IllustrationCOMPLETE & SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY
2008 Mazda Tribute
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 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
160–25K
2525–50K
3750–75K
2675–100K
38100–150K
28150K+
170 reports with mileage · 32 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.
- Steering. Review the 94 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
202 reportsSTEERING COLOM IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE FELLS TO CRANK. THE LOCK ATTACHES AROUND THE STEERING COLOM IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH GOES IN TO. THIS IS THE 3RD REPLACEMENT OF FACTORY OEM PARTS AND IT CONTINUES TO GO BAD. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN
TURNING OFF A ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD TO MAN HANDLE THE TRIBUTE INTO A PARKING SPACE. ONCE THERE I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES RESTARTED AND THE STEERING WORKED FINE. I'M CONCERNED AS TO WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN TRYING TO RIDE IN 5TH GEAR SINCE ITS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IT KEEPS POPPING OUT OF 5TH GEAR EVERY TIME I'M DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY NO MATTER WHAT I'M DOING I GO TO PUT IN 5TH GEAR AND IT POPS BACK OUT EVERY TIME UNLESS I HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT IN PLACE....I JUST HAD BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE T SWARTZ AUTO …
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I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN TRYING TO RIDE IN 5TH GEAR SINCE ITS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IT KEEPS POPPING OUT OF 5TH GEAR EVERY TIME I'M DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY NO MATTER WHAT I'M DOING I GO TO PUT IN 5TH GEAR AND IT POPS BACK OUT EVERY TIME UNLESS I HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT IN PLACE....I JUST HAD BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE T SWARTZ AUTO SALES IN HARRISONBURG VA AND I BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION FOR WHICH THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO HELP ON THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE JUST GOTTEN IT LITERALLY LAST WEEK N ONLY HAVE PUT MAYBE 250 MILES AND NOT ONLY THAT THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT BROUGHT IT UP HOME WASHED IT UP I THEN REALIZED THAT THE TIRES ARE DRY ROTTED WHICH I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES IT HAS AN INSPECTION STICKER STATING ITS GOOD TIL MARCH 18 NOT SURE HOW THESE TIRES EVEN PASSED INSPECTION I TOOK TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED ME THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PASSED. AND WHILE TAKING OFF IN 1ST GEAR ITS A RATTLING OR MORE LIKE A SQUEEKING TO IT? COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND ALSO MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD? IT DOES HAVE A RECALL ON IT WHICH I WILL ATTACH THAT AS WELL THANK YOU
IGNITION SWITCH NOT WORKING. TRANSMISSION 2ND AND 5TH GEAR NOT WORKING AND CONTROL ARMS FOR ALL 4 WHEELS SEEM TO BE GOING BAD
IT LOOSES POWER AND WON'T CHANGE INTO GEAR. THE TROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON.
EVERY TIME I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LEFT I HEAR A LOUD CLICKING NOISE.
WHILE DRIVING BACK IN 2016 JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS AROUND DEC 14,2016 MY POWER STEERING IN THE TRIBUTE WENT COMPLETELY OUT!!! MAZDA TRIBUTE 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL CARD IN THE MAIL STATING THAT I SHOULD BRING THE DEFECTIVE CAR IN I DID WHICH WAS AUGUST 2016, AS OF TODAY THEY CLAIM THE DEALERSHIP CLAIM THAT MY ISSUE WAS LOOKED AT …
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WHILE DRIVING BACK IN 2016 JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS AROUND DEC 14,2016 MY POWER STEERING IN THE TRIBUTE WENT COMPLETELY OUT!!! MAZDA TRIBUTE 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL CARD IN THE MAIL STATING THAT I SHOULD BRING THE DEFECTIVE CAR IN I DID WHICH WAS AUGUST 2016, AS OF TODAY THEY CLAIM THE DEALERSHIP CLAIM THAT MY ISSUE WAS LOOKED AT REPROGRAMMED ALL SENSORS WERE CHECKED PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE CONCERNING MY ELECTRICAL SENSOR. THE TECH ADVISOR SAID THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL SPECIFIED IN CARD LETTER, THE SIGNALING OF THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS POORLY MISFIRING TO THE ASSIST. WELL UNKNOWN TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEY DID NO SUCH THING!!! THERE IS A SERIOUS RECALL CONCERNING THIS ISSUE 'I'VE GONE BACK IN SPOKEN WITH TECH MANAGERS AND GOT CHARGED 65.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR A POWER STEERING FAULTY SENSOR NOT FIRING TO THE PSCM DUE TO THE FACT CLAIMED THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WHY HAVE MY POWER STEERING GONE COMPLETELY OUT 3-4 MONTHS LATER?? IF THEY PERFORMED THE ELECTRICAL MODULE SENSORY PROGRAMMING AT FIRST NOT FEELING THIS AT ALL VERY DISATISFIED CUSTOMER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ST…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Official recalls
415V677000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Oct 19, 2015
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Tribute vehicles manufactured February 9, 2007 to April 22, 2008. The affected vehicles have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission and if necessary tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8815J.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Tribute vehicles manufactured February 9, 2007 to April 22, 2008. The affected vehicles have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission and if necessary tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8815J.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Tribute vehicles manufactured February 9, 2007 to April 22, 2008. The affected vehicles have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission and if necessary tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8815J.
14V552000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Sep 10, 2014
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 10, 2006, to May 23, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail, resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7814I.
14V282000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
May 29, 2014
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7614E.
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.
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.