← New search

2005 Mazda Tribute

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tribute years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Mazda Tribute are substantially higher than the model-year median of 143.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

314 reports with mileage · 63 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 137 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 126 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports4 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine complaints

23 reports
Clear category filter
60,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WE TOOK TO THE MAZDA DEALER (5900 NORTH OAK TRAFFICWAY, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118) IN 2009 BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT START. THEY CHANGED THE STARTER MOTOR AND STILL IT DID NOT WORK THEN THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT DID NOT WORK AGAIN THEM THEY SAID IT IS THE ALTERNATOR THIS ALL HAPPENED JUST WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO AND HAD TO SPEND L…

Read full complaint

WE TOOK TO THE MAZDA DEALER (5900 NORTH OAK TRAFFICWAY, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118) IN 2009 BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT START. THEY CHANGED THE STARTER MOTOR AND STILL IT DID NOT WORK THEN THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT DID NOT WORK AGAIN THEM THEY SAID IT IS THE ALTERNATOR THIS ALL HAPPENED JUST WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO AND HAD TO SPEND LOT OF MONEY. THEN AGAIN WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY FOUR TIMES WITH IN 2009 TO 2014. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND AN AUTO DEALER IS SAYING IT IS THE ALTERNATOR. I STRONGLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL TO THIS AS I HAVE NOT SEEN A CAR LIKE THIS THAT HAS SO MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. THANK YOU FOR CHECKING ON THIS AND HOPE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED AND PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668813

110,000 miles · Dec 19, 2014
EngineStructureSuspension

THE SUB FRAME AND AXLES COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND EVERYTHING SUPPORTED CAME LOOSE. IT ALL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT ON THE SAME VEHICLE YEARS 2001 - 2004 AS WELL AS MANY FORD ESCAPES. THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED SO WHY WO…

Read full complaint

THE SUB FRAME AND AXLES COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND EVERYTHING SUPPORTED CAME LOOSE. IT ALL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT ON THE SAME VEHICLE YEARS 2001 - 2004 AS WELL AS MANY FORD ESCAPES. THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED SO WHY WOULD NEWER UNITS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NOT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FOR A NEWER CAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD MAKE THIS ISSUE BE EVEN WORSE THEN THE MANUFACTURER IS REPORTING. EVERY DEALER AND EVERY JUNK YARD TELLS ME THE SAME THING, THIS IS NOT ISOLATED TO THE 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO FIX THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND HOPE THAT THEY ADMIT MORE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED. THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR THEIR PROBLEM WHICH THEY KNOWINGLY PASSED ONTO THE CONSUMER. I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO INFORM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO NEVER BUY A MAZDA OR FORD VEHICLE UNTIL THEY PROVE THAT THEY ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER, RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY KNOW IT! ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY IGNITION COILS AND SENSORS AND THE RUSTING OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, WHICH WERE RUSTED THRU AND HAD TO BE WELDED BACK TOGETHER SINCE THEY SEPARATED FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR AND I HAD A LOUD RATTLE AND SHAKE. THANK GOODNESS THIS WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE REPAIR SHOP AS THEY FOUND IT BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHAT IS A OWNER TO DO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667213

90,000 miles · Nov 25, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10660898

140,000 miles · Oct 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESET THE COMPUTER BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESET THE COMPUTER BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULE TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10643601

97,500 miles · Sep 15, 2014
EnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1500 AND 2500 RPMS, THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPS IN RPMS AND EITHER STALLS ALTOGETHER OR STARTS MAKING A JERKING MOTION AND THUDDING NOISE. CANNOT GET OUT OF THE GEAR UNLESS YOU JAM ON THE ACCELERATOR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEAR UNDRIVABLE ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, RUINING THE ENGINE COILS …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1500 AND 2500 RPMS, THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPS IN RPMS AND EITHER STALLS ALTOGETHER OR STARTS MAKING A JERKING MOTION AND THUDDING NOISE. CANNOT GET OUT OF THE GEAR UNLESS YOU JAM ON THE ACCELERATOR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEAR UNDRIVABLE ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, RUINING THE ENGINE COILS THE FIRST TIME AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS THE SECOND TIME. IT SEEMS THE PCM IS FAULTY AND RUINING ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED PARTS. HAVE READ UP ON THE TOPIC AND MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE STALLING AND JOLTING OF THE ISSUE, ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE PCM. THIS VERY MUCH SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS THE REPAIRS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY COSTLY AND AFFECT MANY VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633423

81,150 miles · Jul 22, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHEN APPROACHING A 4-WAY INTERSECTION DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW THEN RED. I TRIED TO STOP BY PRESSING MY BRAKE PEDAL. MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP HILL. I PRESSED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT MY VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND I RAN INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I …

Read full complaint

WHEN APPROACHING A 4-WAY INTERSECTION DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW THEN RED. I TRIED TO STOP BY PRESSING MY BRAKE PEDAL. MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP HILL. I PRESSED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT MY VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND I RAN INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS ORIGINALLY GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND WHEN I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, I WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH. MY VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE BUT CONTINUED TO REV HIGHER. I WAS INJURED WHEN MY ARMS BENT THE STEERING WHEEL FORWARD, THE SEAT BELT BRUISED ME AND MY RIGHT FOOT (TALUS BONE) WAS BROKEN BY THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I REQUIRED SURGERY. I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 3 WEEKS AND WORE A CAST FOR 7 WEEKS. THE POLICEMAN WHO REPORTED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCOVERED THE GAS PEDAL WAS HALF WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND STUCK. THE OTHER DRIVER AND A WITNESS SAID THEY HEARD THE VEHICLE REVVING AFTER IT STOPPED AFTER IMPACT. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE ARE SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE WEBSITE BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615350

151,551 miles · Jul 17, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

RUNNING ROUGH, STALLING AT LIGHTS, REPLACED IGNITION COILS, NEW IGNITION COILS FAILED, FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, PCM CAUSING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611233

105,000 miles · Feb 18, 2014
Engine

WHILE DRIVING THE SUV HAD A COUPLE OF MISFIRES AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING. THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND WORSE, FATALITY. NOW THE COMPUTER, COILS, AND PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564811

138,000 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ODI #10563026

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE COMPUTER CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS TO MIS-FIRE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, ON THE LAST THREE OCCASIONS THEY SENT HER HOME WITHOUT RESOLVING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10508013

Official recalls

3

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

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: 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

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: 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.

06V116000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

Apr 12, 2006

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: 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.

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.