; 2006: 12; 2007: 7; 2008: 16; 2009: 19; 2010: 21; 2011: 15; 2012: 21; 2013: 15; 2014: 50; 2015: 55; 2016: 50; 2017: 28; 2018: 21; 2019: 14; 2020: 7; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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 10107624 · 2005-01-20 (January 20, 2005)
2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE [4000 MI] BRAKES FAILED AND THROTTLE STUCK ON DEC 17, 2004. I HAD TO PULL HAND BRAKE TO STOP . CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP IN AMHERST VA. THROTTLE ASSY, IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND A 100MI ROAD TEST WERE DONE. PICKED VEHICLE UP ON JAN 14,2005. ON JAN 15TH, PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITH BRAKES NON-RESPONSIVE AND THROTTLE STUCK. SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING AND THEY TURNED ENGINE OFF AND COASTED OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN AMHERST AND REMAINS THERE AT PRESENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115552 · 2005-03-07 (March 7, 2005)
WHEN THE BRAKES OF THE CONSUMER'S 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *NM THERE WAS A RATTLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE DRIVERS MIRROR VIBRATED, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE AUTO DIMMING MIRROR REGISTERED INCORRECTLY, THE WIPER DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW AND THERE WAS A RUST SPOT ON THE INSIDE LIP OF THE MOON ROOF. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094612 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132402 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)
2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE SWITCH.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SELECTOR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117134 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, THEN STALLED. DRIVER RESTARTED VEHICLE AFTER TEN MINUTES. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380483 · 2011-02-02 (February 2, 2011)
2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE S. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO DIE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN SHE SLOWED DOWN OR STOPPED. MAZDA SERVICE HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER STAYING IN LOCK UP MODE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING AT INTERSECTIONS. UPDATED 09/15/11*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10380483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160388 · 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)
MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE I-4, WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT, EXPERIENCED AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER TO BRING THE CAR IN BECAUSE IT MIGHT DIE. MY VEHICLE IS NOW BEING HELD FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT ALTERNATORS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE BACK-ORDERED. I WONDER IF THEY ARE BACK ORDERED BECAUSE OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT VERY LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 19,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258067 · 2009-02-09 (February 9, 2009)
IN 2007 VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD REACH A DEALER OR SHOP THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FRIED THE MAIN COMPUTER. COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS CHECKED. DEALER FOUND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT WERE LOOSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAUSED A RECALL ON THE TRIBUTE / ESCAPE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122626 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS A DEFECT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE'S ALIGNMENT WAS ADJUSTED, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CRADLE WAS MOVED BUT NONE OF THESE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY PROVIDED NO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122649 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE DEVELOPED A SCRAPING AND SQUEAKING NOISE; THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND.**NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THERE WAS ALSO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VIBRATION INTENSIFIED UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. *BF
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088542 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE THAT EVERY TIME YOU ATTEMPT TO FILL THE GAS TANK IT SPEWS OUT RAW FUEL OUT AND POLLUTE'S THE ATMOSPHERE AND CREATES A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE DEALER CLAIM'S THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. WHAT CAN EPA DO TO PUT A HALT TO THIS TYPE OF POLLUTION. I HAVE WRITTEN THE STATE OF NEVADA FOR HELP AS TO CORECTLY FILL THIS GAS TANK, THE GAS PUMP SAFTIES MUST BE BYPASSED, THUS CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.*AK WILLIAM A PEARCE …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118908 · 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)
FUEL TANK DESIGN PROBLEM ON A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE.*MR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FUEL TANK FILLER PROBLEM THEY CANNOT RECTIFY AND CLAIM THAT IT IS A MAZDA DESIGN ERROR. WHEN FILLING THE TANK GAS SPEWS OUT SHUTTING OF THE PUMP. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN REQUIRED TO MANUALLY OVERRIDING THE PUMP BY CONTINUALLY CLICKING THE PUMP ON AND OFF RAPIDLY. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118908 at NHTSA ↗