2003 Mazda Tribute

199 complaints on file, page 1 of 10.

1. Filed Jul 19, 2025Failure Jun 17, 2023Bellingham, WAFuel/propulsion systemCrash1 injured

   NHTSA report 7.19.2015 July 19, 2025 NHSTA Report This is what happened to me [XXX]: I was at an off ramp stop waiting for cars to pass. I eased forward to see if everyone had passed. The car accelerated on its own and I tried to stop. When I braked it accelerated faster. I had both feet on the brakes and tried to stop, but each time the car accelerated. It accelerated three times until I crashed. I crashed into a utility trailer and the wheel well of the trailer caught on my front left bumper on the driver's side. I was drug along the road around 60 miles per hour until the bumper bent and I could pull over onto the side of the road. The car was a total loss. The attached notice from Mazda matches the uncontrollable acceleration of my car. I contacted Mazda Corporation on the same day ([XXX]) and was told there is no VIN record of the car since I owned it. Additionally, they told me it was repaired in 2005 as a throttle recall. But there is a subsequent notice attached dated July, 2012 and no record of that recall repair. I called WA state Dept of Licensing to see if there is a new owner. They do not have a record of such. I contacted Copart in Arlington WA today to find out if the car was there for parts so nobody would buy the accelerator cable. Copart told me today they sold the car in 2024 but cannot release the name of whoever bought it. They said my insurance company would know. Whoever owns the car now needs to know there is a faulty accelerator cable causing a accident and they need to have it examined and replaced correctly. Please help find who owns this car and remedy a potential crash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint 11674766
2. Filed Sep 4, 2023Failure Sep 4, 2023Cattaraugus, NYService brakes, Vehicle speed control

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11542450
3. Filed Sep 18, 2021Failure Sep 21, 2020Rowlett, TXVehicle speed control

   The sensor does not send the speed to the speedometer

   NHTSA complaint 11433439
4. Filed Sep 14, 2021Failure Aug 17, 2021138,000 milesShelton, CTStructure

   The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact had taken his vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was severe corrosion on the lower control arm. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V174000 (Structure) which he linked to the failure. After performing a VIN search, the contact also discovered that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacture had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11432893
5. Filed Mar 25, 2021Failure Mar 24, 2021Pittsburgh, PABody

   DURING A FREE, AAA INSPECTION, THE AUTO SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS DANGEOUS DUE TO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR BODY DAMAGE. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS BEEN A PROBLEM

   NHTSA complaint 11404928
6. Filed Oct 23, 2020Failure May 1, 2020Hesperia, CAPower train, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed control

   CAR STALLED WHEN SLOWING TO STOP IN LEFT TURNING LANE DOING AROUND 45MPH, APPROACHING THE LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND VEHICLES APPROACHING MINE FROM BEHIND. IT WOULD NO LONGER START IN PARK OR MOVE IN DRIVE, TO GET OUR OF THE WAY AND OFF THE STREET I HAD TO WAIT AND THE MOVE IT IN REVERSE. GOT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SITS.

   NHTSA complaint 11365999
7. Filed Oct 23, 2020Failure May 1, 2020140,000 milesHesperia, CAPower train, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed control

   I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50MPH AND COMNG UP TO A STOP LIGHT, AS I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE FOR THE RED LIGHT GOING LEFT, MY TRIBUTE SUDDENLY STALLED.THE LIGHT THEN OF COURSE TURNED GREEN AND THIS WAS NOT GOOD, CAUSE ALL THE CARS COMING UP FROM BEHIND ME WERE NOW INTENDING TO NO SLOW DOWN AND BEGIN TO SPEED UP, TO CARRY ON THROUGH THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WHICH ALMOST CREATED A PILE UP, BEGINNING AT MY REAR BUMPER, OR ANOTHER SUDDEN COLLISION NEAR BY. LUCKILY ALL THE CARS HAD EITHER SWERVED AROUND MINE, OR MANAGED TO STOP BEHIND ME. I THEN PUT MINE IN PARK AND TRIED TO START IT, THE ENGINE STARTED BUT I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SO I SHUT IT OFF, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED STARTING IT, IT STARTED AND SHIFTED OUT OF PARK BUT WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE IN DRIVE. SO I TRIED IN ONE OF THE LOWER GEARS AND IT VERY SLOWLY, ABOUT 5 MPH BEGAN TO MOVE, GETTING ME OFF THE MAJOR ST AND ON TO A SIDE STREET. I THEN CHECKED REVERSE, WHICH WORKED JUST FINE AND ALLOWED ME TO PULL INTO A NEARBY STORE TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. I PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, TOO WAIT FOR IT TO BE TOWED HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO USE IT, BUT STILL NOTHING IN DRIVE, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ITS BEEN PARKED EVER SINCE, ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW.

