2002 Mazda Tribute Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Mazda Tribute, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 24,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine stalled” (11% of reports).
- 124engine and engine cooling complaints
- 24,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 22%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine stalled: mentioned in 14 of 124 complaints (11%)
- Power brakes: mentioned in 8 of 124 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 41 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 124 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 6 a fire.
Mazda Tribute engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Tribute | 2 | 1% | 14,643 |
| 2006 Tribute | 5 | 4% | 1,300 |
| 2005 Tribute | 2 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Tribute | 17 | 11% | 73,000 |
| 2003 Tribute | 23 | 12% | 47,000 |
| 2002 Tribute | 124 | 32% | 24,000 |
| 2001 Tribute | 167 | 30% | 42,500 |
| 2000 Tribute | 3 | 60% | 48,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control:cables; engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCEFULLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, NONE…
I pulled onto a dirt road because there was smoke coming from the front of my car and when i stopped i opened the hood and there was like a small fire coming from under the hood i got scared called my mother and 2 seconds later the whole front of the car was on fire. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the engine and the abs warning lights remained illuminated, and the engine released a burning odor. In addition, the contact stated that there was an increase in braking distance. The contact had the radiator, heater coil and the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Mazda Tributes have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 124 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2002 Mazda Tribute (32% of the 384 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mazda Tribute engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 24,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Mazda Tribute?
The most frequent phrase is “engine stalled”, in 14 of 124 complaints, followed by “power brakes” (8).
Other 2002 Mazda Tribute problems
See all 2002 Mazda Tribute problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Tribute years.