IllustrationPULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST NO LONGER WORKED AND HAS NOT SINCE.
2009 Mazda Tribute
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Mazda Tribute are lower than 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
70–25K
325–50K
150–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
5150K+
29 reports with mileage · 6 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Steering complaints
19 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITAL MAZDA (525 CROSSROADS BLVD, CARY, NC 27518, 919-372…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITAL MAZDA (525 CROSSROADS BLVD, CARY, NC 27518, 919-372-4640) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED IN 2016. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,710.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. PAUL MILLER MAZDA IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN TOWN WAITING AND THEN MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE, A BEEPING NOISE AND THEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT! I COULDN'T DRIVE!! THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! IT TOOK ME 20 MINUTES TO GET HOME WITH NO STEERING! I DID NOT FEEL SAFE!
POWER STEERING WHEEL HARD TO MOVE WHEN IS STATIONARY, TURNING MAZDA RECAL #7614E NHTSA RECAL#14V282000 MAZDA DEALERSHIP ASK ME TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THE REPAIR APPROX$ 1,200.00 SUBJECT TO PARTS AVAILABLITY
POWER STEERING WHEEL HARD TO MOVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING), BUT THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT NEED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
I CAN BE SITTING AT THE LIGHT MY POWER STEERING WOULD GET TIGHT I WOULD HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO LOOSE IT UP AGAIN IT KEPT ON DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT JUST STOP WORKING WHILE I'M DRIVING IT COST ME AROUND 1700 TO GET IT FIX AT BROWN&WOOD MAZDA DEALER. *TR
THE POWERING STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THERE WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING; AND WE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CLUNKS AND GOES OUT. THIS IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION. *TR
Official recalls
114V282000 · 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.
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.