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2005 Mazda TRIBUTE: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 134 of 377 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4311.4%
Transmission and shifting133.4%
Engine operation102.7%
Electrical and battery issues61.6%
Steering behavior61.6%
Fuel system concerns41.1%

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.

Suspension
134
Structure:Body
107
Vehicle Speed Control
75
Engine
23
Wheels
21
Unknown Or Other
19
Electrical System
16
Power Train
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension134
Structure:Body107
Vehicle Speed Control75
Engine23
Wheels21
Unknown Or Other19
Electrical System16
Power Train14

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00028
25,000 to 49,99928
50,000 to 74,99928
75,000 to 99,99963
100,000 to 149,999115
150,000 and above51

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20046
200510
200612
20077
200816
200919
201021
201115
201221
201315
201450
201555
201650
201728
201821
201914
20207
20215
20222
20232
20241

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10083989 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)

MAZDA TRIBUTE VIOLENTLY ROLLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE NEARLY ROLLED OVER. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083989 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 10089259 · 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *MR *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME SO UNSTABLE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN AND CHANGE LANES TO AVOID A ROLL OVER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089259 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 10097481 · 2004-10-19 (October 19, 2004)

VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, BECAME UNSTABLE. *BF WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND FELT AS IF WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT HA NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097481 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10099368 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, VEHICLE SWERVES VIOLENTLY. DROVE STRAIGHT ON RAIN GROOVE SURFACE, NEARLY ROLL OVER. *BF *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099368 at NHTSA ↗

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 10113546 · 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)

MAZDA TRIBUTE 2005 GEAR SHIFT LEVER LOCK IN PARKING POSITION. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113546 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

04V605000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
06V116000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint

Reported: 2006-04-12 (April 12, 2006)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITHOUT SIDE AIR CURTAINS OR MOON ROOFS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT ABOVE THE PERMITTED LIMIT AT THE LEFT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLINER IN THE AFFECTED AREA FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
12V357000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