There are 9 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. SO I HAD THEM REPLACED. THE CAR RAN FOR ABOUTV10 MINUTRS AND JUST SHUT OFF. WHILE AT THE MACHANICS HE SAID THAT THE WIRE HARNESA IS MELTING AMD THAT I GOT LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A FIRE. THE ABS LIGHT GOAE OFF AND ON TO. I CALLED ABOUT A RECALL I SAW IN 2007 ABOUT THE WIRE HARNESS AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT IS FIXES. I HAVE PROOF IT IS MELTED AND. WOULD LIKE MY CAR FIXED UNDER THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISLAND MAZDA (1580 HYLAN BLVD, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305 (844) 667-0618) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE'S ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V157000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AT 800-222-5500, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,899.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO ZONE TO GET THE FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 15 MINUTES, SHE DROVE IT INTO A DRIVE WAY AND AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD RESET ITSELF BUT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR 3 SECONDS AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS MECHANICAL AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON FIRE FOR A LEAST AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
STRUCTURE CROSS BRACKET FOR LOWER CONTROL ARM. ACCELERATOR CABLE.CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THROTTLE BODY STICKS EVEN AFTER THE RECALLS THE DRIVER AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK LIGHT ON DASH IT'S THE PLUG AT WIRE HARNESS MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS LOSE BRAKE FLUID ENGINE STALLED WHEN ON HWY105 WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT WHILE TURNING CAR STARTED TO ROUGH IDLE AND STARTED TO DIE AGAIN. IDLED TO A STOP CAR WAS SHAKING AND WOULD RUN. HAD TO SIT AROUND 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RUN AND STAY GOING. CAR HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN MINNESOTA AND CANADA BOTH HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER BEING JUMP STARTED BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACED THE SAME PARTS TWICE BEFORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOUSE. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE NIGHT BEFORE. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT APPEARED TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ELECTONIC CONTROL MODULE DIRECTLY BELOW THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. THE CAR HORN/ALARM STARTED BEEPING, AND OWNER OF CAR RESPONDED TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. OWNER OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FIRE FROM THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS IMMEDIATELY CALLED.*AK
PURCHASED MAZDA TRIBUTE NEW NOVEMBER 2003. TWO MONTHS AFTERWARD THE CAR STALLED AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CLOSED DOWN. I HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT LOCKED. AFTER FOUR EFFORTS TO CRANK THE CAR, THE IGNITION UNLOCKED AND THE ENGINE STARTED. I NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK HAD STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNLESS IT HAPPENED WITH THEM. SINCE NOVEMBER 2003 THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. THE SEASON NOR WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT APPEAR TO MATTER. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS IN AUGUST 2005 IT WAS THE WORST. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER UNTIL AFTER FIVE TRIES, RIGHT AFTER THIS I DROVE ABOUT 50 YARDS THEN IT STALLED AND IT TOOK AN ADDITIONAL THREE TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO START. I DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER 200 YARDS, IT STALLED AGAIN. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE. *JB
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *AK THIS PARTICULAR MODEL WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE, WOULD STOP WHEN STARTED AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP IN TRAFFIC. *SC *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026