20 of the
542 complaints about the 2005 Mazda Tribute are about the
fuel system — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
79,575 miles.
THE 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE INITIALLY STARTED TO BE SPORADICALLY SLUGGISH/HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A DELAY FROM WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO WHEN THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. ON 6/4/15, A COUPLE DAYS AFTER FIRST EXPERIENCING THE SLUGGISHNESS/HESITANT ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE STALLED/LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUSY ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO BE SLUGGISH AT ACCELERATION AND WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING. AT THIS POINT WITH THE VEHICLE'S MECHANICAL ISSUES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON- EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SOMETHING MAJOR WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IN THE SHOP (6/6/15) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL NOT ON- -SO THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOP SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER AND DO A FUEL SYSTEM CLEAN-- WHICH I DID. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO BE SLUGGISH/HESITANT WHEN ACCELERATING & RANDOMLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP & THEY INDICATED THE CODE WAS TELLING THEM THAT CYLINDER 2 WAS MISFIRING. NO OTHER CODES WERE READ. ALL THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED, COILS WERE CHECKED (IN GOOD CONDITION). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN SLUGGISH AND STALL WHILE DRIVING (MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I WAS GOING 55-65 MPH). ON 6/24/15 THE CAR STALLED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP & THEY INDICATED THE COMPUTER WAS DEAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY DENIED THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE MAZDA TRIBUTE COMPUTERS AND SAID IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10736139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesPhiladelphia, PA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR STOPS ACCELERATING DUE TO GAS PEDAL BEING STUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10671120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,655 milesDubuque, IA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY IN THE SHOP TO REPAIR SHOCK TOWER ON THE RIGHT REAR WHICH WAS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT, THAT EXPENSE COST $1200, WITHIN THE WEEK, WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE ABS LIGHT, THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW TO A STOP. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. I PLACED THE CAR INTO PARK, I WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SHOP AND NEEDED REPAIR OF FUEL INJECTION, ENGINE COMPUTER, SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS CAME TO $1500 DOLLARS. IT WAS UPSETTING TO DEAL WITH TWO MAJOR INCIDENTS IN 1 WEEK, ESPECIALLY EXPENSIVE ONES. THE WAY THE CAR CAME TO A SLOW STOP ON A HIGHWAY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10644307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,150 milesHoover, ALCrash1 injured
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN APPROACHING A 4-WAY INTERSECTION DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW THEN RED. I TRIED TO STOP BY PRESSING MY BRAKE PEDAL. MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP HILL. I PRESSED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT MY VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND I RAN INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS ORIGINALLY GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND WHEN I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, I WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH. MY VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE BUT CONTINUED TO REV HIGHER. I WAS INJURED WHEN MY ARMS BENT THE STEERING WHEEL FORWARD, THE SEAT BELT BRUISED ME AND MY RIGHT FOOT (TALUS BONE) WAS BROKEN BY THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I REQUIRED SURGERY. I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 3 WEEKS AND WORE A CAST FOR 7 WEEKS. THE POLICEMAN WHO REPORTED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCOVERED THE GAS PEDAL WAS HALF WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND STUCK. THE OTHER DRIVER AND A WITNESS SAID THEY HEARD THE VEHICLE REVVING AFTER IT STOPPED AFTER IMPACT. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE ARE SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE WEBSITE BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10615350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 151,551 milesFort Myers, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RUNNING ROUGH, STALLING AT LIGHTS, REPLACED IGNITION COILS, NEW IGNITION COILS FAILED, FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, PCM CAUSING FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10611233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesELK Grove, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN TO A CRAWL. DRIVER HAS TO PULL OVER AND PUMP ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO GET IT UNSTUCK. CHECKED WITH DEALER INITIALLY AND CALLED MAZDA TODAY JANUARY 8, 2014 TO ASK IF THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL. WAS TOLD, NO. IN THE PAST, HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MECHANIC AND LEFT IT TO BE TEST DRIVEN IN ORDER FOR MECHANIC TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM AND CLEANED ACCELERATOR. PROBLEM CONTINUOUS SPORADICALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10559117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesPortland, OR
