U.S. public vehicle records

Mazda TRIBUTE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,102 owner complaints analyzed

20 distinct recall campaigns

83,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,380 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 278 of 2,102 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	428	20.4%
Steering behavior	310	14.7%
Engine operation	301	14.3%
Transmission and shifting	163	7.8%
Electrical and battery issues	100	4.8%
Fuel system concerns	24	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.

Vehicle Speed Control

278

Suspension

229

Structure:Body

194

Steering

166

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

163

Electrical System

111

Air Bags

105

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Vehicle Speed Control	278
Suspension	229
Structure:Body	194
Steering	166
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	163
Electrical System	111
Air Bags	105
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	86

Vehicle Speed Control: 278; Suspension: 229; Structure:Body: 194; Steering: 166; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 163; Electrical System: 111; Air Bags: 105; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 86

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

190

25,000 to 49,999

198

50,000 to 74,999

220

75,000 to 99,999

235

100,000 to 149,999

345

150,000 and above

192

Under 25,000: 190; 25,000 to 49,999: 198; 50,000 to 74,999: 220; 75,000 to 99,999: 235; 100,000 to 149,999: 345; 150,000 and above: 192

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (345). 722 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.

2000

2001

128

2002

198

2003

131

2004

116

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

128

2013

2014

168

2015

141

2016

101

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
2000	18
2001	128
2002	198
2003	131
2004	116
2005	87
2006	83
2007	64
2008	94
2009	95
2010	96
2011	69
2012	128
2013	87
2014	168
2015	141
2016	101
2017	81
2018	66
2019	51
2020	33
2021	24
2022	15
2023	16
2024	4
2025	6
2026	2

2000: 18; 2001: 128; 2002: 198; 2003: 131; 2004: 116; 2005: 87; 2006: 83; 2007: 64; 2008: 94; 2009: 95; 2010: 96; 2011: 69; 2012: 128; 2013: 87; 2014: 168; 2015: 141; 2016: 101; 2017: 81; 2018: 66; 2019: 51; 2020: 33; 2021: 24; 2022: 15; 2023: 16; 2024: 4; 2025: 6; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 428 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 310 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 301 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 10079572 · 2004-06-21 (June 21, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END TWO OTHER VEHICLES. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079572 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10231638 · 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)

MAZDA TRIBUTE SUV - 2000 - - RECALL/REPLACE 2004 O2 SENSOR, BEGAN PROBLEMS AFTER THIS. INCIDENT: AFTER DRIVING AND ENGINE IS HOT, THEN STOP AT THE STORE FOR 10-20 MINS., THEN CAR WILL NOT RESTART OR STAY STARTED. IF IT RESTARTS, I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS WHILE STOPPING AND BRAKING TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM DYING. IF THE ENGINE HAS COOL TEMPERATURE OUTDOORS OR HAS AMPLE TIME TO COOL DOWN, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231638 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003803 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)

WHEN CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS NO STEERING POWER, AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AIR FLOW SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.*JB...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003803 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005188 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, NO STEERING. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAS TAKEN PLACE. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM? IS FORD/MAZDA GOING TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES (ESCAPE/TRIBUTE) AND FIX THEM?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 889486 · 2001-05-31 (May 31, 2001)

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 48 MPH ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THEY SAID THAT COULD HAPPEN SOMETIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000360 · 2002-12-25 (December 25, 2002)

OWNED MY TRIBUTE FOR A YEAR BEFORE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. ON 3/15/02 I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT I HAD THEM DO A 30K MILE SERVICE AND CHECK EVERYTHING FROM FRONT TO BACK. HAD A RENTAL FOR TWO DAYS. ON 6/10/02 I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT SUDDENLY STARTED STALLING DEAD AT STOPS AND YIELDS. I ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO THIS. CAUSE: INTERNAL FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CONTROL UNIT, IDLE AIR VALVE, COOLANT FAN RELAY. I HAD A RENTAL FOR THREE DAYS. ON 8/5/02 IT HAD TO B…

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025520 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)

AT 36000 MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, AT 4500 MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. AT 45K000 MILES ALTENATOR FAILED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025520 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031524 · 2002-07-28 (July 28, 2002)

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE JERKING, PROBLEM BELIEVED TO BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *MR THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. THE DEALER LATER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. (THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 45-50, BUT AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, DOWN TO 35-45 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH NO WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED LIABILITY. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031524 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041294 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)

MAZDA TIRBUTE ESV6 HAS LOST ALL POWER UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AND ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OUT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO GET OUT TO SAFETY. THE MECHANIC FROM JIM ELLIS MAZDA AT MARIETTA, GA TOLD THAT THIS CASE ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE (ONE FROM A DIFFERENT CAR). IN ADDITION, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE VALVE GETS "CARBED UP." THIS OCCURS WHEN A DRIVER IS COASTING BETWEEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE ALREADY GOING HAYWIRE ON THI…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041294 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10167054 · 2006-08-30 (August 30, 2006)

ON 11/07/05 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN DUE TO STALLING WHEN SLOWING AND STOPPING. THE ENGINE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ON 11/08/05 VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BACK STILL STALLING. AC GASKET AND IDLE VALVE WERE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD OUR ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND DEALER WOULD NOT FIX. THE DAY I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE IT STALLED AT 60 MPH. THREE DAYS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC, FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 91,185 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167054 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10543966 · 2013-09-17 (September 17, 2013)

WIFE STOPPED AT GAS STATION TO FILL UP. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER FILLUP. HAD CAR TOWED HOME. DETERMINED IT WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP. REPLACED FUEL PUMP. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIMPLE REPAIR, BUT IT WAS ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE. COMPLETED FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, MY WIFE AND I STARTED SMELLING FUEL OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I REMOVED THE COVER OVER THE FUEL PUMP, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, AND OBSERVED A GAS SPOT ON THE GROUND JUST FORWARD OF THE FUEL TANK, BUT STILL CAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543966 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.