Illustration2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE ,RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED AWAY,LEAVING SHOCK FLOATING AND BANGING AROUND IN WHEEL WELL FIRST NOTICED IN JUNE 2015
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tribute years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
1325–50K
2150–75K
1975–100K
27100–150K
9150K+
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
Wheels complaints
4 reportsCPSC: MAZDA TRIBUTE: CONSUMER STATED RIGHT REAR WHEEL RUSTED AWAY LEAVING THE SHOCK FLOATING AND BANGING AROUND IN THE WHEEL WELL.. *SS
BECAUSE OF THE REAR END MAKING LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION UPON CONTACTING ROAD BUMPS AND HOLES VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE INSPECTION REVEALED SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION OF THE METAL FORMING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL, OXIDATION (RUST) TO THE EXTENT OF LARGE HOLE EXPOSING INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. REPLACEMENT OF THE RE…
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BECAUSE OF THE REAR END MAKING LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION UPON CONTACTING ROAD BUMPS AND HOLES VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE INSPECTION REVEALED SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION OF THE METAL FORMING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL, OXIDATION (RUST) TO THE EXTENT OF LARGE HOLE EXPOSING INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR SHOCKS DID NOT CORRECT THE VIBRATIONS FROM ROAD IRREGULARITIES. MECHANIC DESCRIBED THE CAUSE AS A RESULT OF THE WHEEL WELL LOSS OF METAL & CHANGE IN SHAPE ENABLING METAL TO METAL CONTACT. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY DURATION IS OF MUCH CONCERN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I STARTED TO HEAR A BANGING SOUND FROM THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BACK WINDOW WAS OPEN & BANGING EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP. I PULLED OVER AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SHUT. I PROCEEDED TO WORK BUT THE BANGING PERSISTED. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CHECKED THE BACK COMPARTMENT & REMOVED MY CARGO INC…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I STARTED TO HEAR A BANGING SOUND FROM THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BACK WINDOW WAS OPEN & BANGING EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP. I PULLED OVER AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SHUT. I PROCEEDED TO WORK BUT THE BANGING PERSISTED. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CHECKED THE BACK COMPARTMENT & REMOVED MY CARGO INCASE THAT WAS CULPRIT. ON MY DRIVE HOME THE BANGING STILL PERSISTED. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE SHOCKS/STRUTS WERE BLOWN. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE THAT NIGHT & IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH & THERE WAS NO WHERE FOR THE SHOCK TO MOUNT. WHEN THE MECHANIC PULLED UP MY CARGO MAT IN THE BACK IT IS AMAZING THAT NOTHING FELL OUT, THE SIZE OF THE HOLE FROM THE RUST IS COMPARABLE TO THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL. WELDING IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION TO REPAIR THIS DAMAGE. THERE IS NO OTHER RUST OR BODY DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PROTECTIVE COATING ON THE INNER WHEEL WELL TO PREVENT THIS. THE DRIVER SIDE IS FINE AND IS SHOWING NO SIGN OF RUST/ROT. WHILE SEARCHING THE WEB FOR SUPPORT I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FORD ESCAPE AND MAZDA TRIBUTE (VIRTUALLY ONE IN THE SAME). WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS COSTLY PROBLEM? AS A SIDE NOTE, THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2006. I FILED A MAGNUS AND MOSS WARRANTY ACT SUIT AGAINST MAZDA AND WON FOR NUMEROUS ISSUES REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN SYSTEM. *JS
Official recalls
212V357000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.