Mazda Tribute Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,102 owner complaints and 20 safety recalls on file for the Mazda Tribute, across 12 model years (2000–2011). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (563). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Mazda Tribute years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tribute year: 2001, 2002, 2005. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 Tribute: 563 complaints, 13 recalls
- 2002 Tribute: 384 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2005 Tribute: 377 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2007 Tribute: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 Tribute: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2011 Tribute: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mazda Tribute problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 343 | 8 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 343 | 11 | 36 |
| Structure problems | 291 | 11 | 10 |
| Suspension problems | 249 | 7 | 4 |
| Power Train problems | 222 | 10 | 5 |
| Steering problems | 196 | 10 | 4 |
| Electrical System problems | 191 | 10 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 158 | 8 | 8 |
| Air Bags problems | 140 | 9 | 39 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 88 | 6 | 1 |
| Engine | 77 | 9 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 71 | 9 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 67 | 9 | 6 |
| Wheels | 50 | 8 | 2 |
| Visibility | 40 | 8 | 0 |
| Tires | 29 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 9 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 7 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment | 15 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 13 | 8 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Seats | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Mazda Tribute problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2008: steering (94) · vehicle speed control (53)
- 2005: suspension (137) · structure (126) · vehicle speed control (85)
- 2002: engine and engine cooling (124) · service brakes, hydraulic (60)
- 2001: engine and engine cooling (167) · electrical system (81) · power train (69) · latches/locks/linkages (59)
All Mazda Tribute model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Tribute | 7 | 0 | 3★ | Steering | |
| 2010 Tribute | 39 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Tribute | 35 | 1 | — | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Tribute | 202 | 4 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 Tribute | 4 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 2006 Tribute | 130 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 Tribute | 377 | 3 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Tribute | 157 | 5 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 Tribute | 199 | 6 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Tribute | 384 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Tribute | 563 | 13 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Tribute | 5 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling |
More from Mazda: all Mazda models · Mazda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Tribute years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (563), 2002 (384), 2005 (377) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tribute year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda Tribute?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 343 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Mazda Tribute have?
20 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.