There are 4 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A LOUD BANGING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A PISTON SHOT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CHANGED LANES TO PASS A VEHICLE BUT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SPEED UP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE ONLY RACED UP AND DOWN WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR FILTER AND FUEL CONTROL MODULE HAD BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,185. UPDATED 07/22/10 *BF UPDATED 09/23/10 *BF UPDATED 09/24/10 THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/27/10
AT ALL SPEEDS OTHER THAN IDLE THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY LOSES POWER AND SMOKES. THIS IS A NEW 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE DANGER IS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED SUDDENLY THE PROBLEM OCCURS AND THE CONDITION BECOMES UNSAFE. *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