45 of the 734 complaints about the 2001 Mazda Tribute are about the body and structure — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 94,931 miles.
45
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WENT IN THE STORE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND I CAN OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AT ALL IT SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND ALL IT DID WAS THE SHIFTER JUST STOPPED AND WAS LOOSE IT WOULD NOT INGAGE IN ANOTHER GEAR
NHTSA complaint #11315447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
SUBFRAME RUST,LOWER ARMS CANOT BE CHANGED.I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD POP AND COULDN"T KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT
NHTSA complaint #11156991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DE PAULA MAZDA (799 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, NY 12206) WHO INSTALLED A REINFORCEMENT CROSS BRACE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CORRODED SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11058541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED, WHICH NEARLY DAMAGED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACK SWEENEY MAZDA IN CINCINNATI, OH WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2014 PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
NHTSA complaint #11030539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE), THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE REAR BOLTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED AND UNREPAIRABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,015.
NHTSA complaint #10966447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A FIRE HYDRANT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER CROSS BRACE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10959543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #10917184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN STRONG WIND CONDITIONS, THE ROOF BECAME DENTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS SLIGHTLY OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10762679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE VEHICLE THAT I OWN HAS CORROSION AROUND THE LIFT GATE'S REAR WINDOW HINGES AND HAS COMPLETELY FELL OFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I FEAR THE WINDOW WILL COMPLETELY FALL OFF. I'M NOT SURE IF ITS OK FOR THE REAR LIFT-GATE WINDOW HINGE TO BE FALLING OFF LIKE THAT.
NHTSA complaint #10758552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I CANNOT LOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10671207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE SPECIFICS REGARDING THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,021.
NHTSA complaint #10638416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE SUBFRAME CORROSION RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN EARLY JUNE. HOWEVER, SHE HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. SO, SHE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, ALONG WITH A SYNOPSIS OF THE TROUBLE SHE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER OF DENIAL FROM MAZDA, STATING THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED OR SERVICE COMPLETED, WERE NOT CONSIDERED COVERED ITEMS UNDER THE SUBFRAME CORROSION RECALL. ON DECEMBER 26, 2012 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A DECREASED CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE FISH-TAILED MULTIPLE TIMES IN LIGHT SNOW, WHICH HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. DUE TO HER STEERING DIFFICULTIES, SHE DROVE AT 30 MPH, YET STILL SPUN OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND SHE ONLY HIT A MEDIAN WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND BODY DAMAGE. AT THE TIME, SHE ATTRIBUTED THE INCIDENT TO WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, IT MADE FAR MORE SENSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RECALL. IN JANUARY 2013, SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE STEERING PROBLEMS. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET AN ALIGNMENT, BUT RAN INTO PROBLEMS DUE TO THE SUBFRAME; WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME, SHE HEARD OF TROUBLE WITH THE SUBFRAME. ACCORDING TO INVOICE, THE CASTER WAS NOT ADJUSTABLE WITHOUT THE SUBFRAME ADJUSTMENT AND POSSIBLY MORE. IT WAS 0.3 DEGREES FROM ACCEPTABLE RANGE, MAY DEMONSTRATE A SLIGHT LEAD OR PULL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THE BALL JOINT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARM WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE CONTROL ARM LOOKED AS IF IT WAS READY TO BREAK OFF, DUE TO CORROSION. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM, ALONG WITH THE STRUTS, ROTORS AND BRAKE HOSES, WERE ALL REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10619575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED AND SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10610943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS); HOWEVER, THE LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SOLD MAZDA PARTS, BUT WAS NO LONGER A MAZDA DEALER. THE NEXT CLOSEST MAZDA DEALER WAS TWO AND A HALF HOURS AWAY, WHICH THE CONTACT STATED WAS TOO LONG OF A DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. JCC
NHTSA complaint #10605195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, I THOUGHT MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S NOW CONSIDERED AN OLD CAR, BUT THEN JUST RECENTLY THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER DOOR. I THOUGHT, HMMMM MAYBE I SHOULD LOOK THIS UP ON THE INTERNET. BAM!!! MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME DEFECT AND NO RECALL!! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE COULD ACTUALLY GET KILLED FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR. SO, LET'S GO THROUGH A SCENARIO. I GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT, THE POWER DOES NOT WORK TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, THE CAR IS ON FIRE. I CAN'T GET OUT THROUGH DRIVER DOOR OR PASSENGER. SO NOW, I AM STRUGGLING TO GET TO THE BACK SEAT TO OPEN A DOOR. BUT WAIT, THAT'S IF I DON'T CATCH ON FIRE FIRST. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS TO BE A RECALL. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE ACTUALLY GETTING KILLED. BECAUSE IF IT DOES, THEN ALL THESE ANGRY PEOPLE WHO HAD ISSUES THAT YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TOO WILL TOTALLY BE ON YOUR[XXX]! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10478384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1. NORMAL USE. 2. BROKEN DOOR HANDLES--WITHIN DOOR. FRONT PASSENGER CAN'T OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. 3. I AM LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART.