   NHTSA complaint 11365995
8. Filed Mar 27, 2020Failure Feb 27, 2020149,374 milesHesperia, CAPower train

   I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND AS I SLOWED DOWN MY 03 MAZDA TRIBUTE STALLED, LEAVING ME STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF 5 LANES. AS THE LIGHT WAS TURNING GREEN & THE CARS NEARING MY REAR, HAD TO SWERVE AROUND TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAD PLACED MY SHIFTER INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART MY VEHICLE, BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER SHIFTING INTO D(DRIVE). SO I SHIFTED INTO ONE OF THE LOWER GEARS, TO SLOWLY GET OFF THE STREET AND INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. I PARKED AND SHUT MY VEHICLE OFF, MADE SURE ALL WAS INTACT THEN RESTARTING MY VEHICLE. I SHIFTED INTO R(REVERSE) AND BACKED UP NORMALLY, I THEN SHIFTED INTO D(DRIVE) BUT MY CAR ONLY ROLLED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN N(NEUTRAL). SO I SHIFTED INTO R(REVERSE), BACKED DIRECTLY INTO MY PARKING SPACE AND CALLED MY ROADSIDE ASSIST. TO BE TOWED HOME.

   NHTSA complaint 11319553
9. Filed Aug 20, 2019Failure Jul 21, 2018Albany, NYService brakes, Body

   THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I ENGAGE THE BREAK IT MAKES NOISE INITIAL BEFORE IT WILL START TO ENGAGE PROPERLY, BUT THE ABS LIGHT KEEPS SHOWING STEADILY. THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE REMAINS LOCKED AND CANNOT OPEN. THE LATCH IS NOT BAD.

   NHTSA complaint 11245355
10. Filed Jul 13, 2019Failure Jul 13, 2019180 milesShakopee, MNElectrical system

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 11231621
11. Filed Jul 9, 2019Failure Jul 4, 2019146,000 milesOlathe, KSBody

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING EXCESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER AND ENGINE CRADLE WERE CORRODED THROUGH. ALSO, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MOUNT WAS DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12237710780. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE MANUFACTURER AND NHTSA DID NOT INCLUDE HIS STATE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. *TR*JB

    NHTSA complaint 11230379
12. Filed May 7, 2019Failure May 15, 2010179,000 milesEvansville, INAir bags, Steering, Suspension

    NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FRONT END ISSUES FOR SOME TIME NOW.

    NHTSA complaint 11205991
13. Filed Feb 20, 2019Failure Feb 17, 2019160,000 milesOconto, WISteering

    DRIVING IN GREEN BAY WI 2/17/2019 AND WENT THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT, FELT SOMETHING GIVING OUT IN STEERING? PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT NEAR BY AND HAD NO CONTROL OVER CAR? FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MAZDA TRIBUTE SUBFRAME WHICH GETS CORRODED WITH SALT AND RUSTS OUT? MAZDA FIXED THIS RECALL ON THIS CAR 12/18/2015 AND PERFORMED THE SUBFRAME RECALL ON THIS CAR. NOW THE PARTS GAVE OUT AGAIN AND BROKE SO THE PARTS DO NOT LAST LIKE THEY THINK THEY DO? PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY DIE IN THIS CAR, THINKING THESE PARTS ARE MADE TO LAST AND THEY DONT.? THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO ALL WHO DRIVE IT THIS WAY, NOT KNOWING THE PARTS WILL NOT LAST? MAZDA CLAIMS THEY FIXED IT, IT LASTED 40,000 MILES, WONT FIX IT AGAIN, BUT HOW LONG DOES A RECALL PART LAST? ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK CARE OF THIS CAR, WENT THROUGH ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND THEN WE LOST STEERING AND HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS A SEVERE DANGER? WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY THIS CAR CAN ROLL AND PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE PARTS FAILURE? PLEASE HELP, WE HAVE NO CAR FOR WORK AND ARE SCARED TO EVEN FIX IT? IT ONLY HAS 160,000 MILES ON IT? I HONESTLY NEED THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO EXAMINE THIS? I DONT HAVE A PICTURE YET, BUT WOULD GLADLY PROVIDE THEM WHEN YOU CONTACT ME WITH A CASE NUMBER AND WHAT WE CAN DO? YIKES THANKS FOR THE HELP?

