There are 40 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2001 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
POOR BRAKING. POOR PEDAL RESPONSE. LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES CHECKED AS GOOD. DEALER SAYS NO RECALLS OPEN FOR MY VIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULD OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V016000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000. *TR
WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A LOCAL DRIVE, AND TRIED TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORK ABOUT 50 YARDS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND FELT NO BRAKE AT ALL, EVEN I STEPPED ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM. I TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I ALMOST THOUGHT I WAS IN A DREAM, A NIGHTMARE. THEN, I REMEMBERED THE HAND BRAKE, WHICH WAS MORE OR LESS FUNCTIONING AT THE TIME, AND ALSO SHIFTED THE GEAR TOWARD PARKING. AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS LOOKING SOMETHING THAT COULD PUT THE VEHICLE AT THE FULL STOP. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS A SLIGHTLY UPHILL DRIVE AND NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF ME. SO THE VEHICLE STOPPED SLOWLY, AFTER IT WAS ON THE PARKING GEAR. I CALLED AAA. WHEN THE HELP FROM AAA CAME, HE POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOME FLUID GUSHING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AT THE RIGHT FRONT, NEXT TO THE WHEEL. I DID NOT RECOGNIZE WHAT IT WAS THEN. AFTER IT WAS TOWED TO A MAZDA SERVICE SHOP, I WAS TOLD LATER THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE PIPES EXPLODED, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS NEARLY EXPLODED. THE BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT WAS NOT ON UNTIL AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $568.81, INCLUDING FIXING THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ABS SENSOR RING THAT WAS CRACKED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNER'S HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 157,000.
KEYS COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN MY MAZDA TRIBUTE IS NOT IN PARK. I FORGOT TODAY THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ARE REAL BAD AND NEED REPLACED AND I ONLY HAVE 41140 MILES ON MY 2001 TRIBUTE WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM THE MAZDA DEALER IN TOWN. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT DOOR HANDLE TWICE NOW SINCE IT WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V016000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2012. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE FAILURE; HOWEVER EXPRESSED CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V016000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE TEST RESULTS WERE NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V016000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE IN DECEMBER 2012. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DATE IN WHICH THE PART WAS EXPECTED TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A CRASH AND VEHICLE FIRE *TGW RECALL # 12V357000 WAS REFERENCED.
EMAIL REFERRAL FROM CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER RE: NHTSA RECALL 12V357 / PE12-09. REFERRAL ASSOCIATED AN APRIL 2011 INCIDENT WITH THE RECALL AND INCLUDED A POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT AND TWO PHOTOS *TGW ACCORDING TO THE NARRATIVE FROM THE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE STATED SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON ROUTE 35, WHEN THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING, WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION. SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT RUN FROM ROUTE 35 ONTO A BRIDGE, BUT THE VEHICLE CROSSED ALL THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED THROUGH A GUARDRAIL AND LANDED AGAINST A TREE. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
I OWN A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE, WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN 2007. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH SIX MASTER CYLINDERS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WE OWNED IT. IT HAS BEEN AN OK CAR, BUT FREQUENTLY AND I MEAN FREQUENTLY VISITS THE MECHANIC TO GET FIXED, WHEREAS MY OTHER (FOREIGN-MADE) VEHICLE RARELY HAS PROBLEMS - I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN AGAIN! WEDNESDAY EVENING I PICKED UP MY 2001 TRIBUTE UP AT THE MECHANIC FROM GETTING FOUR NEW ENGINE COILS WHICH HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED TWO YEARS PREVIOUSLY, WHICH MY MECHANIC SAYS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD. THURSDAY MORNING I HAD MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN I REVERSED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AT A LOCAL CHURCH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR! THE CAR KEPT GOING BACK AND I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP!!!! LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHICH I HAD JUST PICKED IT UP FROM (THIS WAS THE CAR'S 4TH VISIT IN TWO WEEKS FOR BROKEN PARTS). THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS CRACKED, SO BOTH WERE REPLACED. I AM SO THANKFUL THE BRAKES HADN'T FAILED MINUTES LATER WHEN MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE!!! NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE BY MAZDA FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR STORIES FROM THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A DISGRACE AND THREAT TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF THESE VEHICLES, BUT TO EVERYONE ON THE ROAD!!! I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR, NOT KNOWING IF IT WILL GET ME HOME SAFELY OR EVEN GO. I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IF I COULD GO BACK AND ONLY WISH I COULD PURCHASE SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW. *TR