NHTSA complaint #10402624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE INSIDE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE OF MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE COMPLETELY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THIS WAS SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, AND PERMANENT. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR AT THIS POINT IS TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THUS, THE DRIVER IS ESSENTIALLY TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNLESS THEY CAN ACCESS THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR OR EXIT USING ANOTHER DOOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTES BASED ON A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH.
NHTSA complaint #10356273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE DRIVER'S INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKEN. CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT PUTTING THE WINDOW DOWN. VERY BAD SAFETY CONCERN IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10343926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WE OWN A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE ES V6 [XXX] . SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2001 THERE HAVE BEEN THREE INCIDENCES OF THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BECOMING NON-FUNCTIONAL AND CREATING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHERE THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE (SOMEONE MUST OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR YOU NEED TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND REACH OUT TO USE THE EXTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR). THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION SHOULD THE CAR BE INVOLVED IN A FIRE OR ACCIDENT WHERE THE OCCUPANT MUST QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE PLACES A GREAT DEAL OF SHEAR FORCE ON A SMALL PLASTIC PIN THAT CONNECTS THE DOOR LEVER TO THE LATCH/LOCK/ACTUATOR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE HAS BROKEN TWICE SINCE 2001 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE THIS WEEK. I LOOKED AT THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE HANDLE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE (STRESS CRACKS) IN THE PLASTIC PIN, SO I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THAT BEFORE IT BREAKS DURING A POTENTIAL EMERGENCY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10332010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR HANDLE STOPPED WORKING, WINDOW NEEDS TO BE DOWN IN ORDER TO OPEN DOOR. IF IN AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE DRIVER WILL NEED ASSISTANCE IN EXITING CAR. THIS IS PROVEN BY ALL OTHER COMPLAINTS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IN HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS POTENTIALLY FATAL UNLESS GOVERNMENT STEPS IN AND DEMANDS RECALL. DEALER WANTS $300.00+ TO FIX, HAVE ALREADY SPENT $3000.00+ AT DEALER ON COMPUTER FAILURES AND LEFT SIDE DRIVER DOOR WINDOW ASSEMBLY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10330381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE - BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF COMPLETELY WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF ONE ANOTHER. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THERE IS NO WAY TO EXIT WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND REACHING TO THE EXTERIOR HANDLES.
NHTSA complaint #10326590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH THE FRONT DOORS NOT PROPERLY OPENING WHEN THE HANDLE IS PULLED TO OPEN THE DOOR. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY IT IS HARD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER 200.00 TO FIX, AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO ORDER THE PART.
NHTSA complaint #10297241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHILE TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES SHOULD NOT BE USED ON ANY VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON ONE OF THE MANY TRIBUTE RECALL LISTS! THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE DOUBLE TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE AND I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A NATIONALLY KNOWN CAR REPAIR SHOP FOR LESS THAN HALF OF THE COST THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED.
NHTSA complaint #10280811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
BOTH FRONT DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKE AND CANNOT GET OUT OF CAR UNLESS SOMEONE LETS YOU OUT OR YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND LET YOURSELF OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10261892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE - DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK AND FINDING MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THE CAR ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10253195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE QUIT WORKING. DOOR HAS TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10245383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10245203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. OF ALL THINGS TO MAKE PLASTIC THEY MADE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE CHROME PLATED PLASTIC. THIS SITUATION EXIST FROM 2001-2004. THE PART NUMBER IS EC01-59-330P. ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THE PART COST NEARLY $100 FOR AN INJECTED MOLDED PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT MUST REALLY BE WORTH LESS THAN A DOLLAR. TO TOP THAT, THEY WANT UP TO $200 LABOR TO REPLACE IT. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10244431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THREE OF MY EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN AND DO NOT WORK. THE FRONT DRIVER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS ALSO BROKEN. FAILURE APPEARS TO BE FROM POORLY MADE DOOR HANDLES WITH SUB STANDARD MATERIALS. THIS IS A HIGH USE ITEM ON THE VEHICLE AND IS MADE FROM CHEAP, THIN PLASTIC. THESE PARTS ARE RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED.
NHTSA complaint #10243841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. A CRITICAL PART OF THE MECHANISM IS CHEAP PLASTIC. MAZDA SHOULD RECALL THIS PART BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY EVERY TRIBUTE OWNER THAT I KNOW AND FREQUENTLY APPEARS IN ON-LINE COMPLAINT FORUMS. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH TWO HANDLES SINCE OWING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10242194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.