There are 8 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY LOCKS WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT RECALL IS CLOSED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY NEEDED TO BE VIGOROUSLY PRESSED AND TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
STEERING COLOM IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE FELLS TO CRANK. THE LOCK ATTACHES AROUND THE STEERING COLOM IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH GOES IN TO. THIS IS THE 3RD REPLACEMENT OF FACTORY OEM PARTS AND IT CONTINUES TO GO BAD. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE KEY WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT REACHING THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,418 UPDATED 8/12/13 *CNN
LOCK ISSUE - HATCHBACK AND BACK WINDOW ONLY THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE ALWAYS HAD, AND IT IS A PAIN IN THE NECK. THE HATCHBACK DOOR OR WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN USING EITHER THE REMOTE OR THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. AFTER HAVING GROCERIES IN THE BACK, PIZZA, MATERIAL BEING MOVED, ETC. ONE HAS TO DO THE FOLLOWING TO ACCESS THAT AREA OF THE VEHICLE: 1.) CLIMB OVER THE SEAT - MANY TIMES NOT POSSIBLE TO REALLY GET AT ITEMS IN THE BACK. 2.) WAIT ABOUT 5 MINS OR SO, AND THEN THE REMOTE WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR/WINDOW. 3.) DISCOVERED THAT PUTTING THE KEY BACK IN AND TURNING IT TO ACCESSORY AND THEN REMOVING THE KEY, THE DOOR/WINDOW CAN BE UNLOCKED. NOT SURE WHAT THE STORY IS OR EXACTLY WHAT STEPS MUST BE DONE FOR THIS ISSUE TO OCCUR, BUT IT OCCURS OFTEN. USUALLY THE SEQUENCE IS, SHUT THE CAR ENGINE OFF, REMOVE THE KEY, SHUT OFF THE CARS LIGHTS, THEN TRY TO ACCESS THE BACK WITH THE REMOTE. WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK, TRY OPENING THE CAR DOOR AND UNLOCKING ALL THE DOORS AGAIN. THIS WON'T WORK EITHER. TRY LOCKING THE VEHICLE AGAIN USING THE REMOTE AND TRY OPENING UP THE DOORS AND THE BACK. I BELIEVE THAT THE 'DOORS' WILL UNLOCK AT ALL TIMES, BUT NOT THE BACK OR THE BACK WINDOW. REALLY A PAIN......AND EMBARRASSING TO HAVE PEOPLE WATCH YOU TRY TO GET INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR, WHEN THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM. *TR
FROM A STOP SWITCHING TO GAS PEDAL OR ACCELERATOR THE PEDAL STICKS AND HARD TO PRESS AND DOES IT BACK TO BACK FOR A FEW MINUTES. ALSO IT CAN DO IT AT RANDOM AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE AND STOP AT A LIGHT IT WILL STICK WHEN TRYING TO GO. ONCE IT STOPS STICKING I HAVE TO QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES TO NOT CAUSE OVER ACCELERATION. *JS
VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DANGEROUS TOTAL SHUT-OFF OF ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT RE-START VEHICLE. STARTER WOULD TURN ENGINE BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. SHOP RETRIEVED CODE P1260 "ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM SIGNAL DETECTED - ENGINE DISABLED". MOST TOW VEHICLE TO MAZDA DEALER FOR SERVICE. *TR
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 26, 2026