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FIRST TIME I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE GAS PEDAL, I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE PEDAL GOT STUCK ALL THE WAY DOWN. MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD 5 INSTANCES WHERE I'M DRIVING MY CAR AND LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT GETS STUCK. I HAVE TO STOMP ON THE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO START WORKING AGAIN. I'M ALWAYS IN TRAFFIC AND HAVE TO TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE IF THERE IS A SHOULDER AVAILABLE. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC IS MOVING OVER 50 MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I'M UPSET TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND WE HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS FIXED. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10499959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesRedwood City, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. NOT IN THE "ON" POSITION BUT RATHER WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING OR DECELERATION IT WILL STICK AND I CAN NOT PUSH IT DOWN. IT HAPPENS MORE WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. I AM READING PAGES AND PAGES ON THE INTERNET OF THIS HAPPENING WITH MAZDA TRIBUTES AROUND MY CARS AGE. IT SEEMS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, SINCE FOLKS LIKE MYSELF HAVE GOTTEN IT 'REPAIRED' AND IT HAS RECURRED THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A WORN PART BUT RATHER A DEFECT. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA complaint #10489387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,548 milesClemmons, NC
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE FOUND THAT MY GAS PEDAL WON'T DEPRESS IN COLD WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS A FEW WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2009. THE SAID IT'S COLD AND THE CAR JUST NEEDS TO WARM UP. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR, BUT NEVER FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. HOWEVER THIS MORNING, AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE PEDAL WOULD NO LONGER DEPRESS AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. EVENTUALLY I COASTED TO A RED LIGHT AND I FRANTICALLY STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. I WAS ABLE TO TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND SOMEHOW COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. I CONTINUED TO LET THE CAR SIT AND WARM UP FOR ANOTHER 10-12 MINUTES, WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REV THE ENGINE. BELIEVING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED I BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SORT AND AGAIN TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD, HOWEVER THE PEDAL STILL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. AFTER SITTING ANOTHER 10 MINUTES, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PRESS THE PEDAL HARD ENOUGH FOR IT TO DEPRESS. I ENDED UP NEEDING ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS TO FOLLOW ME TO WORK IN CASE IT HAPPENED AGAIN; WHICH IS DID AFTER 3-4 MORE TIMES ON MY 10 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10487365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesBrockton, MACrash
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THROTTLE FREEZE UP. COULD NOT ACCELERATE OUT OF PATH OF ON COMING VEHICLE WHICH CRASHED INTO MY LEFT FRONT FENDER. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR YEARS NOW AND WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALER ABOUT IT I WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR RECALL LETTER WHICH NEVER CAME. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES. IT HAS BEEN PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. AND I NEED HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10477303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesNorth Myrtle Beach, SC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK VENT PIPE COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OF A POTENTIAL FIRE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10378018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesOntario, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE GAS PEDAL STICKS WHILE DRIVING, IT LOOSENS UP AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, (PUTTING THE ENTIRE FORCE OF MY BODY AGAINST PEDAL WILL NOT FREE IT UP) . THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MUCH MORE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. ALSO LAST WINTER WHEN IT WAS COLD AT NIGHT AS I PULLED FROM MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK THE ENGINE SEEMED TO REV SUDDENLY AS I PULLED AWAY. THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY AND I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER BUT I AM NOT SO SURE NOW. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. THE DEALER CHARGES THEM SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2002-2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE FOR THE ACCELERATOR CABLE RECALL 2704L. IS IT POSSIBLE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10356386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesWestover, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FILLING THE GAS TANK BECAME A PROBLEM AS WEATHER BECAME COLDER. IT FILLS SLOWLY AND BACKS UP. IF NOT ANTICIPATING IT FUEL WILL SPRAY BACK AT YOU AN RUN BACK OUT FILLER TUBE IN FACT IT IS HARD NOT TO HAVE SOME FUEL SPILL DURING THE FILL. I SAW TSB ON THE ISSUE AND CONTACTED DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED ,A FORD DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM ANYWAY AND WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO GET IT DONE. I CONTACTED MAZDA USA BY PHONE AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY OR RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIR. WITH PERSISTENCE THEY SAID IF I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND RESULTS WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE TSB THAT THEY MIGHT HELP WITH THE REPAIR UNDER A "GOODWILL" PROGRAM. I REQUESTED TSB FIX INFORMATION SO I COULD CONSIDER WHAT WAS NEEDED TO FIX SO I COULD DECIDE MY MOST ECONOMICAL ROUTE TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY REFUSED. THEY SAID THAT INFORMATION WOULD ONLY BE GIVEN TO MAZDA MECHANICS DUE TO "LIABILITY" CONCERNS. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES AND IT NOW OCCURS AT EVERY FUEL FILL, THE COLDER IT IS THE WORSE IT IS BUT IT OCCURS EVEN WHEN IT IS ABOVE FREEZING. I HAVE A COWORKER WITH A 2006 TRIBUTE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SERIOUS EVENT TO US YET BUT MY SON BORROWED THE CAR ONCE AND I WAS UNABLE TO WARN HIM AHEAD AND HE WAS DOUSED IN GAS. ANY STATIC SPARK OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCE AND THERE WILL BE A TRAGEDY. REMEMBER THIS IS OCCURRING AT A GAS PUMP AT A GAS STATION WITH FUEL TANK DOOR AND CAP OPEN WITH GAS PUMP RUNNING. IT IS AT IT WORSE AT THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR A STATIC ELECTRIC SPARK ( DRY AND COLD). MAZDA SHOWED NO INTEREST OR CONCERN TO DEAL WITH THIS. THEY KNOW OF THE DEFECT AND FIRST TSB ON IT WAS ISSUED IN 2005. HELP!
