2002 Mazda Tribute Complaint Log

THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED AND COMMON PROBLEM ON 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTES WHERE THE AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS PROBLEM AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THEIR AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. MY AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AMAZINGLY, NO SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT IT WOULD SURELY BE ISSUED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND REPORTED PROBLEMS. HERE IS JUST ONE URL WITH SOME OF THE DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS. HTTP://CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MAZDA/TRIBUTE/AIR-BAG-PROBLEMS.PHP ONE CAN EASILY FIND OTHER, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. I FEAR THAT MY AIRBAGS WILL ALSO NOT DEPLOY SHOULD I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

CONTINENTAL TIRES, MODEL CONTITRAC SUV. SIZE P235/70R16. BOTH FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. VEHICLE HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE. CONSUMER REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP, BUT DID RECEIVE A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE FROM THEM.*AK

THE AXLE SEPARATED AND FELL OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER LOSING STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHING INTO THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. *AK

FRONT DISC BRAKES - ALLEGEDLY WORN OUT AT 22,000 MILES AND NOW AT 34,000 MILES. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE LOOKED AT PROBLEM AND DECLINED TO MAKE A WARRANTY CLAIM. NOW BEING TOLD BY 2ND DEALER THAT ROTORS ARE "THROW AWAY" AND NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH DISC PADS. I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES ON ANY CAR WITH LESS THAT 60,000 MILES. *LA

6 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER THAT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I'VE HAD HAS BEEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON @ 7 TIMES W/IN THE LAST YEAR. SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF BY ITSELF W/OUT ME HAVING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD IN ORDER TO STOP AND A SQUEAKING NOSE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK ON 02/04/03 THE BRAKES, ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED 11 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, 03/10/04 THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPAIRED A YEAR LATER, 05/27/04 BRAKE SQUEALING 2 MONTHS AFTER REPAIR THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND PADS SANDED, 06/13/04. *SC *JB

2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE POWER CONTROL MODULE RE-CALIBRATION.*MR . THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MAY 7 REGARDING THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE RE-CALIBRATION. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE WAS RECEIVED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONSUMER HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MAY 13 BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS TOO LATE. *NM

I OWN A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND UPON TAKING MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT MY BRAKES AND ROTORS WOULD NOT PASS. I THEN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MAZDA FOR INSPECTION AND THEY AGREED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE WOR, YET NOT COMPLETELY GONE, BUT MORE SERIOUSLY THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OUR SERVICE REP STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON MANY TRIBUTES, YET MAZDA HAS NOT AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. IN ALL MY YEARS OF CAR OWNERSHIP AND WITH EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO, ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A TWO YEAR OLD CAR.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TWICE, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. *JB

OUR 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH A PERIOD OF STALLING, WHERE TOTAL POWER IS LOST IN THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. SIX MONTHS INTO OWNING THE CAR, MY WIFE TOOK IT IN FOR A CHIP UPGRADE AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WELL, A MONTH AGO, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY WIFE HAD THE VEHICLE SCANNED AND IT CAME UP WITH NOTHING. AGAIN, THIS MORNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A TWO YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE THESE PROBLEMS, AND NO ONE CAN SOLVE IT! I AM FRUSTRATED, AND COULD USE SOME GUIDANCE ON WHERE TO GO WITH MY PROBLEM. MY WIFE DRIVES IT DAILY FOR WORK, AND I FEAR THAT IT WILL KILL OUT WHEN SHE IS DOING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE. HELP PLEASE. *JB

THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING OR NO BRAKES. THE DRIVER HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO APPLY THE BRAKES SO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A STOP. *AK

2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX 4WD SUV, 3.0 L ENGINE: MY WIFE'S CAR STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON PERIODICALLY WHILE IN DRIVE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO LOCAL MAZDA DEALER SERVICE SHOP TWICE OVER PAST TWO MONTHS, AND AM TOLD THAT CAR CHECKS OUT AND IS FINE. LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE LOST OF THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. ROLLED OFF SIDE OF THE ROAD. PASSENGERS SHAKEN BUT NOT INJURED. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB

VEHICLE CUTS OFF AT LOW SPEED (<35) MPH, NO ENGINE LIGHT. ALSO VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATOR PUSHED.*AK

2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCIDENT SHE HAD IN 2004 DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, SHE HIT A POLE IN HER DRIVEWAY. THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, FOG LIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WERE DAMAGED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, REGARDING RAPID ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

