2005 Mazda Tribute Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tribute years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 377 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mazda Tribute. That ranks 3rd out of 12 Tribute model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (137 complaints, 36%), typically at around 125,000 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 4 fires, 13 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 377owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Mazda Tribute problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension problems | 137 | 36% | 125,000 | “wheel well” (54%) | — |
| Structure problems | 126 | 33% | 125,131 | “wheel well” (58%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 85 | 23% | 70,000 | “gas pedal sticks” (15%) | — |
| Power Train | 24 | 6% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 23 | 6% | 99,061 | — | — |
| Wheels | 22 | 6% | 122,210 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 19 | 5% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 19 | 5% | 124,545 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 13 | 3% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 3% | 40,842 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 3% | 106,293 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 3% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 2% | 95,878 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 1% | 167,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 1% | 103,385 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 1% | 87,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 1% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | 21,563 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 38,250 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 500 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 70,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Mazda Tribute recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Fix: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Passenger rear shock mount toatly rusted through. A big hole!
Rear passenger shock mount rusted out completely
The rear wheel well was completely rusted out while the other side is fine. The shock broke loose causing the vehicle to drop down. I have a 17 year old that is not an experienced driver and this could have resulted in her getting seriously hurt. From what I read they recalled the vehicle to to…
owned since day one, bought brand new, religiously maintained, perfect shape other than completely rusted wheel house back left passenger side. Shock went through rusted area all the way to trunk. Mazda recalled models 2003 to 2004 for this problem yet so many 2005 Mazda Tribute owners are having…
The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out and the brake mount is deteriorating as well affecting the safety of the vehicle. I have been told that this is a common issue on Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape models for the years 2001-2005 by my mechanic as well as Mazda dealer reps. They stated…
Other Mazda Tribute years
← 2004 Tribute · 2006 Tribute →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Tribute | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 Tribute | 39 | 2 |
| 2009 Tribute | 35 | 1 |
| 2008 Tribute | 202 | 4 |
| 2007 Tribute | 4 | 0 |
| 2006 Tribute | 130 | 2 |
| 2005 | 377 | 3 |
| 2004 Tribute | 157 | 5 |
| 2003 Tribute | 199 | 6 |
| 2002 Tribute | 384 | 7 |
| 2001 Tribute | 563 | 13 |
| 2000 Tribute | 5 | 0 |
See all Mazda Tribute problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
Similar Mazda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mazda Tribute?
Owners most often report suspension, structure, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 137 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Mazda Tribute?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Mazda Tribute a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tribute model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.