Suspension. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

157 reports

104,000 miles · Nov 16, 2012

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 12V357000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES) THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TWO MONTHS LATER AND ONCE AGAIN, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT YET BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10484911

121,000 miles · Sep 19, 2012

Exterior LightingStructure

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THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD FELL INBOARD. THE BUTTON WAS NEVER USED/PUSHED AS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN OCCASION TO USE IT. I SPOKE WITH THE CAR DEALER AND HE SAID THE PLASTIC ON THE INSIDE WAS BROKEN THAT HELD THE BUTTON IN PLACE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY FOR THE CAR. SINCE THERE WAS NO REASON TO USE THE HAZARD LIGHTS SO FAR, THE PLASTIC WAS NOT BROKEN FROM USE. NOW I'M DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT ANY SAFETY HAZARD LIGHTS TO USE SHOULD AN OCCASION ARISE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY UNDER ANOTHER RECALL - 6821G AND WOULD LIKE THE HAZARD LIGHTS FIXED AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475912

55,000 miles · Sep 18, 2012

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND WOULD CONTINUE ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. ...UPDATED 10/10/12 …

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NHTSA ODI #10475873

190,535 miles · Jul 25, 2012

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED AND FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN 20004, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP12005 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE INVESTIGATION CLOSED ON JULY 17,2012. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,535.

NHTSA ODI #10467684

88,242 miles · Jun 11, 2012

Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHT…

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NHTSA ODI #10461195

160,000 miles · Feb 29, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire

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2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE, 6 CYLINDER. THE ENGINE EXPLODED UPON STARTING, SPECIFICALLY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. UPON STARTING, AN EXTREMELY LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED, THE HOOD WAS RAISED ABOUT AN INCH AND SMOKE AND FLAME POURED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE SMOKED SUBSIDED AND PLASTIC PARTS WHERE SCATTERED ABOUT THE PARKING LOT. TOWED THE TRIBUTE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW UP AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE ENGINE IS NOT DAMAGED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THAT MY CHILD WAS NOT NEAR THE CAR, OTHERWISE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN DEADLY INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449673

84,000 miles · Jan 11, 2012

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDDLE PULSATE, THE BRAKES GRIND AND VIBRATE THE CAR, AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. NO INDICATORS LIGHTS LIGHT UP. THE PULSATING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS THE SAME AS ONE WOULD FEEL WHEN THE ABS ENGAGES, BUT THE GRINDING AND PULLING TO THE LEFT ARE NOT NORMAL. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY DID NOT NEED REPLACEMENT AS THEY WERE NOT WORN. I EXPLAINED THE PULSATING AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THEM. THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS. THEY DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. UPON LEAVING THE GARAGE AND BRAKING, I HEARD AND FELT THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS I DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALTHOUGH NOT AS SEVERE. DUE TO THE LATE HOUR, I CONTINUED HOME. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GARAGE. THIS TIME THE TECHNICIAN DROVE IT TO SEE FOR HIMSELF. UPON HIS INSPECTION, HE FOUND SOME RUST, BUT INDICATED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE IN WORKING ORDER. THE PULSATING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE GRINDING NOISE, AND THE PULLING TO THE LEFT HAVE BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED GENTLY, THE SYMPTOMS STILL OCCUR. I REVIEWED MY RECALL INSPECTION PAPERWORK FROM 06/14.07 PERFORMED BY A MAZDA DEALERSHIP. MY PAPERWORK NOTES THE TECHNICIAN SHOULD "PERFORM 4507C RECALL. PERFORMED RECALL TO MAZDA GUIDELINES." THE PAPERWORK DOES NOT INDICATE WHETHER ANYTHING WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. I CALLED THE MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE AT 800-222-5500 THIS AFTERNOON AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. HE INDICATED THAT IF A DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE RECALL INSPECTION AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THE TIME, THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. I ASKED IF THE RECALL ISSUES WERE NOW OCCURRING ON MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH NOTHING WAS FOUND IN 2007, WOULD MAZDA REPAIR THE EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443499

59,925 miles · Dec 29, 2011

Power Train

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THE TRANSMISSION LOST 2ND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT UNTIL THE ENGINE REVS WERE VERY HIGH, > 6000 RPM. MY WIFE HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SINCE SHE COULD NOT GO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS ONLY 10,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. THEIR PRICE FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS $4,130. I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT WAS MORE ECONOMICAL AND HE TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE BELTS AND HARDWARE (RIVETS THAT CONNECT MOUNTING BRACKET) ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE. HE USED THICKER BELTS FOR THE REBUILD BUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IF YOU CHECK SITES LIKE EDMUNDS.COM. THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY MAZDA. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441627

85,000 miles · Apr 21, 2011

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10397008

61,000 miles · Dec 26, 2010

Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND NOW REMAINS ON. THE 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS BEEN IN A NORMAL MANNER AND ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372407

Official recalls

14V174000 · Structure:frame And Members

Apr 4, 2014

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.