MAZDA TRIBUTE 2002, HAD LOWER ENGINE REPLACED AFTER 4000 AS IT TOTALLY DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. 20 MONTHS LATER I AM HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED, THIS TIME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAMS WEREN'T GETTING AN OIL FOR SOME REASON AND THEY ARE SHOT, THE LIFTERS WERE ALSO BROKEN AND THE HEAD IS WARPED. SERVICE REP SAID THE ENGINE IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND CAN SEE THAT THERE IS LITTLE WEAR ON THE ENGINE.*AK

I HAVE A MAZDA TRIBUTE WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM MAZDA AND I JUST HAD TO PUT NEW PLATES ON, SO IT IS EXACTLY 1 YEAR OLD IN DRIVING TIME. MY PROBLEM IS THAT AT 16,000 MILES THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT I WOULD SOON NEED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS I THOUGHT THAT WAS STRANGE AS I HAVE OWNED A NUMBER OF NEW CARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE MY ROTORS AND NEVER NEEDED BRAKES ON ANY CAR THIS EARLY. NOW AT 20,000 MILES THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND MY HUSBAND LOOKED AND SAID THE ROTORS ARE ALL WORN BUT THAT MY BRAKES HARDLY LOOK WORN AT ALL. MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. MY HUSBAND AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE IF A PERSON WERE TO BE DRIVING THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND NOT BE TAKING IT IN REGULARLY FOR THE WARRENTY CHECKS THE ROTORS COULD GO OUT AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS.*AK

REAR BUMPER BRACKET BROKE THROUGH THE BUMPER ON MINOR IMPACT LESS THAN 3 MPH. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTES WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN THE REAR BUMPER. * CB

CONTACT STATES: THE ACCELERATOR IS STICKING. RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, AND TOOK THE LETTER TO THE DEALER, WHO DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ACCELERATOR STICKS MAINLY IN THE WINTER...WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE PEDAL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND TRYING TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN VEHICLE SPEEDS UP AND IT JUMPS. *AK *JB

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY SITUATION. *LA

THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS MY SECOND INCIDENT IN 3 WEEKS. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON ACCIDENT IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, BECAUSE POWER STEERING IS LOST WHEN THE CAR STOLLS, AND I WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER. IT WAS A GOOD THING I DRIVE WITH 2 HANDS ON THE WHEEL.*AK

VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY STALLED IN TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES. WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROX 35-45MPH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. VEH WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO RE-PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENT, PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. VERY CONCERNED THAT WHEN ENGINE STALLS, I LOSE POWER STEERING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING STRUCK FROM THE REAR. EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL INTO THE MEDIAN OR A SIDE STREET. BUT I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I AM IN THE MIDDLE LANE???*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND CONTINUED TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE SAME FAILURE REOCCURRED FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V175000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE TCM, PCM). THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A SUDDENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NOISE FROM FRONT END THOUGHT TO BE FROM BRAKES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 2003. EVENTUALLY BECAME WORSE DURING SUMMER OF 2005. FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE - EITHER BENT OR MISALIGNED. WHEN FINALLY FOUND VEHICLE WAS 'OUT OR WARRANTY. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIMS CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR. *JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DECELERATING. DEALER INFORMED. THE DEALER REFLASHED PCM AND REPLACED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: AIR CONTROL VALVE, THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE SENSOR. *JB

RIM FAILED ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE RIM FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED A SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF AIR FROM THE TIRE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION THE DRIVER NOTICED A ONE INCH WIDE BY 3 INCH LONG CRACK ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE RIM WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO REQUEST A WARRANTY REPAIR. AFTER THE RIM WAS INSPECTED THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE CONSUMER PROBABLY HIT SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. AT THAT POINT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WASN'T GOING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER FACILITY TO BE INSPECTED. THEY DETERMINED THE RIM WAS INDEED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. BASED ON THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT MAZDA HONOR THE WARRANTY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT THE PARKING LOT, AND VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A BRICK WALL, SMASHING THE FRONT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED, THE PANEL LIGHTS TO INCLUDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD DIFFICULTY BRAKING AND STEERING MY VEHICLE. AFTER MUCH DIFFICULTY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. I THEN WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO RESTART IT AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SENT MAZDA AN EMAIL AND BOTH ORGANIZATIONS SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IF I TOOK IT IN THE DEALER MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE AND I AM AFRAID OF SOMEONE HITTING ME FROM BEHIND WHEN IT STALLS.

