2005 Mazda Tribute

WITH NO PREVIOUS VISIBLE INDICATION, RUST ATE AWAY AT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT. WE NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAKING ONE DAY FROM THE BACK AND, UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED TEH SEVER RUST DAMAGE. THE METAL HAD CORRODED BEHIND THE UNDERCOATING. THE SHOCK MOUNT IS NO LONGER ATTACHED AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. INSPECTION DOES NOT SHOW EXCESSIVE RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE BODY.

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT UPPER MOUNT RUSTED AND BROKE AWAY FROM THE BODY AFTER 11 YEARS AND 126, 500 MILES. THE MAZDA WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2005; AND ROUTINE AND AS NEEDED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY THE SAME MAZDA DEALER. I NOTICED RUST IN THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE WHEEL WELL IN 2014 AND BEGAN ASKING THE MAZDA DEALER ABOUT IT. DURING ALL MAZDA FULL CIRCLE SUSPENSION CHECKS PERFORMED BY THE MAZDA DEALER, THE SUSPENSION WAS MARKED OR CHECKED "OK" "GREEN", AND THEN IN JAN 2016- THE STRUT MOUNT RUSTED OUT OF THE BODY AND THE DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THIS WAS WAY TOO EARLY FOR THE CAR TO RUST OUT. I ALSO QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF MAZDA'S FULL CIRCLE INSPECTION AND THE MAZDA DEALER. HAD THE MAZDA DEALER BEEN CANDID AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE RUST PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR RATHER THAN YEAR AFTER YEAR CONTINUING TO SUGGEST OTHER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE, MOST LIKELY I WOULD HAVE TRADED OR SOLD THIS MAZDA BEFORE IT RUSTED OUT. BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE, I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA.

REAR INNER WHEEL WELL SHOCK MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. SHOCK COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE WITH DRIVERS SIDE CONDITION SOON TO FOLLOW. PROBLEM NOTED 04/27/15 AT 95,000. MILES. PHOTOS TAKEN OF ISSUE. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. HEARD NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY BOUNCING IN THE REAR END.

TAKATA RECALL MAZDA TRIBUTE 2005 COMPLETE BODY UNDERNEATH WAS RUSTED LUCKILY I FOUND A WELDER WHO INSTALLED A NEW BOTTOM ALSO HAD A BRAKE JOB= $880.64 AT 66,216 MILES - HAD TO REPLACE 6 SPARK PUGS 6 IGNITION COILS AND 1 INTAKE PLENUM GASKET SET SPENT 1,204.25 ALSO 800.00FOR A NEW BOTTOM TO BE WELDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AS THE BOTTOM WAS RUSTED AT A COST OF 800.00 CONCERNED THAT THE CORROSION ISSUE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CAR IS UNDER 100,000 MILES IS THIS CAR A LEMON

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCK MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

THE RIGHT REAR STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED CAUSING THE BRACKET TO COME LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I CALLED A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THIS AND THEY KNEW THE TYPE OF VEHICLE I HAVE JUST BASED ON THE PROBLEM AS IT IS SO PERVASIVE. IN RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THESE MAZDA AND FORD ESCAPE MODELS AS IT IS A COMMON FINDING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WAS RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IRREPARABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.