12V357000 · Engine And Engine Cooling; Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Jul 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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

07V157000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Apr 10, 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

04V605000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock

Dec 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 & remedy

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.

04V583000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Dec 10, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12005 · Cruise Control Cable

Opened Jul 17, 2012 · Closed Jul 17, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages; Vehicle Speed Control:springs

On July 8, 2012, The Center for Auto Safety has petitioned NHTSA to open defect investigations on Model Year (MY) 2002 ? 2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles with certain cruise control cables.The Center for Auto Safety has also petitioned for a hearing to address whether Ford Motor Company (Ford) and Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) met their obligations to notify owners and correct a defect in certain Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles.The petitions to open investigations are denied as unnecessary and the petitions to conduct hearingsare denied.ODI IDs referenced above are: 10109921, 10116267, 10116574,10121108, 10125928, 10128545, 10130133,10137520, 10153327, 10155295, 10155817, 10159048, 10164205, 10165007, 10177337, 10184382, 10195378,10199728, 10201424, 10203178, 10204179, 10207677, 10214472, 10218668, 10222869, 10229600, 10255417,10256387, 10258046, 10259777, 10260591, 10266150, 10273613, 10291508, 10303282, 10303434, 10316154,10321828, 10323339, 10325817, 10331278, 10334038, 10335779, 10341773, 10342450, 10345004, 10363982,10370338, 10379444, 10432635, 10451652, 10466261, 891605, 10053779, 10125132, 10146998, 10149101,10160004, 10161052, 10170988, 10178811, 10204780, 10215610, 10222996, 10239609, 10252790, 10253666,10262773, 10264280, 10280669, 10289784, 10294932, 10312464, 10316440, 10343662, 10354530, 10413665,10461195

Additional source detail variants (6)

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

Vehicle Speed Control

Vehicle Speed Control:springs

PE12019 · Stuck Throttle

Opened Jul 17, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

In a letter dated July 25, 2012 Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-353 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, which could result in a stuck throttle condition.The vehicles involved are model year (MY) 2001 through MY 2004 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed (cruise) control.A redesigned engine cover was implemented in production beginning in MY 2005, which provided additional clearance of the speed control cable to the engine cover.Similarly on July 26, 2012 Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) on behalf of Mazda Motor Corporation of Hiroshima, Japan submitted a DIR to NHTSA, NHTSA Recall No. 12V-357, identifying the safety defect described above in MY 2001 through MY 2006 and MY 2008 Mazda Tribute vehicles (no Tribute vehicles were produced in MY 2007) equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control.Unlike the Ford Escape recall scope, the Mazda Tribute scope is broader as Mazda Tribute vehicles incorporated a similar engine cover design as related to the clearance to the speed control cable in MYs 2001 through 2006 and MY 2008.The failure report summary above reflects reports identified by ODI in review of data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and reports submitted to Ford and to Mazda.ODI identified 44 reports likely related to the safety defect described in the DIRs; 39 involving Ford Escape vehicles and 5 involving Mazda Tribute vehicles. This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10116267, 10128545, 10128681, 10137520, 10153327, 10165007, 10199728, 10234846, 10335779, 10466261, and 10468307.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

Vehicle Speed Control

EA10002 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Jan 14, 2010 · Closed Feb 29, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Ford and Mazda recalled model year (MY) 2001 through 2004 Ford Escape (07V-156) and Mazda Tribute (07V-157) vehicles due to non-crash fires or non-fire thermal events originating in the engine compartment at or near the ABS control module.Approximately 545,700 vehicles were subject to the initial safety recalls and approximately 424,700 vehicles were serviced under those campaigns. The campaigns addressed potentially damaged, missing or misplaced seals in the ABS control module wiring harness electrical connector that could allow brake fluid to enter the connector, possibly resulting in corrosion, short-circuit, melting, smoke and/or fire.Since the recall, the agency is aware of 260 subject vehicles that have reportedly experienced non-crash fires or non-fire thermal events originating at or near the ABS control module in vehicles some time after being serviced under the campaign. The post-recall repair incident rates for MY 2001 and 2002 subject vehicles are 90.9 and 126.7 (normalized per 100,000 vehicles serviced under the recall campaigns), respectively.These rates are much higher than the post-recall repair incident rate for MY 2003 and 2004 subject vehicles, which are 5.0 and 3.7 per 100K, respectively.Similarly, the post-recall repair key-off fire incident rates in the MY 2001 and 2002 subject vehicles is 54.3 per 100K, compared to 0.5 per 100K for the MY 2003 and 2004 subject vehicles.The agency is aware of 12 key-off fire incidents, all involving MY 2001 and 2002 subject vehicles, where the vehicle was parked inside a structure when the fire started.In five of those incidents, the fire spread from the vehicle to the structure itself.Ford has identified the brake master cylinder reservoir cap in certain MY 2001 and 2002 subject vehicles as a potential source for brake fluid leaks that could affect ABS module connector integrity.The reservoir caps used on the MY 2003 and 2004 subject vehicles are reportedly an improved design from those used on the earlier models.By letter dated January 4, 2012, Ford notified the agency that it would conduct another safety recall (identified by NTHSA Recall No. 12V-005 and Ford Recall No. 11S24) of certain MY 2001 and 2002 Ford Escape vehicles to perform a more thorough remedy to address the risk of fire originating at the ABS control module.In addition to double-checking the ABS control module wiring harness electrical connector weather seal (which should have been addressed under the previous recall campaign), Ford will replace brake master cylinder reservoir caps to address the leaking cap problem and reduce the risk of brake fluid entering the subject electrical connector.Ford will also modify the electrical system such that the ABS control module is de-energized when the ignition key is switched off to further reduce the risk of an unattended vehicle fire in units that may have sustained some small loss of connector integrity that may not be evident upon visual examination.Similarly, Mazda notified the agency by letter dated January 19, 2012, that it would also conduct a safety recall (identified by NTHSA Recall No. 12V-016 and Mazda Recall No. 6712A) of certain MY 2001 and 2002 Mazda Tribute vehicles.Ford estimates repair parts will be available beginning the second quarter of 2012. Until recall repairs are made both Ford and Mazda are advising owners of affected vehicles to reduce the safety concern by parking their vehicles outdoors away from structures to prevent a potential fire from spreading.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

