2006 Mazda TRIBUTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
130 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 107 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 130 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 16.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 44 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 44; Engine: 16; Power Train: 12; Suspension: 12; Structure:Body: 10; Electrical System: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 8; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2009: 9; 2010: 14; 2011: 12; 2012: 12; 2013: 9; 2014: 18; 2015: 9; 2016: 8; 2017: 10; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10155257 · 2006-04-13 (April 13, 2006)
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/7/06 AND ON 4/8/06 I OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. VEHICLE PRODUCES A NOTICEABLE WHINING/HUMMING NOISE AND VIBRATION THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL DURING THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS: 1) WHEN THE CAR IS INITIALLY STARTED, 2) WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS SLIGHTLY PRESSED WHILE THE GEAR IS IN THE PARK POSITION 3) WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COMING TO A STOP WITH OR WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE BRAKES, 4) WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. UPON NOTICING NOISE AND VIBRATION, I TOOK IT TO BACK TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 24 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156361 · 2006-04-28 (April 28, 2006)
AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT AN UPHILL GRADE--APPROX A 20 DEGREE INCLINE, AS SOON AS THE BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS. THE ONLY MEANS TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACK IS TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE AGAIN OR TO IMMEDIATELY PRESS HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL. HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTS MOVING UPHILL, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BACKWARD TRAVEL PRIOR TO THE ENGINE PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO OVERCOME THE BACKWARD ROLL. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THERE MIGHT BE VEHICLES DIRECTLY BEHIND ME WHEN THIS OCCURS. …
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181346 · 2007-02-01 (February 1, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. AT THE FIRST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, BUT SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE. DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED UP AND THE VEHICLE REVVED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION. *AK RETUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378529 · 2011-01-24 (January 24, 2011)
WHILE PASSING A SLOWER VEHICLE ON A TWO LANE ROAD, THE MAZDA TRIBUTE'S ACCELERATOR STUCK. I LET OFF THE GAS AT 65MPH BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 4000 RPM AND 85 MPH. THE BRAKES DID LITTLE TO SLOW THE CAR(I GOT IT DOWN TO 80MPH). TRYING TO RAISE OR MOVE THE GAS PEDDLE DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THE SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, I APPLIED THE HAND (EMERGENCY) BRAKE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD ONTO A WIDE SHOULDER. STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN LATER, IT STARTED AT THE PREVIOUS HIGH RPM'S. I CALLED…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150780 · 2006-02-21 (February 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DECELERATING AT 40 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425945 · 2011-09-18 (September 18, 2011)
I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT, AND STARTED TO HIT THE GAS, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO WORK FOR ABOUT 200 FEET, AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I STARTED MY CAR AGAIN, AND AGAIN IT WENT FOR 200 FEET BEFORE STORPPING AND STALLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSMISSON HAD FAILED, AND THERE IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE WITH MY CAR AND ITS TRANSMISSION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE, AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL MAZDA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10381126 · 2011-02-08 (February 8, 2011)
I HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY MAZDA TRIBUTE 4 CYLINDER 2WD. THE #1 PROBLEM IS THAT THE GAS PEDDLE FREEZES ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. I TRY TO PRESS DOWN ON IT AND IT DOESN'T MOVE. I HAVE TO DO THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS WORKING AND THEN I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT I DON'T GO SHOOTING ACROSS THE RODE. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD BE CARBON BUILDUP BY THE DEALERS SERVICEMAN. I ALSO HAVE TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES EVERY WEEK WHEN IT'S COLD AND EVERY OTHER WEEK WHEN IT'S NOT. I HAD A TIRE PRESSURE VALVE LEAK IN ONE OF THE TIRES AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631166 · 2014-09-05 (September 5, 2014)
MY BATTERY BEGAN BEING DRAINED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY BUT IT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN IT IS COLD I HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR JUMPED TO START MOST OF THE TIME. I SAT IN THE CAR LISTENING TO THE RADIO FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THIS SUMMER AND THEN FOUND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING AND MY BACK UP LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE. I DID HAVE A REMOTE START INSTALLED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR AND IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AND IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584527 · 2014-04-23 (April 23, 2014)
WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE CHANGED THE TIRES, AND IT STILL WAIVERS..ITS LIKE THE STEERING COMPONENT IS LOOSE, OR THE STABILITY CABLE IS LOOSE. STEERING WANDERS BACK AND FORTH AND IT HARD TO CONTAIN EVEN MORE WHEN WINDY. PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE ALSO DONE WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS AND ALIGNINGS, AND DOESN'T HELP. I ONLY HAVE 56,000 ON THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204765 · 2007-10-03 (October 3, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 62 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 MORE MILES. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULTS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE GROUND ON THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE. THE LOOSE GROUND WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142753 · 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)
HELLO - OUR 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE RECENTLY HAD ISSUES RELATED TO SPIDER WEBS IN THE VENT HOSE - IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTES, THE FOLLOWING ISSUES WERE NOTED RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK: CANISTER VENT FILTER AND HOSE: END OF VENT HOSE AT TOP OF FILLER KNECK PLUGGED WITH SPIDER WEBS THIS RESEMBLES ISSUES THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL OF LATER MODELS, HOWEVER IN CONTACTING MAZDA, NOBODY HAS RESPONDED TO MY CONCERN, BASICALLY STATING THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS YEAR - I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT SINCE THE ISSUE IS IDENTICAL, I WOULD THINK T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11142753 at NHTSA ↗