There are 27 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2003 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My ABS keeps locking up and Ive almost wrecked multiple times. I changed brakes and rotors and still the problem is on-going. Its dangerous and Ive read others saying the same thing online.
The sensor does not send the speed to the speedometer
AFTER FINISHING A ROAD TRIP, WE PARKED THE CAR AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO MOVE HIGHER AND HIGHER. WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE RPMS BEGAN TO DRASTICALLY RISE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT INTO PARK AND ONCE AGAIN THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO RISE. WE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED.
ON JUNE 25, 2013 @ 11:00AM I CALLED MAZDA CORPORATION (REFERENCE CALL NUMBER:[XXX]) ABOUT RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY MAZDA TRIBUTE 2003 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALLS WERE NOT ASSIGNED TO THE VIN NUMBER OF MY VEHICLE. THE MAZDA REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT ONLY THE SEAT BEAT ADJUSTMENT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO MY VEHICLE AND THAT I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. MAZDA WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. I BOUGHT THE TRIBUTE IN 2010 FROM A DEALERSHIP; THUS, WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALLS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT. I HAVE A 13 AND 14 YEAR OLD GIRLS AND AM A SINGLE PARENT. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. I CANNOT AFFORD RIGHT NOW TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. I AM ONLY ASKING MAZDA TO HONOR THE RECALLS. PLEASE SEE THE RECALL NOTICE BELOW FROM MAZDA. 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE RECALL ITEM AFFECTED: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES DATE ANNOUNCED: 7/27/2012 DESCRIPTION OF RECALL: 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. ACTION NEEDED TO FIX IT: 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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN NOVEMBER 2012 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V357000 (SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT HAD NO ISSUES WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATION LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WITH THE BRAKES STILL DEPRESSED, HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO EXCESSIVELY FLUCTUATE AS IF THE CONTACT WAS STILL DRIVING AND AT RAPID SPEEDS. THE CONTACT POWERED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD PERFORM NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT EITHER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS INEFFECTIVE OR WAS PERFORMED IMPROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,400.
DURING THE RECALL REPAIRS, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS DAMAGED. WHEN I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE CABLE CAUSED BY THE HOLDING BRACKET AS COVERED UNDER MAZDA RECALL DATED 7/12 I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE ONLY REPLACING THE HOLDING BRACKET AND NOT THE CABLE EVEN THOUGH THE CABLE WAS DAMAGED BY THE DEFECTIVE HOLDING BRACKET. SO, WHAT GOOD IS THE RECALL? I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $100 PLUS TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY REPEATED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOP AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVING 65MPH ON FREEWAY WENT TO SWITCH LANES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL COMPLETELY TO FLOORBOARD. IMMEDIATELY PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND PUMPED BRAKES INTO EMERGENCY LANE. UPON INSPECTION SHOWED THROTTLE CABLE JUST SNAPPED CLEAN. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V583000(VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
THE FIRST 2 TO 4 TIMES THE ACCELERATOR IS USED (NOT PUSHED HARD), THE CABLE STICKS. WE HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE PEDAL, THEN IT SUDDENLY RELEASES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JUMP IN THE DIRECTION CHOSEN. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SMOOTHLY BACK OUR OF THE GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE. THEN THE ACCELERATOR IS SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE AS RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V583000 FOR 2004 TRIBUTES, BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS BUILT AT THE END OF 2003. *TR
STICKY ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED (FROM A FULL STOP). STICKINESS INCREASES WITH COLDER WEATHER. CAUSES A LURCHING ACTION EVEN WHEN ADDING MINIMAL PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I'M WORRIED THAT IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS OR GETS WORSE WITH THE COLDER WEATHER, IT MAY CAUSE WHIPLASH TO ANY CHILDREN RIDING IN MY CAR. OR WORSE - LURCHING INTO THE GARAGE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY HOME. OR LURCHING IN A PARKING LOT AND HITTING A PEDESTRIAN/CHILD. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS IN SEVERAL AUTO FORUMS AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH FAR MORE CONSUMERS THAN MAZDA IS WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF TOYOTA CAN ADDRESS A STICKY ACCELERATOR PROBLEM, WHY CAN'T MAZDA DO THE SAME? OUR LIVES, AS WELL AS INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, ARE IN DANGER! *TR
WHILE ENTERING PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF BUILDING, ACCELERATOR RACED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT CONCRETE POLE IN FRONT OF BUILDING. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE ACCELERATOR RACED LIKE THIS; ONCE AT A RED LIGHT, WHERE I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, AND ONCE AT A STOP SIGN WHERE FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND. *TR
MAZDA 2003 TRIBUTE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS BEEN STICKING OFF AND ON SINCE MARCH 2009. WHEN THE CAR IS GOING ON HIGH SPEEDS, IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF. TOOK TO MECHANIC, UNHOOKED CRUISE AND NEW ACCELERATOR CABLE IN 2009. NO CHANGES. TRADED CAR IN FOR A HONDA IN JANUARY, 2010. MAZDA WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR
VEHICLE IS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE, WHICH HAD A RECALL 04V583000 FOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLES. WAS TOLD THIS RECALL WAS FIXED ON 8/11/2005. THIS VEHICLE HAS HORRIBLE ISSUES WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, IT WILL NOT SLOW DOWN, THE ACCELERATOR IS STUCK WIDE OPEN AND BRAKING WILL NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THESE INCIDENTS HAPPEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (25 MPH-55MPH), IT CAN SUDDENLY BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD UP TO 85 AND 90 MPH. HAPPENS BOTH IN RURAL AND CITY DRIVING. WAS TOLD BY MAZDA DEALER RECALL IS CLOSED AND WILL NOT CONSIDER THIS AS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS STILL RELATED TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT IS ONGOING AND HAS BEEN SINCE FEBRUARY, 2009. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE DX WITH A 4CYLINDER ENGINE AND A 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE WILL SURGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS NOT PRESSED ADDITIONALLY THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED. AFTER CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED. FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS. WHILE SEARCHING FOR AN ACCELERATOR CABLE ONLINE I FOUND A RECALL HERE BUT APPARENTLY IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE 4 CYLINDER. *TR
BOUGHT MAZDA TRIBUTE 2003 FROM CARMAX ON 06/26/08. MOTHER WAS DRIVING TRUCK W/MY DAUGHTER (6), WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND COLLIDED W/VAN IN FRONT OF HER. TWO HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL CARMAX. EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND ASKED WERE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THE TRUCK. THE LADY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW AND GAVE ME THE TOLL FREE NUMBER TO MAZDA. I CALLED FROM THEIR FACILITY AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE. I EXPLAINED THAT TO THE SERVICE PERSON. THE MANAGER CAME OUT TO SPEAK WITH ME AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. BECAUSE I HAD GEICO INSURANCE, THE MANAGER SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTER ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEIR BLDG. BY THIS TIME IT WAS 17:45. I RENTED A VEHICLE TO GET MY FAMILY HOME AND CALLED THE CARMAX THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. I SPOKE WITH LAURIE DOOLITTLE, THE MANAGER OF CARMAX IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, SHE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHE COULD DO BUT SHE WOULD CHECK WITH SOMEONE HIGHER THAN HER. SHE CALLED ME BACK AROUND 1805 AND SAID THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAPPENED, HOWEVER "THE ABS MODULE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BEING DRIVABLE". I WAS IN SHOCK. ME AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! WE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK 5 DAYS! I CALLED THAT MORNING BEFORE ACCIDENT TO GET A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH LOWER MILES AND LOWER PRICE TRANSFERRED IN TO THE CARMAX IN CHARLOTTESVILLE! AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO CARMAX'S CUSTOMER SVC (HEADQRTR) REPEATEDLY HEARING THAT I WAS AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I DID NOT REGISTER THE VEHICLE WITH MAZDA. WENT TO CHVILLE CARMAX TO SPEAK W/LAURIE DOOLITTLE IN PERSON. I ASKED HER TO REBUY THE CAR. LAURIE SAID NO. I HAD AN APPLICATION FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND STARTED TO FILL IN THE BLANKS AND NOTED THE TIME AND DATE OF THE REQUEST TO REBUY THE CAR DUE TO THE RECALLS THAT WERE ON MY VIN. (07/07/08 TIME 17:05) TODAY 07/08/08, GEICO STILL WORKING ON IT! *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, IF THE ACCELERATOR IS GENTLY APPLIED THE PEDAL PULLED DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. WITH THE ACCELERATION SUBDUED, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON, BUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED ON THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A SECONDARY DEALER. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS WELL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN TO DETERMINE IF THIS REPAIR REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED AND THE KEYS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE ENGINE REVVED TO THE MAXIMUM RPMS. AFTER FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STARTED THE VEHICLE HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE REVVING TO THE MAXIMUM RPMS. AT THE DEALERSHIP THE MECHANIC ALSO OBSERVED THE ENGINE REVVING AT THE HIGHEST RPMS. THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V583000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN MARCH 2005. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. *AK
I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN LATE FEBRUARY JUST BEFORE GOING ON A BUSINESS TRIP ABOUT AN "ACCELERATOR CABLE" PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER I RETURNED FROMMY TRIP AND BEFORE I COULD BRING THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH !!!!!! IT WAS ICY AND SNOWY AND IN TRAFFIC !!! THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HONKED THE HORN, PUT ON FLASHERS AND WAIVED PEOPLE OUT OF MY WAY, GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND WHEN I GOT SLOW ENOUGH, THREW IT IN PARK AND PULLED THE KEY. MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE CAR, GAVE ME A RENTAL AND FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT I COULD HAVE DIED! THIS WAS BAD - REALLY BAD! I AM SO THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR !!!! I UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE THEY SENT A RECALL NOPTICE OUT, THEY FEEL THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT I DISAGREE !!! THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM! THEY SHOULD CALL, OR DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS RECALL IS PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY! FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. MAZDA SENDS OUT SO MUCH MAIL, THAT I AM WORRIED MANY PERSONS MIGHT DISREGARD AND NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. GREATER EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO NOTIFY TRIBUTE OWNERS OF THE PROBELM AND URGE THEM TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY! I WAS VERY VERY FORTUNATE, BUT I IMAGINE THAT OTHERS WILL NOT BE.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD DUE TO HEAVY FOG BUT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE LAKE. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN# 04V583000. *SC *JB
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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