ON SATURDAY, MAY 15, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE TRAVELING IN OUR 2001 MAZDA SE LX. IN ST. PAUL, MN. MY 22-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. WE WERE SITTING AT A STOP-LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS MINIMAL BRAKING POWER LEFT, BUT ENOUGH TO GET HOME. ON MON, MAY 15, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OUR REPAIR GARAGE AND DIAGNOSED WITH TWO FRONT BRAKE HOSES (ADJACENT TO WHEELS) THAT HAD "EXPLODED " AFTER INVESTIGATION, WE LEARNED THAT BRAKE-HOSE FAILURES OF FORD ESCAPES AND MAZDA TRIBUTES OF THAT ERA WERE EXTREMELY COMMON. IN A 2 - 3 WEEKS, WE'RE REPLACING THE REAR HOSES FOR SAFETY. I DO NOT KNOW WHY MAZDA HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL WITH RESPECT TO THIS ISSUE.. WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE REPAIR ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER I'VE OWNED, THIS ISSUE IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL, PARTICULARLY IF ONE IS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY. A RECALL SHOULD BE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY ON THESE HOSES. I HAVE ASKED FOR MAZDA'S ASSISTANCE IN ADDRESSING A COMPLIMENTARY REAR-HOSE REPAIR. THEY EXPRESSED DOUBT ABOUT TRYING TO HELP BECAUSE OF VEHICLES AGE AND MILEAGE -- 9 YEARS, 117,000 MILES, HOWEVER VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED. MAZDA CS INDICATED THEY WOULD CONTACT REGIONAL PERSONAL TO PROVIDE ME WITH A RESPONSE BUT WERE NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR RESPONSE. REMEMBER: THIS FAILURE PROBABLY COMMON. OUR BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED AT A STOP LIGHT. HAD IT OCCURRED ROUGHLY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WE MIGHT HAVE RISKED OUR OWN LIVES AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND US. TRIBUTES ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED BY MAZDA. MY MODEL HAD AT LEAST 6 RECALLS AND 30+ IN-WARRANTY REPAIRS. *TR
DURING DRIVE HOME FROM WORK INDICATOR FOR BRAKE PROBLEM CAME ON. FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW AGAIN. BRAKE FLUID SEEMS TO BE LOST THROUGH RESERVOIR BREATHER/ FILL CAP. ALOT OF BRAKE FLUID HAS ACCUMULATED ON AND AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IS DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST(SMELLS BAD TOO). FOUND THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS BUT MAZDA SAYS MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RECALL RANGE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
WAS STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. TESTED BRAKES WHEN LIGHT CHANGED AND NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD JUST RECENTLY BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR. DROVE VERY SLOW INTO PARKING SPACE AND FOUND OUT BRAKE HOSE HAD BROKE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING AHEAD AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES. A SECOND AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST ALL BRAKE OPERATION. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND DOWNSHIFT THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP. IF I WAS NOT IN THE FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY VEER OFF THE ROAD. I GOT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE HOSE BURST, CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. I SAVED THE PARTS IF A REVIEW IS REQUIRED. *TR
BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WITHIN 200FT, STARTED AS A REGULAR BRAKING BUT ONLY SLOWED, APPLIED FULL FORCE AND HELD FOOT PRESSURE. NO PULSATING AND SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. TURNED CAR RIGHT TO AVOID CAR AND BUMPED HIS RIGHT BACK BUMPER WITH MY LEFT FRONT BUMPER. MINIMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE. MY BUMPER HAS A 3 INCH RIP IN BUMPER. ROAD WAS DRY BUT IT ACTED LIKE THE BRAKES WHERE WET, MAZDA RECALLED ABS IN MARCH 2007 BY NHTSA RECORDS, I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL ON THIS ! CAN YOU HELP, BRAKE PADS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES AGO. *TR
THE BRAKE ROTORS WEAR OUT WITHIN 20K MILES. THEY CANNOT BE RESURFACED EVEN ONCE, TOO THIN, OTHER TRIBUTE OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. OTHER OWNERS STATE THAT AFTER MARKET ROTORS LAST 3 TIMES AS LONG. (THE ROTORS ON MY TOYOTA LASTED OVER 100K MILES.) I HAD THE MAZDA ROTORS REPLACED THREE MONTHS AGO, BUT NOT THE BRAKE PAD. THE BRAKE PADS OUTLIVE THE ROTORS. THE BRAKES ALMOST FAILED YESTERDAY AND TODAY, THEY DID NOT CATCH AND THE CAR SHIMMIED ALL OVER THE ROAD. *TR
ON 2 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS THE BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO CRACKING IN THE BRAKE LINE NEAR THE FRONT TIRES.ON BOTH OCCASSIONS I WAS GOING SLOW AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. IF I HAD ANY SPEED GOING THERE FOR SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC CRASH. THE BRAKES ON BOTH OCCASIONS FAILED WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT ON BOTH OCCASIONS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS. AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2007, THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. CHARLESTON POLICE REPORT. UPDATED 10/31/07 *TR
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS 2 TIMES IN 4 YEARS (75,000K MI.) MAZDA CHANGES THE OIL AND ROTATES THE TIRES AND WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE PADS WERE WEARING DOWN. I HAVE NEVER NEEDED ROTORS REPLACED THIS FREQUENTLY BEFORE. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 40 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026