There are 13 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2004 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle would accelerate unintendedly, and the brakes would fail during the unintended acceleration. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the code reader was not able to read any codes. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the accelerator and brakes were repaired years prior and would not cover the cost for repair. The failure mileage was 189,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND DAMAGED THE EGR VALVE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. UPDATED 04/09/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME A PROBLEM OCCURRED, HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE EGR VALVE, HAD A HOLE IN IT. TEN DAYS LATER, HIS DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AND ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WA TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD MOST LIKELY DEVELOPED AN OBSTRUCTION THAT CAUSED A LARGE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE BACK IN TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED ANOTHER HOLE TO BLOW OUT THE EGR VALVE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE OF $2500 FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM.
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE, 6 CYLINDER. THE ENGINE EXPLODED UPON STARTING, SPECIFICALLY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. UPON STARTING, AN EXTREMELY LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED, THE HOOD WAS RAISED ABOUT AN INCH AND SMOKE AND FLAME POURED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE SMOKED SUBSIDED AND PLASTIC PARTS WHERE SCATTERED ABOUT THE PARKING LOT. TOWED THE TRIBUTE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW UP AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE ENGINE IS NOT DAMAGED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THAT MY CHILD WAS NOT NEAR THE CAR, OTHERWISE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN DEADLY INCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC SIGN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND MISFIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL PACK, SPARK PLUGS AND BY PASSED THE WIRING HARNESS. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL INJECTION WAS CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,300. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS TERMINAL REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS MILEAGE 107,000.
ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO STARTED TO HEAR A TICKING NOISE WHEN STARTING, GETTING WORSE CHECKED OIL AND WAS DOWN ABOUT 1/2 LITER TOPPED UP OIL. WENT TO A GARAGE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A CONNECTOR ROD PROBLEM THIS PROGRESSED RAPIDLY WITHIN TWO DAYS IT WONT START. I HAVE 109000 K/M , THERE WAS NO WARNING NO OVER HEATING, NO WARNING LIGHTS . NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE TURNING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER CAN REV THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE IS REVVING UP TO 3,000 RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. A CRASH COULD OCCUR IF THE CONTACT'S FOOT IS NOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE TIME. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE REVS UP TO 1,000 RPMS AND OTHER TIMES UP TO 3,000 RPMS. THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND DESIGNED TO PERFORM IN THAT MANNER. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. THE CONTACT IS ATTEMPTING TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. DURING THE 2007 WINTER SEASON, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS; HOWEVER, THE ISSUE RECURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. AFTERWARDS, THE FAILURE CEASED. IN JANUARY OF 2008, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN BEGAN TO REV. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF TWO TIMES; HOWEVER, SHE NEVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING BACKWARDS OR FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,350 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB
VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXTENDED CRANK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AS IT WAS NEARING 30K MILE SERVICE, WE DECIDED TO WAIT AND HAVE DEALER INSPECT AT THAT TIME. BEFORE THE CAR WENT IN FOR MAINTENANCE, IT SHUT DOWN GOING UPHILL. ALTHOUGH IT WOULD RESTART, IT RAN ROUGH AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. #3 IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED THAT THAT VISIT. THE CAR BEGAN STARTING HARD AGAIN IN LATE 2007 AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN - THIS VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE IDLE AIR VALVE, HOPING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT CONTINUED TO START HARD AND 2 WEEKS LATER IT RAN VERY ROUGH AGAIN ON STARTUP. THIS VISIT HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE #2 IGNITION COIL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO START HARD, WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE #4 IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED. HARD START CONTINUED, CAR BACK TO DEALER AGAIN, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THIS BRINGS US TO TODAY - THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF THE SHOP FOR 6 DAYS AND IS STARTING WORSE THAN IT HAD BEEN PRIOR TO THE LAST VISIT. NOTE: WARRANTY RAN OUT ON THE VEHICLE ON 4/2 AND THE DEALER AND MAZDA WOULD LIKE ME TO START PAYING FOR REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ON TOP OF THAT, THE FRUSTRATION OF HAVING TO GO BACK AND FORTH FROM THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN AWFUL. ALSO, NOTE: THE HARD START WAS EASIEST TO DUPLICATE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND WARMED UP, RESTED OFF FOR ~ 1 HOUR, THEN RESTARTED (LIKE WHEN YOU GOT OT THE GROCERY STORE). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS ,AND APPEARED AS IF IT WOULD FAIL MORE FREQUENTLY. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS ON APRIL 27, 2007. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL BUT IT DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 95,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *AK
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE SUV COMPLETELY STALLED DRIVING 35 MPH, THIS IS THE FOURTH SUCH INCIDENT IN 2 YEARS OF ENGINE STALL, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE ISSUE "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE". THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN NEAR REAR END COLLISION BY AN 18 WHEEL TRUCK. DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING ALSO FAILED AT 50,000 MILES. *JB
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. NO WARNING LIGHTS, CAR JUST DIES AND COASTS TO A COMPLETE STOP. LOSE STEERING CAPABILITY. DIES IN A MATTER OF 5 SECONDS AND SOME TIMES DO NOT EVEN HAVE TIME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. USUALLY RESTARTS AFTER 5-10 MINUTES OF TRYING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 3-4 WEEKS. *JB
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK *TS
THIS IS BASICALLY A DESIGN FLAW. OUR 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE SUFFERED "HYDRO-LOCK" AFTER TRAVERSING A FLOODED PAVED ROAD DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD CROWN. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT THE CENTER YELLOW LINE WAS VISIBLE THROUGH THE MUDDY WATER AND THE WATER LEVEL WAS BELOW THE RUNNING BOARDS. THE VEHICLE STALLED NEAR THE END OF THE FLOODED CONDITION AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES BUT WOULD STALL AGAIN. WHILE STALLED IN THE FLOODED ROADWAY, SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDING PASSENGER CARS (CHEVY MALIBU, NISSAN MURANO) PAST BY OUR STALLED TRIBUTE ON THE LEFT SIDE IN DEEPER WATER. THE TRIBUTE FINALLY STARTED UP AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE OFFICE. THE MAZDA DEALER WHERE PURCHASED ADVISED IT BE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED WATER HAD ENTERED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A "HYDRO-LOCK" (DAMAGED PISTON ROD). IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE (~APPROX. $5,000). A REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT A SUV TO HANDLE ROAD OBSTACLES SUCH AS WATER OF THE CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE, THAT WERE EASILY MANAGED BY SMALLER VEHICLES, WITHOUT THIS LEVEL OF DAMAGE. INSPECTION OF THE AIR INTAKE REVEALS IT IS DIRECTED TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEREAS MOST OTHER VEHICLES HAVE IT DIRECTED TO THE SIDE UNDER A FENDER TO PROTECT IT FROM WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION THE BRACKET SECURING THE INTAKE ENTRY ABOUT MID WAY DOWN THE FRONT GRILLE DOES NOT ALLOW MUCH AIR FLOW FROM ABOVE. MOST OF ENTERING AIR COMES FROM BELOW THE ENTRY POINT EXPOSING IT TO SPLASH CONDITIONS THAT WOULD NOT BE ENCOUNTERED IF THE INTAKE WAS DIRECTED TO THE NEAREST FENDER WELL AS WITH MOST OTHER VEHICLES I'VE SEEN. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AND AIR INTAKE CONFIGURATION AS WITH A FORD ESCAPE WHICH, PER THIS WEB SITE, HAS HAD AT LEAST 8 REGISTERED COMPLAINTS REGARDING ENGINE STALLS. NO WEATHER OR ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS WERE DESCRIBED WITH THESE COMPLAINTS HOWEVER.*AK
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