2008 Mazda TRIBUTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
202 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 92 of 202 complaints (45.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 94 | 46.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 10.9% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 92 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 47 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
Steering: 92; Vehicle Speed Control: 47; Power Train: 19; Electrical System: 15; Service Brakes: 10; Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 26 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 38 |
| 150,000 and above | 28 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 38; 150,000 and above: 28
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 12; 2010: 18; 2011: 12; 2012: 16; 2013: 12; 2014: 40; 2015: 18; 2016: 6; 2017: 16; 2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 12; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 94 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 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 10199051 · 2007-08-10 (August 10, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYS VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BRIDGES WITH IRON GRATES. THE FAILURE CAUSES HIM TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED THE FIRST DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 705.
Owner-reported narrative. 705 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350917 · 2010-08-19 (August 19, 2010)
2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER STATES STEERING JOINT PROBLEM *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE STEERING JOINT HAD WORN OUT. THE DEALER FOUND THE STEERING COUPLER WAS COMING APART. THEREFORE, THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10350917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241813 · 2008-09-11 (September 11, 2008)
WE ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION COOLER PROBLEMS. OUR 2008 TRIBUTE HAS A MAJOR LEAK...OR SHALL I SAY POUR. THE ITEM IS RECALLED. WE LIVE 1100 KM AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP.....SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY RUIN THE TRANSMISSION IF WE DRIVE THAT FAR...AND WE DO NOT HAVE 4000.00 TO GET IT TOWED. SO HERE WE ARE WITH A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE THAT WE CAN NOT DRIVE BECAUSE OF A TRANNY LEAK. WHAT TO DO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262614 · 2009-03-21 (March 21, 2009)
MAJOR TRANSMISSION LEAK, IT KEPT LEAKING EVERYWHERE EVEN AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS LEAKING, BUT FOR SOME REASON THE CAR DROVE NORMAL, THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS FAST, MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR 28,000 MILES AND THE BRAKES ARE MAKING GRUMBLING NOISES WHEN ITS LEFT TO COOL FOR LIKE 19 MINUTES, PLUS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SOUND DISTORTED. TRANSMISSION LEAKED AND NOW MY PREFECT GARAGE AND READ TRANNY FLUID EVERYWHERE!!! MAZDA AND FORD PLEASE STOP MAKING CARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314105 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)
MY 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE AWD 4I GAS PEDAL STICKS IN COLD WEATHER AND SOMETIMES IN WARM WEATHER (EXACT PROBLEM COMPARED TO 2005 MODEL YEAR COMPLAINTS). IT HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN I GET INTO THE CAR ON A COLD MORNING AND HAVE NOT PROPERLY WARMED THE CAR UP. A FEW TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER I HAVE FULLY TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS (SAY TO BRAKE) AND THEN RETURN MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE PEDAL WILL REFUSE TO PUSH DOWN EVEN WITH MY FULL BODY WEIGHT (240LB MAN) ON THE PEDAL. I FIND I HAVE TO JIGGLE MY FOOT AND STEP ON THE PEDAL MULTIPLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,982 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328794 · 2010-05-04 (May 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CHANGED LANES TO PASS A VEHICLE BUT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SPEED UP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE ONLY RACED UP AND DOWN WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR FILTER AND FUEL CONTROL MODULE HAD BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,185 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10630367 · 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)
VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60+ MPH) WITH RED TRIANGLE WARNING SYMBOL AND "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE. EVENT HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THROTTLE BODY SIMILAR TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPLACEMENT UNDER WAY WITH FORD ESCAPE (SAME VEHICLE, DIFFERENT BADGE). HOWEVER, MAZDA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE/ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MATTER AND TREATS THE INCIDENT AS JUST ANOTHER SERVICE EVENT. UNPREDICTAB…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259678 · 2009-02-23 (February 23, 2009)
2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE CONDENSATION IN SEALED BEAM HEADLIGHT. DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT MAZDA CORPORATE SENT OUT AN EMAIL DISALLOWING THE REPAIR OF HEADLIGHTS WITH CONDENSATION IN THEM. THE CORPORATE EMAIL APPARENTLY STATES THAT THIS IS A "NORMAL" OCCURRENCE AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS COULD IMPAIR OUR NIGHT VISION OR LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE VALIDITY OF MAZDAS CLAIM SINCE WATER SHOULD NOT BE IN THE HEADLIGHT. CAR IS AT TOWN NORTH MAZDA IN RICHARDSON TX. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458851 · 2012-05-17 (May 17, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE. THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE STEERING ET ALL. PULLED OVER, STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT WENT AWAY. DROVE COUPLE OF MORE MILES, AGAIN WHEN THE CAR WENT BACK TO DRIVE ON BATTERY POWER THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN.HAD TO STOP AND RESTART AGAIN. THE "WRENCH" SYMBOL CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC , HE SAID THE CODE SHOWS POWER STEERING MODULE INSIDE THE STEERING IS "BAD", CHECKED WITH MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON POWER STEERING FOR MAZDA TRIBUTE , BU…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326972 · 2010-04-22 (April 22, 2010)
ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS STICKY. IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO PUSH, THEN WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE AND ALLOW YOU TO ACCELERATE. HAPPENS EVERY MORNING, AND LASTS FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. CONDITION IS WORSENING. DEALER "CLEANED THROTTLE BODY", BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THE THROTTLE BODY SHOULD BE REPLACED. MAZDA EXTENDED WARRANTY INITIALLY DENIED MY CLAIM FOR REPAIR STATING "NOT A COVERED PART". HOWEVER, THEY NOW SAY IT IS A COVERED PART, BUT STILL HAVE NOT YET AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326972 at NHTSA ↗