Your vehicle report
2002 Mazda Tribute
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 384
- Received Nov 2001 to Nov 2023
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine suddenly shuts off while driving81 complaints · 21% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Rear door latch fails to open or close30 complaints · 7.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbag warning light stays on21 complaints · 5.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #14V174000Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
- Recall #12V357000Mazda 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 19 crashes, 24 fires, 13 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 88 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 27 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 33 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 384 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 81 | 21% | – | NHTSA recall #04V175000 |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 30 | 7.8% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 21 | 5.5% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 18 | 4.7% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 12 | 3.1% | – | NHTSA recall #07V157000 |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 11 | 2.9% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 10 | 2.6% | – | NHTSA recall #04V583000, #12V357000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 2.1% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 6 | 1.6% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 6 | 1.6% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 6 | 1.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 4 | 1.0% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 4 | 1.0% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 3 | 0.8% | – | NHTSA recall #14V174000 |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 3 | 0.8% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #14V174000April 4, 2014109,000 vehicles affected
structure: frame and members
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.
NHTSA recall #12V357000July 27, 2012217,500 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling; vehicle speed control: cables
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.
A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #12V016000January 20, 201252,390 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Mazda Tribute vehicles manufactured from april 20, 2000, through july 19, 2002. The brake master cylinder reservoir cap Can leak brake fluid. If brake fluid leaks, it could come in contact with the antilock brake system (ABS) module wiring harness connector.
Corrosion may develop in the electrical connector leading melting, smoking or possible fire.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modify the ABS electrical system, free of charge. Until the repair has been performed, vehicle owners should park their vehicles outside. The safety recall began on june 22, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option 6.
NHTSA recall #07V157000April 10, 200795,300 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector may have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short.
An electrical short might cause an ABS malfunction that would illuminate the ABS warning light, and in some cases, the module may overheat resulting in burning odor, smoke, and/or fire. This condition could occur either when the vehicle ignition switch is in the off position or while the vehicle is being operated.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate. The dealer will also inspect the connector on the ABS module and replace it if it is found to be corroded or damaged. The recall began on may 9, 2007. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
NHTSA recall #04V605000December 23, 200449,800 vehicles affected
latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock
Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utility vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 206, 'door locks and door retention components.' the rear liftgate latching system does not meet the inertia load requirement in one direction.
If the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
NHTSA recall #04V583000December 10, 2004121,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control: cables
On certain sport utility vehicles, the accelerator cable may prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position.
An unexpected increase in engine idle speed may increase stopping distance and may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the accelerator cable. The recall began on january 28, 2005. Owners should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option #4.
NHTSA recall #04V175000April 9, 2004106,000 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 duratec engines , during deceleration, the engine Can stall.
Should the engine stall, a vehicle crash could occur.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the power control module (PCM) with the appropriate calibration. The recall began on may 3, 2004. Owners should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Mazda Tribute.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN