2008 Mazda Tribute Steering Problems
Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2008 Mazda Tribute, 47% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 102,045 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering failed” (15% of reports).
- 94steering complaints
- 102,045median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%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.
- Steering failed: mentioned in 14 of 94 complaints (15%)
- Torque sensor: mentioned in 12 of 94 complaints (13%)
- Became difficult: mentioned in 12 of 94 complaints (13%)
- Turn power: mentioned in 6 of 94 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2008 Mazda Tribute at $2,800, and half of them between $2,100 and $2,850.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 72 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 94 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Mazda Tribute steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Tribute | 5 | 71% | 114,000 |
| 2010 Tribute | 11 | 28% | 81,078 |
| 2009 Tribute | 19 | 54% | 109,000 |
| 2008 Tribute | 94 | 47% | 102,045 |
| 2006 Tribute | 3 | 2% | 35,000 |
| 2005 Tribute | 2 | 1% | 21,563 |
| 2004 Tribute | 3 | 2% | 95,000 |
| 2003 Tribute | 9 | 5% | 112,345 |
| 2002 Tribute | 15 | 4% | 70,400 |
| 2001 Tribute | 35 | 6% | 61,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7614E.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and inoperable, with the maintenance warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The dealer was not contacted…
Unknown, Electric steering no longer works, ABS light, traction control light engine light air bag light and tool light are on the, brakes will be faulty at times mainly when ABS and traction control light turn on. There is Google fact that 2008 Mazda had recall for EPS, also faulty air bag and…
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving at low speeds and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Mazda Tributes have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 94 owner complaints about steering for the 2008 Mazda Tribute (47% of the 202 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 2008 Mazda Tribute steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 102,045 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2008 Mazda Tribute?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,800 (half paid between $2,100 and $2,850), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2008 Mazda Tribute?
The most frequent phrase is “steering failed”, in 14 of 94 complaints, followed by “torque sensor” (12).
Other 2008 Mazda Tribute problems
See all 2008 Mazda Tribute problems or steering problems across all Tribute years.