RQ09002 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Apr 15, 2009 · Closed Jan 15, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

IN LETTERS DATED MARCH 30, 2007, FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) AND MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS (MAZDA) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT THEY WILL CONDUCT RECALLS 07V-156 AND 07V-157, RESPECTIVELY, TO REMEDY A SAFETY DEFECT THAT MAY RESULT IN FIRE IN A WIRING CONNECTOR USED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001-2004 FORD ESCAPE AND MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS.THE RECALL CAMPAIGN PRESCRIBES AN INSPECTION OF THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS, WHICH SHALL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED ONLY IF NECESSARY.IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE PASSES THE VISUAL INSPECTION THEN THE RECALL INSTRUCTS THE TECHNICIAN TO APPLY ELECTRICAL GREASE (FORD PART NUMBER XG-12) TO THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR AND VERIFY SYSTEM OPERATION.TO DATE, APPROXIMATELY 388,500 SUBJECT VEHICLES (71.7% OF THE TOTAL RECALL POPULATION) HAVE BEEN SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH (373,985) PASSED THE VISUAL INSPECTION AND RECEIVED ONLY THE ELECTRICAL GREASE APPLIED TO THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR. THE AGENCY IS AWARE OF AT LEAST 86 UNIQUE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT HAVE REPORTEDLY EXPERIENCED NON-CRASH FIRE INCIDENTS ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE SOME TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER THE SUBJECT RECALL.THE MANUFACTURER HAS PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION THAT INDICATES CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE IMPROPERLY SERVICED UNDER THE SUBJECT RECALL AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACTORY WIRE TIE-WRAP NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS (WHICH INDICATES A PROPER INSPECTION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED) AND BY INCORRECT GREASE BEING APPLIED, INCORRECT AMOUNTS OF GREASE, AND EVEN INSTANCES WHERE NO GREASE WAS APPLIED TO THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR.ALSO, THERE REMAIN SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SEVERITY OF THE REPORTED FIRE INCIDENTS.THE MANUFACTURER CONTENDS THAT MOST REPORTED FIRES WERE ACTUALLY NON-FIRE THERMAL EVENTS WITH DAMAGE LIMITED TO THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS AND THAT MOST VEHICLES ARE REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE.HOWEVER, THE TREND APPEARS TO BE ONGOING WITH 5 REPORTED INCIDENTS HAVING OCCURRED IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.ACCORDINGLY, THIS RECALL QUERY HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RECALL REMEDY.

DP09003 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Apr 14, 2009 · Closed Apr 15, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION DATED MARCH 5, 2009 ALLEGING THAT THE PETITIONER NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY FOR 07V-156 AND THAT, AS A RESULT, THE PETITIONER'S MY2003 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE AT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE.IN RESPONSE TO ODI FOLLOW-UP, THE MANUFACTURER VERIFIED THAT THE PETITIONER'S VEHICLE HAD IN FACT RECEIVED SERVICE RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL 07V156 - A FACT LATER CORROBORATED BY THE PETITIONER.CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FIRE EXPERIENCED IN THE PETITIONER'S REMEDIED VEHICLE INDICATE THAT THE REMEDY WAS INEFFECTIVE.ADDITIONAL REVIEW BY ODI IDENTIFIED AN ADDITIONAL 6 SIMILAR (ALLEGED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ) NON-CRASH FIRE INCIDENTS IN SUBJECT VEHICLES KNOWN TO HAVE RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.ACCORDINGLY, A RECALL QUERY (RQ09-002) HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RECALL REMEDY.