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2006 Mazda Tribute

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mazda Tribute do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 143.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

107 reports with mileage · 23 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

14 reports
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140,000 miles · Jul 6, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train

THIS INVOLVES MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THAT CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED BY MY REMOTE..IT ALL STARTED AFTER GETTING A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED..ALL THE OTHER DOORS ON MY SUV OPEN AND LOCK WITH THE REMOTE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT I HAVE TO USE MY CAR KEY TO OPEN. THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT. I'VE READ THAT OTHERS WHO HAVE M…

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THIS INVOLVES MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THAT CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED BY MY REMOTE..IT ALL STARTED AFTER GETTING A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED..ALL THE OTHER DOORS ON MY SUV OPEN AND LOCK WITH THE REMOTE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT I HAVE TO USE MY CAR KEY TO OPEN. THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT. I'VE READ THAT OTHERS WHO HAVE MAZDA TRIBUTES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER A NEW BATTERY IS INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11109964

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2016
Power Train

GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK DURING DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10927090

76,014 miles · Aug 30, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AS I ACCELERATED UP SMALL HILL, TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. RPMS SPIKED TO 5000 THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD INTO NEXT GEAR. SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY, NO MATTER WHAT THE ELEVATION. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THE TRIBUTE HAS NO POWE…

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DRIVING VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AS I ACCELERATED UP SMALL HILL, TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. RPMS SPIKED TO 5000 THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD INTO NEXT GEAR. SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY, NO MATTER WHAT THE ELEVATION. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THE TRIBUTE HAS NO POWER AND NO ACCELERATION UNTIL SHIFTING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT OR CROSSING TRAFFIC. TODAY, EACH TIME I AM AT A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION STICKS IN 2ND GEAR UNTIL THE RPMS SPIKE THEN IT WILL SHIFT. THE TRIBUTE HAS ONLY 76500 MILES. IT IS ADULT OWNED AND WELL MAINTAINED. PLEASE REVIEW THIS AS A POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE TO AVOID SO MANY OTHERS SPENDING THOUSANDS ON REPAIRS AND POSSIBLE INJURY FROM ACCIDENT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629612

86,725 miles · May 24, 2014
Power Train

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN AROUND TOWN EXCEPT TO MY HONEYMOON. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE. SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME HER CAR WOULD NOT GO. I WENT TO SEE IF I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER SITTING NOT RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN AROUND TOWN EXCEPT TO MY HONEYMOON. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE. SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME HER CAR WOULD NOT GO. I WENT TO SEE IF I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER SITTING NOT RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE CAR WOULD DRIVE AT 35 MPH FOR LESS THAT .5 MILES. I DID THIS FOR THE 10 MILES AND APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS WE ARRIVED AT MY PARENTS HOUSE WHICH WAS THE CLOSEST LOCATION. AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT, IT DID THE SAME THING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE HOME IT WOULD ONLY REV THE ENGINE AND YOU COULD CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT ANYTHING HAPPENING TO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MECHANICS, $3600 LATE, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION VENDORS FROM WHICH MY NEW ONE WAS BOUGHT TOLD THE MECHANIC, THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECOMING TO HOT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO COOL DOWN FAST ENOUGH. THANKS MAZDA THIS WILL BE THE LAST OF YOUR PRODUCTS THAT I WILL PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593923

64,000 miles · Feb 3, 2014
EnginePower TrainSuspension

NOT SURE, BUT THINK THERE IS A LEAK AT THE TRANSFER CASE. IT SMELLS WHEN SITTING FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THERE IS NO OIL LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562759

153,000 miles · Sep 13, 2013
Power Train

THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED BY MAZDA. 3,700.00 DOLLARS LATER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2001 - 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE WHY NOT FOR EVERY YEAR THEY ARE USING THE SAME TRANSMISSION CD4E FROM FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543399

151,000 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Power Train

2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE S 3.0L 6 CYL. 4X4 RECEIVED THE DREADED NEWS A P0740 CODE ALONG WITH 4 OTHERS ALL DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSIONO. DRIVING MY CAR CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE WOULD THEN ONLY GO 30 MILES AN HOUR. PLUS WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE ANYMORE. P0740 DEALS WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, P0720 OUTP…

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2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE S 3.0L 6 CYL. 4X4 RECEIVED THE DREADED NEWS A P0740 CODE ALONG WITH 4 OTHERS ALL DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSIONO. DRIVING MY CAR CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE WOULD THEN ONLY GO 30 MILES AN HOUR. PLUS WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE ANYMORE. P0740 DEALS WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, P0720 OUTPUT SHAFT SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION AND SOME OTHERS DEALING WITH A SPEED CABLE, ETC.... APPEARS MAZDA TRIBUTE'S HAVE THIS KNOW PROBLEM AND MAZDA IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED MORE AND A RECALL ISSUED BY MAZDA FOR ALL YEARS ON THIS VEHICLE. MAINTENANCE WOULD DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION AT THE RIGHT INTERVALS AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHECK BY THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE FLUIDS. NOTICE MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT ONLY FOR 2000 - 2003 YEARS I BELIEVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I NOTICE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING TO GET THEIR TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED. KNEW I SHOULD OF STUCK WITH A FORD BECAUSE NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. ALL FORDS HAVE OVER 160000 MILES ON THEM. PLUS ONE A 2003 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY HAS OVER 218,000 MILES ON IT. NEED TO GET MAZDA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537207

96,200 miles · Sep 10, 2012
EnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND THREATENING TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. THE "O/D OFF" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE CONSOLE. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND THE CAR STOPPED JERKING. THE MINUTE I GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK T…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND THREATENING TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. THE "O/D OFF" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE CONSOLE. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND THE CAR STOPPED JERKING. THE MINUTE I GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION AND REPAIR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BURNED OUT IN THIRD GEAR. THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE TUNE OF APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 AND FOUR BUSINESS DAYS LATER. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE THE END OF JULY 2011. NO WARNING SIGNS, NOTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474591

93,000 miles · Sep 18, 2011
Power Train

I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT, AND STARTED TO HIT THE GAS, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO WORK FOR ABOUT 200 FEET, AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I STARTED MY CAR AGAIN, AND AGAIN IT WENT FOR 200 FEET BEFORE STORPPING AND STALLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TRA…

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I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT, AND STARTED TO HIT THE GAS, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO WORK FOR ABOUT 200 FEET, AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I STARTED MY CAR AGAIN, AND AGAIN IT WENT FOR 200 FEET BEFORE STORPPING AND STALLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSMISSON HAD FAILED, AND THERE IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE WITH MY CAR AND ITS TRANSMISSION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE, AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL MAZDA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425945

58,000 miles · Mar 24, 2011
Power Train

NEEDED AN OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION. INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS DONE YET THE CAR ISN'T OLD. THE MECHANICS SAID THEY HAD A TRIBUTE 2006 WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, AND THEN ANOTHER SHOP NEXT CITY OVER HAD AGAIN ANOTHER TRIBUTE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I'D DRIVE IT WOULD NO LONGER STAY IN GEAR UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF AND LET IT SIT A WHILE TH…

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NEEDED AN OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION. INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS DONE YET THE CAR ISN'T OLD. THE MECHANICS SAID THEY HAD A TRIBUTE 2006 WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, AND THEN ANOTHER SHOP NEXT CITY OVER HAD AGAIN ANOTHER TRIBUTE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I'D DRIVE IT WOULD NO LONGER STAY IN GEAR UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF AND LET IT SIT A WHILE THEN WOULD GO AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10393308

Official recalls

2

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.

05V525000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TEETH TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY 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.