2001 Mazda Tribute Complaint Log

WHEN COASTING DOWN HILL AT 30-40 MPH AND SLIGHTLY APPLING BRAKES, ENGINE DIES, AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES INOPERABLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 10 TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER'S SHOP TWICE WITH THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER HAD NOT HEARD OF, NOR COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE DEALER HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, BUT STILL HAD NO FIX. MAZDA WAS CONTACTED, KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAD NOT RELEASED THE FIX. I CONTACTED MAZDA, AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH MAZDA AND FORD ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON THE SOLUTION, AND THE DEALERS WOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE FIX WHEN AVAILABLE. IF THE SOLUTION IS NOT RESOLVED, I WILL PERSUE A BUY BACK UNDER THE LEMON LAW. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY OUR SIXTEEN YEAR OLD SON WHO CARRIES HIS YOUNGER SISTER ALSO TO SCHOOL. WE ARE GREATLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. APPARENTLY MANUFACTURER IS REDESIGNING WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE. *AK

AT 1646 MILES FUEL FUMES/ODOR ENTER INTO VEHICLE; VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH FUEL SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

CONSISTANTLY VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO STALL. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE REMEDY.*AK

WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE ENGINE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS - SIGN & RETURN THIS FORM.*AK

VEHICLE FEELS SLUGGISH WHILE ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION IS NOT CATCHING WHEN THE GEARS SHOULD CHANGE, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED CONSUMER THE OPTION TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND ACCEPT THE ROLLOVER AMOUNT. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO BRAKES OR STEERING. NLM

VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED 3 TIMES; MAZDA AGREED TO REPURCHASE VEHICLE AFTER 4TH INSPECTION, AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THIS WEEK THAT THIS EXACT SAME STALLING PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO HER TWO TIMES. I FEEL THIS IS MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE AND THAT THERE IS A SEVERE STALLING PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAS YET TO BE DONE BY MAZDA. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND COMING TO A FORK IN THE ROAD, AS SOON AS CONSUMER MERGED TO RIGHT STEERING WHEEL GOT VERY STIFF. THEN, WHOLE DASH LIT UP. CONSUMER PUT ON BRAKES/ PUT IN PARK, AND WENT TO A MAZDA DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. AT ANOTHER DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER WAS BEARING OVER, STEERING WHEEL GOT TIGHT AGAIN, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL, THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCK AND CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTROL, DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TAPPED NEW RELAY, HOWEVER STALLING STILL OCCURS. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES AROUND 30 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RETURN VEHICLE UNDER LEMON LAW.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON DRIVER SIDE HAS A BLIND SPOT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

EXCEPT FOR THE INITIAL IGNITION EACH DAY, EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A WAFT OF GASOLINE FUMES COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, THEN DISSIPATES AFTER 5-10 SECONDS. AN ODOR OF GASOLINE CAN BE DETECTED SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING, AND A DISTINCT GASOLINE ODOR IS EVIDENT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO, MOSTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT.CAN BE DETECTED

FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE FROM LEAKING MANIFOLD GASKETS KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 40 MPH DOWNHILL VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER. VEHICLE USUALLY STARTS BACK UP AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS LIKE ONCE A MONTH. PLEASE ADD VIN #. *AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A FAST FOOD PLACE WHEN MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVE THROUGH ATTENDENT TOLD US THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I GOT OUT TO SEE AND THERE WAS THE LEAK. RIGHT UNDER THE PILLAR BETWEEN THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR DOOR.IT WAS A STEADY DRIP.*AK

WHEN THE CAR ENGINE IS DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 10 MIN AND THEN SHUT OFF, WHEN YOU RESTART THE ENGINE YOU GET A STRONG FUEL VAPOR FROM THE VENTS IN THE CAR. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS COLLING DOWN LIKE IN THE GARAGE YOU GET A STRONG FUEL VAPOR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO FUEL LEAKS AND THAT IT MUST BE A NEW ENGINE BURN OFF SMELL. I HAVE SPOKE TO AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE ON EDMUNDS .COM WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP BECAUSE I FEEL THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *AK

VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING, THERE IS NO WARNING SIGNS REGARDING THAT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT MAZDA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST DONT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT CREATES A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING, IT MUST BE STOPPED COMPLETELY AND SHIFTED INTO PARK BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED. *JG

MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE MAZDA TRIBUTE AND FORD ESCAPE ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A CHEMICAL BURNING OFF THE ENGINE - THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE SMELL USUALLY ONLY OCCURS WHEN YOU START AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. UPON STARTING, A FAINT GASOLINE SMELL COMES THTOUGH THE VENTS FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY. WE(OWNERS OF THIS NEW TYPE OF VEHICLE) ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A LEAK/ LARGER PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE WILL DIE AT HIGH SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND IT REMAINED AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THERE ARE OPEN HOLES ON THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE BOX WHICH COULD ALLOW CO2 AND/OR GAS FUMES TO ENTER INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.LARGEST HOLE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE SHOCKABSORBER HOUSING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER AND "LEMON" WEST COAST COORDINATOR SHOW NO CONCERN. OTHERWISE A GREAT CAR.

VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH ELECTRONIC POWER MIRRORS EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE WIRES FOR THEM. MANUAL STATED THAT IT SHOULD HAVE THEM. APPARENTLY, MANUFACTURER FORGOT TO PUT ELECTRONIC POWER MIRRORS IN THE FIRST 5,000 VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

A FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT THROUGH VENTS IN INTERIOR ON A WARM RE-START

FUEL ODOR IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENTERS CAB VIA VENTS ON WARM RESTART. *AK

FUEL SMELL ENTERING CABIN THOUGH VENTS ON ALL SETTINGS DURING WARM STARTS. *AK

THE VEHICLE EMITS A STRONG FUEL VAPOR SMELL, WHICH IS EASILY NOTED RISING FROM THE ENGINE, WHEN IT IS SHUT OFF HOT. THE VAPORS GET INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. TURNING THE VENTILATION CONTROL TO OFF STOPS THE SMELL INSIDE. THE VEHICLE ALSO IS GETTING ONLY 15-16 MPG IN MIXED SUBURBAN/HIGHWAY USE.

A STRONG FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT AFTER THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. THE ODOR COMES THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER VENTS AND IS BLOWN INTO THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. IT APPEARS TO BE A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH ALLOWS GAS VAPOR INTO THE VEHICLE. GASOLINE CAN CAUSE CANCER AND IT A HEALTH RISK FOR ANYONE BREATHING VAPORS.*AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE COMPLETLEY LOSES ALL POWER STEERING CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHENEVER IGNITION IS STARTED THERE ARE GAS FUMES IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

RECALL 00V277002; RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM, STRONG FUEL SMELL AND FUEL LEAKAGE WAS OCCURRING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN CONSUMER NOTICED GAS SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE IS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FUEL SEEPS OUT AFTER VEHICLE IS WARM AND RESTS. INTAKE IS LOCATED NEAR VENT. *YH

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS COLLECTED MOISTURE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE DRIED IT OUT ONCE ONLY TO HAVE IT FILL WITH WATER WITH ONE RAIN SHOWER. THE HEADLIGHT IS NOT CRACKED OR OPEN TO VIEW.*AK

POWER STEERING TENSIONER BELT BROKE. DEALER HASVEHICLE AND IS WAITING FOR PARTS.*AK

IN JUNE 2001, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILED WITH ONLY 4800 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE SEAL FAILURE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE AXLE ASSEMBLY. ON JULY 19, 2001 THE TENSION ROD SPRING THAT HOLDS THE SERPENTINE BELT IN PLACE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED , LEAVING METAL SHARDS, SPRINGS, AND BELT ON THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT IN USE AT THE TIME, OR MAJOR DAMAGE TO BOTH THE OCCUPANT (MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER) AND THE CAR WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR ONLY HAD 5400 MILES ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AND PROCEEDING FROM PARK INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE HESITATES AND NEARLY STALLS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AN EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR CONSUMES PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE DUE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY LOCATION OF THE LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAS A TENDENCY TO SLIP IF THE VEHICAL HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, SEVERAL HOURS TO OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WILL START FINE, BUT WHEN I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SUCH AS AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN FINALLY DECIDE TO ACCELERATE . THIS CAUSES A PROBLEM WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. NOTIFIED THE DEALER, BUT SERVICE DEPT SAID THAT IF THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEN THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. DEALER IS LOCATED 1-1/2 HOURS FROM WHERE I LIVE. DUE TO DEALER ATTITUDE, AND THE FACT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK TO GO UP THERE, I AM DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT I WILL BOTHER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, CAN'T DUPLICATE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS & GOING SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE STALL & STOPPED. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELARATE OR BRAKE/STOP (GOING DOWNHILL). HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE IRVINE MAZDA SERVICE DEPT. & THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON VEHICLE PER MAZDA TECH LINE. THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF THIS BUT INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TRIBUTE OWNERS. CONCERN WAS PLACED TO BOTH MAZDA SERVICE DEPT & THEY DID NOT CARE THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY - THEY DID NOT CARE. CONTACTED MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE & THEY NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. THE VEHICLE ACCELARATES W/ A STALL FEELING ALSO. *AK

I PURCHASED MY TRIBUTE NEW IN OCT, 2001. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS STALLED OUT 6 TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH WHILE SLOWING DOWN GOING DOWN HILL OR AROUND THE CORNER. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP 2 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATES THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. LUCKILY THIS HAS NOT OCCURED IN A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION AS THE TRUCK WOULD BE UNCONTROLLABLE DUE TO THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK

