2002 Mazda Tribute Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact owned a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, a pop noise was heard, the vehicle had unintended acceleration; the engine revved and sped up to 80 - 90 mph, inadvertently, and the brakes failed to engage after the contact had depressed with both feet on the brake pedal. The contact made a turn into a park and the vehicle slid, then crashed into a tree. There was smoke coming from under the hood and the contact turned off the vehicle before exiting and walking until she got assistance from a bystander, who called the police. A police report was filed. The contact did not receive medical attention at the scene but later went to the emergency room for injuries sustained with six broken ribs. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

WHILE DRIVING 45 RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE

HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS, COME APRIL 2015. 8 MONTHS OF THOSE 2 YEARS IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY BROKE DOWN.WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN I FELT THE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND DECREASE IN ACCELERATION WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY HOME. I HAD TO GET OFF ON THE NEAREST EXIT WITH MY 1YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK, AND THERE WAS A STOP LIGHT FROM THE OFF RAMP TO THE ROAD, IT WAS RED WHEN I GOT OFF SO OF COURSE I HAD TO STOP. WELL THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IT JERKED LIKE THE GEARS WERE TRYING TO SHIFT BUT COULD NOT. I HAD TO GET OFF IN REVERSE AND WAIT 4 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. WE WERE 128 MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT, STILL UNFORTUNATELY STILL PAYING ON IT. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS MADE IN APRIL OF 2004 FOR THIS MODEL CAR. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF MINE FALLS UNDER THAT RECALL AND I'M I ELIGIBLE EVEN THOUGH I AM THE SECOND OWNER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 45 AND GOING TO 55 THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE OVERDRIVE. THIS OCCURS ALL THE TIME NOW TRANS FLUID IS FULL AND CLEAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. I WENT TO PROCEED TRHOUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PUSH DOWN HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER SAFELY. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, EXCEPT TO GO IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHERE IT WA S GOING TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. *AK

TRAVELING ON JULY 3, 2006 ON A RETURN TRIP TO VERMONT WITH 3 GRANDCHILDREN . I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 55/60 MPH ON AN UPGRADE AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS IN THE PASSING LANE, MY CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO PASSING GEAR, THE RPM REVVED UP AND THE MOTOR WAS RACING , THERE WAS NO MORE POWER THE CAR COULD OFFER ME. I PULLED BACK IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS APPROACHING A FLAT STRETCH, THE CAR SEEMED OKAY. LATER ON AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AGAIN ON AN SLIGHT UPGRADE THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR, AGAIN THE MOTOR WAS RACING, ONCE AGAIN AS I GOT ON A FLAT STRETCH THE CAR SEEMED OKAY, I COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND PASSED IT OFF THAT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME WAS CAUSING IT. A FEW TIMES ON THIS TRIP I FELT THE CAR WAS IN A WRONG GEAR. IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT ON JULY 5TH, THEY TESTED THE CAR AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR BACK HOME. MY WARRANTY WAS 36 MONTHS OR 50,000 MILES, I NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH THE CAR AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I WAS QUITE UPSET WITH THIS NEWS AND AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE" MAZDA OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE TRANSMISSION, STILL LEAVING ME WITH A BALANCE OF $2,100.00,. WHEN I FURTHER COMPLAINED AT A NUMBER I CALLED IN CALIFORNIA, THEY APOLOGIZED FOR MY PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR MY RENTAL CAR UNTIL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. I AM BAFFLED I HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. I WOULD BETTER UNDERSTAND IT IF THE CAR HAD A 139,000 MILES, I AM RETIRED AND FIND THIS EXPENSE A HARDSHIP. MY WIFE AND I NOW FEEL WE WERE FORTUNATE TO SAFELY RETURN OUR 3 GRANDCHILDREN BACK HOME. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT I FOUND A RECALL FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V175000, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS AFFECTED MY CAR AND IF SO, I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY HAVE TO OFFER. THANK YOU. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ABS ACTIVATES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE ACTIVATION EXTENDS THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GEAR RING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL IS BROKEN. THE BROKEN GEAR RING CAUSES THE ABS SENSOR TO OBTAIN AN IMPROPER READING. THE AXEL IS GOING TO BE REPLACED.

DT: THE CONTACT STATE THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR STUCK IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AFTER 3 YRS AND 30K MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD VIBRATE(TORQUE CONVERTER) WHEN SHIFTING TO OVERDRIVE. DEALERSHIP : TRANNY FLUID OXIDIZED AND SHOULD CHANGE SINCE 30K THOUGH MANUAL STATED CHANGE EVERY 30K UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND 3 YRS 30K DOESN'T QUALIFY. SO FAR SO GOOD AT 40K BUT MAZDA FORUMS SHOW MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM

WHILE BACKING OUT DRIVER HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED, AND THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY, DO TO DELAYED SHIFTING. GAS MILEAGE HAVE BEEN OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND IS MAKING THE VEHICLE SLUGGISH.*SB

I HAD SEVERAL EMMISION REPAIRS DONE WITHIN 60 HIGHWAY MILES ON MY MAZDA TRIBUTE 2002. NOW HAVE A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEEDA NEW TRANSMISSION. AND ONLY HAVE 65 000HIGHWAY MILAGE. NWORSW VECHILE I HAD MY VECHILE KEEP LOOSING POWER AND JUMP INTO OVER DRIVE SUDDENLY ONTHE FREEWAY I HAD TO PUT MY FLASSHER AND EXITED. 3 DAYS AGO

PURCHASED NEW IN 2002-WITH 85000 HIGHWAY MILES-TRANSMISSION FAILED- WHILE DRIVING ON I-84 IN CONNECTICUT-VEHICHLE WENT INTO THE PASSING GEAR ON ITS OWN THEN STOPPED -MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. IT WAS OUR LUCK HE WAS PAST THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND HE WAS GOING DOWN HILL. THERE WAS NO PRIOR NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL.*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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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