2005 Mazda Tribute

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS EXPOSED DUE TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTING AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

RIGHT REAR WHEELHOUSE HAS RUST AND CORROSION AT 128,000 MILES, AND THE STRUT IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. MAZDA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS VERY ISSUE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE 2001-2004 TRIBUTES WERE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. THE MECHANIC AND COLLISION REPAIR CENTER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN RUST THIS BAD IN A VEHICLE HOUSED AND DRIVEN IN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE THERE IS LITTLE TO NO SNOW/SALTED ROADS, AND NO HISTORY OF FLOOD DAMAGE. *TR

RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I HEARD NOISE UNDERNEATH, FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK AND AFTER PURCHASING IS WHEN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD ALREADY PURCHASED THE CAR AND PAID 9,000 DOLLARS FOR IT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND NOW I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF SAFETY. I WENT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO HAS ESTIMATED THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR INCLUDING PARTS IS $20,000 AND COMMENTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FLOOD AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CHASSIS/FRAME AROUND THE BACK RIGHT STRUT IS ALMOST GONE DUE TO RUST AND THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING AS WELL. THERE IS RUST UNDER ALL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE DEALER WAS ALLOWED TO SALE ME THE CAR. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING AREA RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE TOP OF SHOCK BRACKET RUSTED AWAY AND SHOCK STARTED BANGING AGAINST FLOOR. TOOK IT TO MY MAZDA DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NOT RIGHT THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. HE KNOWS THAT I GARAGE AND TAKE CAR OF MY VEHICLES.HE GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO CALL MAZDA FOR HELP. MAZDA SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP! I CAN'T DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. BECAUSE OF FAMILY MEDICAL ISSUES I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I WILL NOT TRADE IT OFF TO AN UNSUSPECTING BUYER. DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO. LOOKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE TRIBUTE AND FORD ESCAPE (BOTH, WHICH I BEEN TOLD BY CAR DEALERS' SERVICE PERSONAL, ARE THE SAME VEHICLE). YOU WOULD THINK A AUTO COMPANY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I'M NO LONGER PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE OWNED ABOUT 10 MAZDA VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELD WAS RUSTED AND AS A RESULT, THE STRUTS FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE REAR WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ON MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE STARTED TO KNOCK AND BANG. ONCE I ARRIVED HOME, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND ROTTED. I ALSO NOTICED THAT AND THE SHOCK MOUNT WAS FULLY RUSTED AWAY FROM THE BODY. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED ME THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND MAZDA TRIBUTE FRAMES. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED OUT SUCH THAT THE SUSPENSION IS NOW PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN REGULAR RATTLING FROM THE AREA PROGRESSED INTO LOUD BANGS WITH EACH BUMP. THE MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED STATED THAT THE RUST WAS ABNORMAL, EVEN FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND THAT NONE OF THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS EXHIBITED ANY SIGNS OF RUSTING. HE STATED IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS CONDITION WAS MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT (AS OPPOSED TO REGULAR AND EXPECTED OXIDATION). *TR