    NHTSA complaint 11181291
14. Filed Nov 29, 2018Failure Nov 27, 2018221,800 milesFlorissant, MOBody

    I HAD A NOISE BEGIN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE MUFFLER OR SHOCK AND I WAS CORRECT. TOOK IT TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE BODY RUSTED THROUGH AT THE STRUT TOWER CONTACT AND THE SHOCK/STRUT WAS COMPLETELY UNATTACHED. IT STARTED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS BECOMES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ON ALL THESE VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO GO AND TRY TO FIND A BODY SHOP SEE IF THEY CAN FIX THIS. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

    NHTSA complaint 11154822
15. Filed Oct 12, 2018Failure Oct 5, 2018Wooster, OHSuspension

    HELP PLEASE? I PURCHASED MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE IN OCTOBER, 2016. I RECENTLY NEEDED REPAIRS DONE (NEW MUFFLER SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED) BUT WAS TOLD MY LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES COULDN'T BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE HUGE CRACK IN THE SUB-FRAME. THE RECALL ON THE SUB-FRAME WAS DONE IN JULY, 2014 (BEFORE MY PURCHASE) ' BY INSTALLING A CROSS-BRACE. WHEN MAZDA MADE THE RECALL, OWNERS WERE INFORMED THAT THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE' AND A SECOND LETTER WOULD BE MAILED ONCE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. A 'NEWLY DESIGNED' REINFORCEMENT CROSS-BRACE WAS THE FIX?... OR JUST A BAND-AID THAT DELAYED THE INEVITABLE?... BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE CROSS-BRACE INSTALLED, MY PROBLEM IS STILL HERE ' MY SUBFRAME IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND NOT SAFE' IT COULD SNAP SUDDENLY FROM SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HITTING A POTHOLE. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES TO THIS E-MAIL OF THE SUBFRAME SHOWING WHERE IT IS RUSTED THROUGH. YOU CAN SEE HOW WIDE THAT CRACK IS... YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE REINFORCEMENT CROSS-BRACE FIX IS ATTACHED... AND WHY THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CANNOT BE REPLACED. IF THE PICTURES AREN'T ACCEPTABLE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP HERE IN WOOSTER (330) 804-1000 VERIFY MY CLAIM. I AM 72 AND ONLY GET $700 A MONTH SS ' WHICH I AM BARELY GETTING BY ON. I HAD TO SAVE TO GET THE NEW MUFFLER AND CONTROL ARMS SO A MECHANIC FRIEND COULD INSTALL THEM. I REALLY NEED MAZDA TO COVER THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR' AND I HAVE ASKED MAZDA FOR AN EXCEPTION (OR EXTENSION) TO THE RECALL THAT WAS DONE ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED MAZDA IN AN EMAIL ON 10/5/18' AND RECEIVED A REPLY BACK THE 'SAME' DAY ASSIGNING ME AN SR NUMBER: 1-1768908199' BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN. IS THERE ANY WAY YOUR AGENCY CAN ASSIST ME HERE?... MAYBE THEY'LL RESPOND TO YOU? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF. (XX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    NHTSA complaint 11139903
16. Filed Oct 1, 2018Failure Jun 1, 201564,000 milesVerona, PAAir bags

    EVERY TIME I START MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND EVERY 30 MINUTES OF OPERATION THEREAFTER, THE CAR MAKES 5 SETS OF 5 BEEPS. AN INTERNET SEARCH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT TO INDICATE THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. A MAZDA MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. AND EVEN IF I HAVE THE VERY EXPENSIVE JOB DONE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM, THE REPLACEMENT PARTS DON'T WORK EITHER. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME. MAZDA NEEDS TO PROVIDE A GOOD WORKING SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND SOON.

    NHTSA complaint 11132802
17. Filed Sep 12, 2018Failure Jul 1, 2017Oakley, CAAir bags, Service brakes, Suspension

    AIRBAGS SIGN ACTIVE

    NHTSA complaint 11129166
18. Filed Jul 29, 2018Failure Jun 11, 2018135,440 milesAustin, TXAir bags, Power train, Vehicle speed control

    TAKATA RECALL, LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING IN PARK, GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS.DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STOPPED PULLING WITH TRAFFIC SPEED OF 65 MPH HAD TO MANEUVER OFF THE HIGHWAY. WOULDN'T PULL IN ANY GEAR, SHIFTER ONLY HAD ONE GEAR IT WOULD SIT IN WILL SLIDE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE 2. COST $224.00 TO TOW WHICH I HAD TO BORROW.

    NHTSA complaint 11114420
19. Filed May 25, 2018Failure May 25, 2018134,000 milesWorcester, MAFuel/propulsion system

    THE ACCELATOR IS STUCK AT 4,000 RPM. JUST ARRIVED IN DRIVEWAY AND PUT IN PARK.

    NHTSA complaint 11097980
20. Filed Feb 8, 2018Failure Jul 1, 2012104,000 milesVeneta, ORAir bags, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 11071847