Your vehicle report
2005 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
- 377
- Received Jul 2004 to Jul 2024
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Frame rusts and corrodes through120 complaints · 32% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Unintended acceleration despite braking53 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps17 complaints · 4.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- 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.
- Recall #06V116000Certain sport utility vehicles equipped without side air curtains or moon roofs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement above the permitted limit at the left hand a-pillar trim area.
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: 16 crashes, 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 377 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 120 | 32% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 53 | 14% | – | NHTSA recall #12V357000 |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 17 | 4.5% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 10 | 2.6% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 9 | 2.4% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 2.1% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 7 | 1.9% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 7 | 1.9% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Door ajar light stays on when closed | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 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 #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 #06V116000April 12, 200623,100 vehicles affected
seats: front assembly: head restraint
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped without side air curtains or moon roofs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement above the permitted limit at the left hand a-pillar trim area.
In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Remedy
Dealers will make modifications to the energy absorbing material located above the headliner in the affected area free of charge. The recall began on may 31, 2006. 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.
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 2005 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