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. CONTININENTAL TIRES, P23570R16. *AK

THEN ENGINE ON MY 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 35 MPH. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BRAKING WAS DIFFICULT. *PH

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING , THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WAS HARD TO HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER USED THE HAND BRAKE ALONG WITH BOTH FEET ON THE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING CITY DRIVING. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE GRAPE VINE ON I-5 MY HUSBAND HERD AN ENGINE NOISE. WE PULLED OVER AND MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. IT APPEARED TO BE A NOISE COMING FROM THE FAN BELT. HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FINE. WE TRIED TO MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION OF MONROVIA,CA. THE ENGINE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO WE HAD TO STOP AT THE NEAREST EXIT AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A GAS STATION AT THE CORNER. MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AND THIS TIME HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE RECHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FINE. WE CALLED MAZDA AND THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE AT THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP. THE FOLLOWING DAY, A PERSON FROM MAZDA CALLED MY HUSBAND AND SAID WE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. MAZDA WANTED OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM US. WE TOLD THEM THAT WE ARE NOT FROM THE AREA AND WE WERE ON VACATION AND HAVE TO GO BACK HOME AND LOOK FOR RECEIPTS. THE PERSON FROM MAZDA STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT MAINTAINED THEREFORE, MAZDA WILL NOT COVER THE WARRANTY. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS A QUART LOW ON OIL AND THE OIL WAS BLACK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE OIL AT A GAS STATION BEFORE WE WENT UP THE GRAPE VINE. HE CHECKED IT AGAIN TWICE WHEN WE PULLED OVER EACH TIME AND IT WAS FINE AND THE COLOR OF THE OIL WAS BROWN NOT BLACK. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 35,700 MILES AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN LIKE THAT. WE HAD NO TYPE OF WARNING AND THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT SHOULD GO ON IF THE OIL WAS LOW AND IT DID NOT GO ON BECAUSE THE OIL WAS NOT LOW. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME FROM OUR VACATION, I FAXED THE RECEIPTS TO MAZDA AND MAZDA DECLINED THE REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE AND MAZDA CLAIMS THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE ALARM WOULD SOUND WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS STALLED ON MY HUSBAND WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL AT ABOUT 35 MPH BUT LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AND STOP THE VEHICLE. WHAT CAN WE DO BECAUSE WE FEEL WE HAVE A LEMON.

WE HAVE A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE ES 2WD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT SLOW SPEEDS (SO FAR). THE STALLING HAS OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, REVERSE TO DRIVE, AND IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN WE DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP HAS MADE THREE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO FAR. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AT THE MOMENT FOR THE FOURTH ATTEMPT. IF THIS IS UNSUCCESSFUL, WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE A REFUND UNDER THE NORTH CAROLINA LEMON LAW.*AK

2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE V6 ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, CAN'T CONTROL STEERING OR BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES 9 MONTHS AGO, BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN CORRECTED BY "REFLASHING THE COMPUTER". NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES SO FAR, THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

WE RECENTLY HAD A SECOND HARROWING EXPERIENCE IN OUR 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE ES-V6. WE WERE SO TAKEN ABACK BY THE AUDACITY OF MAZDA HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE STALLING ISSUE IN THE TRIBUTE AND NOT TAKING INTO THEIR BEST INTEREST TO RECALL THE VEHICLE THAT WE TRADED THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIFFERENT MAKE. IN FORWARD MOTION, AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH+, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN THE PROCESS OF STALLING, ALL POWER TO THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKES WERE LOST. MY WIFE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS AT SUCH A RANGE OF SPEED (~40MPH) THAT RESTARTING THE CAR IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE OPTION. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, YES, AND MAZDA CLAIMS TO HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR FLASH BIOS TO ADJUST FOR THE FAULT. THEY ALSO STATE THAT THE 2003 DOES NOT HAVE THIS REPORTED STALLING WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION ISSUE. THATS FINE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 1000'S OF PEOPLE OUT ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF ANY SORT FOR THIS VEHICLES PROBLEM WITH STALLING. I EVEN TALKED TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT MY MPV FROM, AND HE STATED THAT A TRIBUTE 2002 HAD STALLED FOR HIM WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION WHILE SHOWING IT TO A PROSPECTIVE NEW OWNER! I FIND IT APPALLING THAT A COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT A FAULT OF THIS NATURE AND HAS NOT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THOSE THAT HAVE BOUGHT THEIR VEHICLE, AND THOSE THAT DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS ALONGSIDE SAID VEHICLE HAVE NOT RECALLED AND FIXED THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED : NOT JUST A FLASH BIOS UPDATE, THAT IN READING MANY MANY CASES ONLINE IN TRIBUTE/ESCPAE MESSAGE BOARDS DID NOT FULLY FIX THE FAULT.SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE BEFORE PEOPLE START SUBMITTING THESE COMPLAINTS WITH INJURY LISTINGS.*AK

SINCE I PURCHASE MY MAZDA TRIBUTE IN APRIL 2002, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT SQEEKY BRAKES. MY BRAKE LIGHT OFTER DOES NOT GO OFF. THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD BRAKE CYLINDER CAP AND REPLACED IT. MY BRAKES STILL GRIND AND AGAIN MY BRAKE LIGHT IS STAYING ON. THEY ADDED FLUID AND IT WENT OFF. THEY ARE SAYING THAT I'M PROBABLY GETTING READY FOR NEW FRONT BRAKES. I CAME ONTO THIS SITE TODAY TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA. WHAT I READ ASTOUNDED ME. MY CAR HAS NEVER STALLED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE REPORTS ABOUTS STALLING AND LACK OF CONTROL AND THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS MAZDA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE YOU PEOPLE SAY OOPS!!!!!!!!!*AK

WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR PROCEEDING TO A STOP, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. THE BRAKES WILL FREEZE UP AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR IS TO PULL UP ON THE HAND BRAKE. THE CAR WILL RESTART. THIS HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME ON MAY 3, 2003. DEALER SAID THAT THEY REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM ARISED WHERE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED IN TRAFFIC. BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 3, 2003, THEY SAID THERE WAS IMPROPER OPERATION AND REPROGRAMMED THE PCM. THE CAR DIED DOWN AGAIN A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. AGAIN BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME JUNE 19, 2003. LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND HAD THE TECHNICIAN DRIVE THE CAR 100+ MILES HOME, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SENT THE CAR HOME. CAR DIED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOURTH TIME ON JULY 1, 2003, AND ONCE AGAIN DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CAR. ADVISED ME TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THEY PROBLEM WORSENED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT ALL TIMES WHEN IT HAS DIED AND IN TRAFFIC. A POTENTIONAL DANGEROUS AND FATAL SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY! THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE 2002, AND SINCE THEN IT HAS HAD A MASTER CYLINDER LEAK, AIR BAG CIRCUIT FAILURE, AS WELL AS FUEL SYSTEM ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS INVOLVED IN ITS TRIBUTE MODELS AND RECALL THE CARS.*AK

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TWICE BEFORE FOR THE SAME THING, EACH TIME THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. *AK

SINCE I PURCHASED THE AUTO IN APRIL 2002, THERE HAS BEEN A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. EVERY TIME I TOOK THE AUTO IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE (EVERY 3000 MILES) I ASKED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE SMELL AND EVERY TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT EXCESS OIL ON THE ENGINE. IF IT IS A BRAND NEW AUTO WHY IS THERE OIL ON THE ENGINE?? NO ANSWER FROM THE SERVICE DEPT. FINALLY AFTER A YEAR OF COMPLAINING THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND FOUND A CRACKED BLOCK. THE SERVICE DEPT SAID IT MUST OF HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FACTORY INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS STILL OK TO DRIVE. THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WHEN THE "PART" WAS IN. ALSO THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE I TOLD THEM THE BRAKES DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. I WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES SITTING A LIGHT THEY WOULD DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR. SURPRISING NOTHING WAS FOUND UNTIL THE SERVICE DEPT ACTUALLY DRIVE THE AUTO AROUND (FOR THE ABOVE PROBLEM) DID THEY DISCOVER THAT I NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER!!! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE, I HAVE HAD BOTH PROBLEMS SINCE THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED. LUCKILY IT NEVER STALLED ON ME. WHAT THE HECK IT UP WITH THIS MODEL YEAR??? *AK