THERE IS A FUEL ODOR COMING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. IT SEEMS TO GET STRONGER AS I RUN THE AIR OR HEAT AND EVENTUALLY GETS TO THE POINT OF SMELLING SO BAD, I HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO GET FRESH AIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I USE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE GONE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY TAKING MY VEHICLE TO OTHER PLACES TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY MAY HAVE SPILLED OIL ON THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A VALID COMPLAINT SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT GETS SO STRONG SOMETIMES, I GET A HEADACHE FROM THE FUMES. THIS CAN NOT BE GOOD TO BREATHE IN THESE FUMES. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED SOON. *AK

STALLING ISSUE, MAZDA HAS NO FIX, SAFETY IS AT STAKE, HELP US!. *AK

ENGINES SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME OR ANYWHERE. LEAVING YOU WITHOUT BRAKES OR STEERING. MAZDA HAS REPLACED NUMERUS PARTS BUT CAN NEVER FIX THIS PROBLEM. THEY ALSO STATE THAT THEY CAN NOT CONFIRM THIS BUT REPLACE PARTS ANYWAY. THIS IS THEIR WAY OVER COVERING THEIR BUTTS. MY WIFE WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED LAST( ITS HAPPENED OVER 7 TIME IN 14000 MILES). THE TRIBUTE DIED AND SHE LOST ALL POWER AND BRAKES. SHE HAD TO PULL ACROSS ON COMING TRAFFIC AND IN TO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR ONLY TO BE ALMOST HIT CROSSING THE ON COMING TRAFFIC. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THIS IS FIXED! MAZDA NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND SOLVE IT RATHER THAN MAKING A GUESS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REPLACING PARTS THAT AREN'T BROKEN! THIS IS MY 5 MAZDA AND I WONT BUY ANOTHER ONE!*AK

WHEN DRIVING SPEEDOMETER WAS OUT OF CONTROL, AND CAN'T TELL SPEED TRAVELING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND HAD REPAIRED IT. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK

WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE IGNITION TURNS ITSELF OFF WHILE IN MOTION, THEREBY RENDERING STEERING, BRAKES AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE USELESS. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON INDICATING ALL SYSTEMS ARE DOWN. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS. THE SOLUTION, MAZDA REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE FAILED AGAIN. MAZDA CANADA CAN OFFER NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OR ADVISE ON REPAIR. *JG

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HAS STALLED PREVIOUSLY. DEALER CAN'T INDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE SECOND TWO TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. NEITHER TIME DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTS WITH NO PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. *JG

ENGINE PERIODICALLY SHUTS DOWN AT LOW RPMS. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL WHEN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND, AS A RESULT, THE TRIBUTE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP. SHUTDOWNS HAVE HAPPENED AT LEAST ELEVEN TIMES - ALWAYS AT LOW RPMS (1000 RPM OR LESS). EACH SHUT DOWN OCCURRED WHEN I WAS COASTING DOWNHILL. GENERALLY, I WAS ALSO BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DILIGENT IN THEIR EFFORTS BUT SO FAR MAZDA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE TRIBUTE IN JAN 2001 AND EXPERICED THE FIRST FAILURES BEFORE THE FIRST 3000 MILE SERVICING. THE FIRST DEALER RESOLUTION ATTEMPT WAS NOT DOCUMENTED. THE TECHNICIAN QUERIED THE ONBOARD COMPUTER BUT THERE WAS NO CODE INDICATING ANY FAILURE. ON 4/28/02, AFTER MORE FAILURES, THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A WIRING PROBLEM AND "FIXED". THREE MORE FALILURES OCCURRED BEFORE THE TRIBUTE REACHED 6000 MILES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT ON 8/8/01 ADVISED MAZDA. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ENGINE SHUTDOWNS CONTINUED AND ON 10/09/01 AT 7,639 MILES, THE DEALER REMOVED THE BYPASS AIR CONTROL VALVE AND CLEANED THE PASSAGEWAY - AS ADVISED BY MAZDA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE TRIBUTE THEN RAN FINE FOR EIGHT MONTHS. THEN IN JUNE 2002, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER STILL HAD SEEN NOTHING FURTHER FROM MAZDA CONCERNING RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM AND CONTACTED THEM ONCE MORE FOR ASSISTANCE. SUGGESTION WAS TO "RE-PROGRAM" THE ONBOARD COMPUTER THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WILL UTLIMATELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. SO FAR, SHUTDOWNS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN AN UNCONGESTED AREA BUT THAT IS SIMPLY LUCK. MAZDA AND FORD HAVE A REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND RESOLUTION. SO FAR I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING FROM MAZDA LETTING ME KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRIBUTE. GUESS THEY FEEL IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AS LONG AS IT CAN BE IGNORED.