2002 Mazda TRIBUTE: complaints, problems and recalls

TIRE JACK WILL NOT RAISE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH SO THAT REAR WHEEL CAN BE REMOVED

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000852 at NHTSA ↗

2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND GIVING YOU NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. I AM WORKING ON A LEMON LAW PACKAGE NOW. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES IN 10 MONTHS OF LEASING THIS VEHICLE .

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002703 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKES FAILED ON 11/22/02 AT 16,714 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER AS DEFECTED. ON 1/03/03 AT 19,632 MILES THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. AGAIN THE DEALER CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER AS DEFECTIVE. I QUESTIONED WHETHER THIS WAS THE CAUSE SINCE IT HAPPENED TWICE AND DIDN'T FEEL THIS WAS THE ROOT CAUSE. ON 1/10/03 AT 20,634 MILES THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. IN ALL THREE CASES THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DAELERSHIP NOW SAYS ITS AN ABS PROBLEM. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT STOP THE VEHICLE EITHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,714 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002895 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME VEHICLE HAS STALLED. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET PULLED OVER BECAUSE LACK OF POWER ASSISTANCE! WAS TRAVELLING ALONG A FLAT ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN IT STALLED. TOOK NEARLY 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO START AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND A FEW SENSORS RELATED TO AIR INTAKE. I WILL BE TAKING IT IN AGAIN ON MONDAY FOR THIS STALL. I HAVE NOT SEEN A SOLID FIX FOR THIS YET AND CANNOT BELIEVE HOW SLOW THE NHTSA IS TAKING TO INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS PR…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,591 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003413 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING 40-45 MPH DRIVER SIDE OUT SIDE MIRROR START VIBRATING . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003899 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY @ 65 MPH TENSIONER BROKE OFF AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF CAUSING LOSS OF STEARING AND POWER SYSTEM DOWN. ON JAN.9,2003 WATER PUMP BROKE,JAN. 29,2003 GEAR STUCK BETWEEN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004954 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007179 at NHTSA ↗

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM EMITTED BAD FUMES.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008916 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 DURATEC ENGINES , DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.

Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Consequence: AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.

Reported: 2004-12-23 (December 23, 2004)

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2007-04-10 (April 10, 2007)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2012-01-20 (January 20, 2012)

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 2000, THROUGH JULY 19, 2002. THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID. IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKS, IT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Consequence: CORROSION MAY DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING MELTING, SMOKING OR POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP AND MODIFY THE ABS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FREE OF CHARGE. UNTIL THE REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED, VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD PARK THEIR VEHICLES OUTSIDE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION 6.

Reported: 2012-07-27 (July 27, 2012)

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.

Consequence: A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-5500, option #6.

Reported: 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.

Consequence: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.