2005 Mazda Tribute

The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out and the brake mount is deteriorating as well affecting the safety of the vehicle. I have been told that this is a common issue on Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape models for the years 2001-2005 by my mechanic as well as Mazda dealer reps. They stated the 2001-2004 models were recalled but not the 2005. However, t hey mentioned that these should likely have been recalled as well. One would think that if you take care of your car that the components of the frame should not rust out.

I have found several complaints on the 2005 Mazda Tribute with the rear wheel well rusting out. Mazda did a recall on the 2004 but not the 2005. I previously had to replace the rear wheel in 2018 and it now needs replaced again due to rusting. With the number of complaints I have read, along with the outrageous cost to repair, I do not understand why Mazda, nor the NHTSA have done anything about this. A recall NEEDS to be issued ASAP.

AS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER MAZDA TRUBUTES, THE WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE STRUT IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE, YET PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRED A RECALL FOR OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTES, BUT NOT THE 2005 VERSION. ACCORDING TO MANY FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER 05 TRIBUTES.

THE REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE SHOCK TO POKE A HOLE THRU THE BACK OF MY CARGO AREA. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR DRIVING. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE CAR DUE TO THIS. MAZDA HAS RECALLED 2004 AND OLDER FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED 2005.

OUR 2005 TRIBUTE MODEL HAS THE SAME RUSTING OUT OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL WELLS THAT THE 2001-2004 MODELS OF THE TRIBUTE HAVE EXPERIENCED. THOSE MODELS WERE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL, BUT THIS YEAR'S MODEL AND FORWARD STILL HAVE THE SAME RUSTING OUT PROBLEM. DEALERS FOR MAZDA AND FORD WON'T EVEN LOOK AT THIS TO REPAIR IT. CAR IS NOW BASICALLY UNDRIVABLE. AND FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND, MAZDAWORLD.COM SAYS THAT MOST OF THESE VEHICLE WERE ACTUALLY MANUFACTURED IN 2004 BUT DATED TO 2005 MODEL YEAR. BUT AVOIDED THE 2004 RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS I CAN FIND A KIT ON EBAY TO FIX, BUT NO DEALERS WILL DO THE WORK. THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS, BUT NO ACTION ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED IN PRIOR MODEL DESIGNS.

I WOULD LIKE A COMPLETE REFUND OF ALL DOLLARS SPENT IN ACQUIRING A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE VIN [XXX] ON MARCH 06, 2017 FROM CERTIFIED AUTO BROKERS LLC IN HENDERSONVILLE, TN 37075, LICENSE #[XXX]. (ATTACHED BILL OF SALE) DUE TO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION DAMAGE, THE FRAME IS LIKELY TO COLLAPSE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF ITS PASSENGERS, RATHER THAN CRUSH AND ABSORB THE IMPACT AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DO. IN ADDITION, IT IS PRONE TO SWERVE AND POSSIBLY TIP OVER OUT OF CONTROL ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT DUE TO A MISSING PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK THAT WAS NOT DISCLOSED PRIOR TO PURCHASE (PHOTOS ATTACHED). THE LEFT SIDE SHOCK IS WORN OUT AND ALSO READY TO FALL OFF AT ANY MOMENT AS WELL. BECAUSE THE FENDER WELLS ARE RUSTED THROUGH EXHAUST FUMES CAN ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH COULD HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES TO ITS INHABITANTS. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS AT SOME POINT THE DAMAGED AREAS WERE COVERED WITH PAINT OR UNDERCOAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO HIDE THESE DEFECTS. THE DRIVE SHAFT, THE FRAME AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ARE SEVERELY CORROSION DAMAGED. THE PARKING BRAKE IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO RUST AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN HILL WHILE PARKED. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUST HIDDEN UNDERNEATH THE FENDER FLARES. HAD I KEPT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED AND ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. CERTIFIED AUTO BROKERS WAS NEGLIGENT IN REPRESENTING THIS VEHICLE AS BEING IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND SELLING IT WITH KNOWN SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES (REFER TO ATTACHED ADVERTISEMENT). SINCE THE 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE AS SOLD IS UNSAFE, UNFIT FOR THE ROAD AND DOES NOT FULFILL ITS IMPLIED USEFULNESS, I AM ASKING FOR A COMPLETE REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE AND ALL TAXES AND REGISTRATION FEES INCURRED IN PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PASSENGER SIDE INNER REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT AND COMPLETELY SEPERATED SHOCK FROM FRAME. I WAS DRIVING ALONG LAST WEEK AND SUDDENLY STARTED HEARING A RATTLING SOUND. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT ONLY TO FIND NOTHING IN TRUNK. TOOK TRUCK TO MECHANIC ONLY TO BE TOLD THE ENTIRE SHOCK HAD SEPERATED FROM FRAME. THE OTHER WHEEL WELL IS RUST FREE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MAZDA TRIBUTES ONLY RECALLED FROM 2001-2004, WHEN TRIBUTES FROM 2001-2006 HAVE INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS AND TONS OF PEOPLE ONLINE IN ALL FORUMS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME RUST PROBLEM IN THE SAME LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE US.

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, EXPOSING AND CAUSING FAILURE IN THE ASSOCIATED SHOCK. THE REAR BUMPER NOW RATTLES OVER EVEN THE TINIEST BIT OF UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE CAR WILL SWAY IN THE BACK REAR OVER LARGER BUMPS HIT WITH THAT BACK WHEEL. FIRST NOTICED GOING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. NOTHING PROMPTED IT OTHER THAN A PIECE OF UNEVEN ROAD MAY HAVE BEEN THE FINAL STRAW. THIS IS APPARENTLY BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTES AND WAS ADDRESSED IN A RECALL FOR 2001-2004 TRIBUTES. SAME PROBLEM, SAME AREA (PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL) THIS IS NOT SAFE!

A NOISE IN THE LEFT REAR DEVELOPED AND THE REAR SHOCK BROKE OFF. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE ENTIRE FRAME FROM BEHIND THE FRONT SEAT AREA BACK RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORP AND WAS TLD THAT YES THERE WERE KNOWN CASES OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THAT ER AS WELL AS FORD ESCAPES DUE TO DEFECTIVE METAL USED IN MANUFACTURING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT MY FAULT AS I COULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED IT. THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTEE. THE MAZDA DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE STATED IT WAS NE OF THE WORST CASES THEY HAD SEEN AND NOT TO DRIVE IT. I WAS FORCED TO TRADE IT IN AT A GREAT LOSS BECAUSE I NEED A VEHICLE.