NHTSA complaint #10312938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesMelbourne Beach, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THROTTLE STICKS ON THE GET-GO WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP GIVING A WHIPLASH TYPE START. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT IT AS OF YET. 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE 4 CYL.
NHTSA complaint #10246085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kennewick, WA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN FUELING I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO OVER RIDE THE PUMP DUE TO THE FACT THAT PUMP TURNS OFF PREMATURELY. EVEN THOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD I DO FIND IT AN INCONVENIENCE. I HAVE ALSO HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10184913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesSpringfield, IL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE IN JULY, 2005. THE STICKER ON THE CAR HAD AN AVERAGE MILEAGE OF 19 TO 24 MILES PER GALLON. I, TO THIS DATE GET 11 TO 13 MILES PER GALLON AND 17-19 ON THE HIGHWAY. I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE ENGINE. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WAS TOLD EPA WAS TO BLAME AND I NEEDED TO LET THE CAR GET BROKEN IN. I CURRENTLY HAVE 6500 MILES AND STILL GET 11-13 MILES PER GALLON. I HAVE A 16 GALLON TANK AND GET ANYWHERE BETWEEN 180 TO 200 MILES PER TANK. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG AND HASN'T REPLACED ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10155667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,500 milesVirginia Beach, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WITH JUST OVER 12000 MILES, THE THROTTLE BECAME VERY STICKY IN COLD WEATHER. THE BUTTERFLIES IN THE THROTTLE BODY HOLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CLOSED, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PUSH (AND EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION). IN COLD WEATHER, THROTTLE WOULD STICK CLOSED WHENEVER THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED, NO MATTER HOW LONG THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP (HALL MAZDA IN VIRGINIA BEACH) REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, AND COMMENTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SHOULD BE CLEANED EVERY 12000 MILES FOR VARNISH BUILDUP. THERE IS NO TSB THAT I COULD FIND ON THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE PCV SYSTEM, ALLOWING OIL TO COLLECT ON THE THROTTLE BODY, AND CAUSING IT TO BIND DURING COLD WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #10151193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,229 milesWhitestone, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ACCELERATOR PEDDLE BECAME STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE ENTERING PARKWAY. BREAKS FAILED. HAD TO STOP CAR USING EMERGENCY BREAK. MAZDA REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND THROTTLE.
NHTSA complaint #10126750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL TANK DESIGN PROBLEM ON A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE.*MR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FUEL TANK FILLER PROBLEM THEY CANNOT RECTIFY AND CLAIM THAT IT IS A MAZDA DESIGN ERROR. WHEN FILLING THE TANK GAS SPEWS OUT SHUTTING OF THE PUMP. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN REQUIRED TO MANUALLY OVERRIDING THE PUMP BY CONTINUALLY CLICKING THE PUMP ON AND OFF RAPIDLY. *BF
NHTSA complaint #10118908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE THAT EVERY TIME YOU ATTEMPT TO FILL THE GAS TANK IT SPEWS OUT RAW FUEL OUT AND POLLUTE'S THE ATMOSPHERE AND CREATES A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE DEALER CLAIM'S THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. WHAT CAN EPA DO TO PUT A HALT TO THIS TYPE OF POLLUTION. I HAVE WRITTEN THE STATE OF NEVADA FOR HELP AS TO CORECTLY FILL THIS GAS TANK, THE GAS PUMP SAFTIES MUST BE BYPASSED, THUS CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.*AK WILLIAM A PEARCE 8815 ROSANNA STREET LAS VEGAS, NV 702-361-1324 WPEARC1@EARTHLINK.NET
NHTSA complaint #10088542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.