2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE 4X4 LOSS OF BRAKES LOSS OF STEERING HAD TO STOP BY WAY OF E-BRAKE LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT NOTIFIED FROM THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EPROM ON THE MAIN COMPUTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED. ALSO NOTIFIED BY DEALER THAT THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE AVOIDED BY INFORMING CONSUMERS TO HAVE REPAIR DONE ON VEHICLE. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE???????? *JB

WITHIN MONTHS OF BUYING THE SUV WE HAD IT BACK TO CRYSTAL AUTO MALL, GREEN BROOK, NJ THE PROBLEM...THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE, IT WOULD SHIFT AROUND AS YOU DROVE DOWN THE ROAD! THIS WAS A QUICK REPAIR. STARTING ON SEPT 18,2002 WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMING ON, THEY REPLACED THE OIL SENDER UNIT, TOTAL $69.52, WHICH WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. ON OCT 14 BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY KEPT IT UNTIL OCT 17, REPLACING ALL KINDS OF PARTS, OIL PUMP, OIL GASKET FOR A TOTAL OF $924.65, AGAIN COVERED BY WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM THIS ROUND OF REPAIRS AND THE SAME PROBLEM LIT ITSELF UP AGAIN! HE WAS ALMOST HOME APPOX.30 MILES FROM THE DEALER, HE CALLED ON HIS CELL PHONE SAID HE WAS COMING RIGHT BACK, THIS TIME THEY HAD IT FROM OCT 18 TO OCT 31, 2002. WHAT A SURPRISE WHEN I HEARD THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE MOTOR FOR A TOTAL OF $4,511.17, AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY. STRANGE THING WAS THAT THEY WOULD NOT EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE NEW MOTOR BEYOND THE ORIGINAL GUARANTEE FOR THE TRUCK. NOW YOU TELL ME IS THIS RIGHT? THAT'S NOT THE END OF IT, ON JUNE 21, 2003, WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END THEY KEPT IT OVER THE WEEKEND UNTIL JUNE 23 AND TOLD US IT NEEDS BREAKS AND ROTORS AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY!!! ONLY 24000 MILES ON THIS SUV AND NOTHING BUT HEADACHES

I PURCHASED A MADZA TRIBUTE IN 2003. I BEGAN TO HEAR A FAINT NOISE WHEN DRIVING. I BEGAN TO HEAR THE NOISE A LITTLE MORE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MADZA DEALER ON AUTH WAY AND THEY COULD NOT DULPICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR BACK 2 TIMES BEFORE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT ABOUT THE NOISE/GRINDING WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR. I EVEN TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME NOISE EVEN AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HEAR IT. WELL, NOW I'M HAVING TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN AFTER TALKING WITH MADZA THE TECH WAS ABLE TO DULPICATE THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO THE SAME. BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT, MADZA WILL NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH 16 OR 19 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE MAKING THAT NOISE. THE SAME DAY, A LADY CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER NEW 2007 MADZA. SAME SYMTOMS THAT I TRIED TO RELAY TO THE DEALER WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY CAR. THE DEALER OPENED HER AN "OPEN TICKET" FOR HER NEW CAR IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS DOWN THE ROAD. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED MADZA FAILED TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY WHEN I WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS COST ME TIME AND FRUSTRATION TO EVEN DEAL WITH MADZA AND THEIR STAFF. I AM SEEKING LEGAL ADVISE IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE WITNESSES WHO WILL STATE IN A COURT OF LAW THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME AND NOW IT IS WORST BECAUSE MADZA FAILED TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH HAS LEAD ME TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION . IT IS NOT FAIR. IT HAS TAKEN ME ALMOST 4 YEARS AND THIS HAS NOW COME TO A HEAD. IF THEY WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO DO THEN I BOUGHT THE CAR WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THE DEALER ON AUTH ROAD LIED AND SAID THAT I HAD NEVER BROUGHT MY CAR IN DURING MY WARRANTY FOR ANYTHING. THAT'S A LIE. I HAVE THE PAPERS TO PROVE IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. *AK

AT 50,089 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED; MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE -- I HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, AND MAY HAVE TO DO SO AGAIN AT 52,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING, THE BRAKES AREN'T VERY RESPONSIVE, AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH AN UNATTRACTIVE AND IMPRACTICAL REPLACEMENT, BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THE TYPE THAT CAME WITH MY VEHICLE WASN'T AVAILABLE. THE REAR WINDOW HAS LEAKED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE WARRANTY EXPIRED JUST BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB