2001 Mazda Tribute Complaint Log

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

MAZDA TRIBUTE 2001 - MODEL ES V6 - FWD 1. THE VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. MILEAGE AND GAS FILLS, ALONG WITH ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE METICULOUSLY KEPT. DEALER MAINTENANCE ONLY. 2. INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE IS POORLY CRAFTED PLASTIC COASTED WITH SILVER OVERLAY. HANDLE PERFORMS LOCK, RELEASE, AND LATCH FUNCTIONS. THE HANDLE CAME COMPLETELY APART UNDER TENSION CAUSING MINOR INJURY TO WRIST. UPON INSPECTION OF THE HANDLE, IT APPEARS TO HAVE CRACKED ALMOST EXACTLY UPON A MOLD SEEM. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE HANDLE IS NOT TESTED FOR STRENGTH TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PROPER EXIT ENTRY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS POTENTIALLY CAN RESULT IN PROBLEMS EXTRICATING THE VEHICLE IN TIME OF EMERGENCY. 3. DEALER MAINTENANCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FAILED PART. HOWEVER, THIS IS EXTREMELY COST PROHIBITIVE IN MOST SITUATIONS FOR A PART OF THIS QUALITY TO ONLY BE REPLACED WITH A PART OF THE SAME QUALITY. PLASTIC STAMPING INSIDE THE HANDLE INDICATE 00 AND 5. *TR

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH DOORS HAS FAILED. *TR

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. *TR

THE INSIDE MECHANISM THAT OPENS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BROKE. I OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND WHEN I TRIED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. I GOT HOME, AND OPENED THE DOOR HANDLE AREA AND FOUND A SMALL PLASTIC FRAGMENT THAT WAS BROKEN. IT IS PLASTIC, AND SNAPPED WHERE THE CABLE AND THIS MECHANISM COME TOGETHER TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

I HAD A BROKEN DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE DOOR LATCH BREAK. I WAS CHARGE OVER $300 TO FIX IT. NOW, THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY DOOR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. *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

2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE-PULLED ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HAND TO EXIT VEHICLE AND IT BROKE. NOW WE HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEN ROLL THE WINDOW BACK UP. IF WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY, HUGE HAZARD. HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED, DEALER WANTS OVER $300. CRAZY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN SHE TURNED ON THE IGNITION. THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE SMOKE FINALLY CLEARED, THE CONTACT RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THEY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP, AND AFTER TWO DAYS OF INSPECTING THE DAMAGE, THEY BELIEVED THAT TWO OF THE INJECTORS WERE LEAKING FUEL AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO EXPLODE. MAZDA STATED THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ

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. *TR

VERY ROUGH RUNNING MOTOR, LOSS OF POWER. REPLACED EGR VALVE 3 TIMES. FOUND LETTER FROM MAZDA STATING EXTENDED WARRANTY ON EGR VALVE SENSOR UP TO 75K MILES. 101,000 ON OUR TRIBUTE. MAZDA SHOULD OF RECALLED THE SENSOR! *TR

DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY BROKEN AND THE DOOR CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. (WITH THE IGNITION ON, THE WINDOW CAN BE ROLLED DOWN, AND THE DRIVER CAN OPEN THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE) THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE DRIVER CANNOT EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY IN CASE OF AND EMERGENCY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND THE COMPLETE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE PURCHASED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MAZDA TRIBUTE OWNERS. *TR

MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE'S TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. UNFORTUNATELY I'M HAVING TO HAVE IT REBUILT. PER MAZDA CONSUMER MESSAGE BOARDS THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL SITUATION. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILS WITH LITTLE TO NO NOTICE. 2ND GEAR DISAPPEARS AT CERTAIN TEMPERATURES, AND THERE IS NO GEAR GRINDING WHICH IS COMMON WITH A STRIPPED GEAR. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSIONS GETTING STUCK IN REVERSE AND NOT COMING OUT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AS THE REMAINING GEARS DISAPPEAR ALTOGETHER. EVERYTHING I'VE READ ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST WEEK WITH MY VEHICLE AND AS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY NO RECALL WAS ISSUED? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND INCREASED TO 4 RPM'S ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V210002 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,781 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,779.

THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF BOTH THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DOOR OPENING SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE VIA THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ADVISED BY LOCAL DEALER THAT THERE HAD BEEN SO MANY CALLS THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON PARTS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED NO RECALL HAD BEEN MADE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *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

DRIVER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, HAVE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO OPEN DOOR. LOOK ONLINE IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TRIBUTE, I KNOW 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME CAR AND ALL HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN, NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WITH NO IMPACT OF ANY KIND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, IN THIS CASE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DRIVERS AIR BAG GOING OFF. IT DID NOT. I CALLED THE LOCAL CITY POLICE DESK AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MY INSURANCE CO. AND THEY SENT AN ADJUSTER A FEW DAYS LATER. THE INSURANCE CO. PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO HAVE THE SYSTEM READ. I DID SO. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW AIR BAG AND MODULE. NO EXPLANATION WHY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WAS GIVEN TO ME OR THE INSURANCE CO. TO MY KNOWLEDGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLATCH FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I DRIVE A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX. HIS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. NOW THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR. WE ALSO HAVE A FRIEND THAT DRIVES A FORD ESCAPE (SAME CAR AS TRIBUTE, NOT SURE WHAT YEAR HIS IS) THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM JUST WONDERING IF THERE COULD BE SOME ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA/FORD HANDLE/LATCH. *JB

2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE INTERIOR DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BROKEN AND WILL NOT OPEN DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE DELAY OF EXITING THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH IF IN A RIVER OR LAKE. *TR

2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX V-6 ENGINE. LAST YEAR (2006) IN THE COLDER TEMPS, MOSTLY FALL AND WINTER, THE ENGINE RUNS SO ROUGH WHEN YOU START IT AS IF IT HAS A TERRIBLE COLD. LETTING IT WARM UP, I HAVE COME OUTDOORS TO MY CAR THAT IT IS NO LONGER RUNNING DUE TO STALLING OUT. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED, I NOTICED THAT IT NO LONGER A COLD TEMP ISSUE...NOW I NOTICE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS THAT IT DOESN'T LIKE TO STAY RUNNING AT STOP LIGHTS OR PARKED. YES IT HAS STALLED AT STOP LIGHTS WAITING AND PRAYING THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN FASTER. IT SEEMS HESITANT TO TAKE OFF AFTER DISPLAYING SUCH EFFORT TO STAY RUNNING AT STOP LIGHTS. HELP...HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A SERIES OF GRINDING NOISES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE ADJUSTED THE LINKAGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

ON JULY 9, 2007, I PAID TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AFTER A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN OUR 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE, (ES-V6 4WD), RESULTED IN STRANDING MY WIFE AND YOUNG DAUGHTER ON A BUSY ROADSIDE, 45 MILES FROM HOME, IN SAN LEANDRO. AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE CAR HAD 93,782 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED THE MAZDA NEW IN 2001 FROM THE ALMADEN MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN SAN JOSE. (NOW CAPITOL MAZDA). THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR INVOLVED TOWING THE CAR TO A SHOP AND REBUILDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE REBUILD INCLUDED REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER, SOLENOIDS, DIRECT DRUM, SHELL, PISTONS, AND A VALVE BODY UPGRADE AMONG OTHER PARTS. THE REPAIR COST WAS $3085.00 PLUS TOWING CHARGES. THE INCIDENT ALSO RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF USE OF THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I CONSIDERED MYSELF AN UNFORTUNATE VICTIM OF UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. HOWEVER, SINCE THAT TIME I'VE LEARNED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THE 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND THE CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ARE AN ALL TOO COMMON OCCURRENCE AND THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT RARE AT ALL. IN FACT, REPORTS ON THE INTERNET SUGGEST THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF SIMILAR TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE, BETWEEN 50,000 AND 100,000 MILES, IS ALARMINGLY COMMON IN THE MAZDA TRIBUTE. *TR

2 COMPLAINTS: I TOOK THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALER 5 TIMES STARTING BACK IN 2003. 3 TIMES FOR RECALLS ,AND ON EACH OCCASION HAD BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE E THAT THE RPMS WOULD JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN GO UP RAPIDLY, AND THE ONLY WHY TO STOP IT WAS SHUT IT OFF. OF COURSE THIS WAS ALWAYS WHILE WAITING AT LIGHTS WHEN I WOULD FIRST START THE CAR IN THE MORNING BUT NOW WAS AT LEAST ONE WEEK. THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER BACK WHEN IT FIRST STARTED AND SAID IT WAS THE PCM MODULAR. T WAS ALSO REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FIRST RECALL . THE CAR WAS OKAY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THEN STARTED DOING IT AGAIN THE SAME THING, THE RPMS RAPIDLY CAME UP- THIS TIME WAS ALREADY A RECALL SO THEY FIXED IT AGAIN WITH ANOTHER NEW PCM, BUT ONCE AGAIN IT DID THE SAME THING AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTHS. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN WITH ANOTHER RECALL ON A DIFFERENT MATTER, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLED, AND TOLD THEM THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING. BY THIS TIME THE WARRANTY WAS OUT BUT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN IN BEFORE FOR THIS THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE MAZDA TO COVER THE PART AGAIN, $1200. THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS PARTS AGAIN. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS DIAGNOSED CORRECTLY FROM THE BEGINNING. NOW IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE STEERING AND EVERYTHING LOCKED BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER THIS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASES. . I HAVE HELD OFF ON COMPLAINING, BUT THIS HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL. I THOUGHT MAYBE I JUST GOT A LEMON, THEN I READ THE OTHER COMPALINTS OF THE SAME THINGS. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND NEED THIS FIXED FOR GOOD. I DIDN'T BLAME THE DEALER FOR THE CAR TROUBLES I BLAMED MAZDA FOR A POORLY MADE SUV. I HAVE LOW MILEAG EON THE CAR, BUT I HATE DRIVING IT FOR FEAR OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THERE WAS NO ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE LOCAL MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE ES-4WD. AT 39K MILES THE CD4E TRANSMISSION HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. THE COST IS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND $3.5K TO REPLACE WITH A REBUILT UNIT. WHEN WE DID OUR RESEARCH NO MENTION OF THIS PROBLEM WAS RAISED BY CONSUMER REPORTS ETC... YET AFTER THE FAILURE I CONDUCED RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS FAILURE IS NOT ONLY COMMON IT HAS BEEN OCCURING POST WARRANTEE AT LOW MILES FOR YEARS AND MAZDA AND FORD HAVE DONE NOTHING TO EFFECTIVELY REMIDY OR COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEIR ONLY CONSEQUENCE IS THEY ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND APPEAR TO HAVE EARNED IT. DON'T GET RIPPED OF LIKE WE DID BUY BUYING A FORD OR MAZDA THAT WILL FAIL. BUY A BETTER CAR PRODUCT WITH BETTER WARRANTEE AND RELIABILITY.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER, FRONT PASSENGER, AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR THE REAR DOORS AND $500 FOR THE FRONT DOOR. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BEGAN STICKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE AUTTOMATIC TRANSMISION OF MAZDA TRIBUTE SUDDENLY STOPPEDRKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE 495 WASHINGTON AREA BELTWAY. *AK

WENT TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT. BROKEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH. CAN'T OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOW AND UTILIZE EXTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. HAD BEEN FAITHFUL IN DOING REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD 84,000 CURRENTLY AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AT 60,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FILLED EVERY 5,000 MILES WHENEVER I HAD A OIL CHANGE. ALL OF A SUDDEN ON APRIL 30, 2007, THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO REAR GEAR AND THE DEALER INDICATED I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES FAILED, AND PASSENGERS COULD ONLY EXIT THE VEHICLE BY ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE LATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS FEATURE, BUT IT DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. THE WEATHER AND SPEED WERE NOT FACTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.*AK

OUR 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT THE EMBARCADERO CENTER IN SF ON WEDNESDAY 03/28/07 AT 7:00 AM AND IT WAS LATER REPORTED TO US BY THE GARAGE PERSONNEL THAT AT ABOUT 8:30 AM IT STARTED SMOKING THEN CAUGHT FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD BURNED TO THE GROUND AND INSIDE THE CAR THE DASH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED AS WELL - IT LOOKED LIKE A SINK-HOLE. THE TIRES WERE MELTED, THE ENGINE OOZED ALL OVER THE GROUND, THE FENDERS MELTED, AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT COMPLAINED AGAINST HONDA MOTORS ABOUT A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE THAT CAUSED A FIRE AT THE SAN FRANCISCO EMBARCADERO UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE GARAGE AT 7:00 AM WEDNESDAY 3-28-07. AT ABOUT 8:30 AM THE PARKING ATTENDANT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DISPLAYED SIGNS THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THIS AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ONE OTHER VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO IT. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA MOTORS SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 70,000 MILES AND HAD A SERVICE CHECK ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO CURRENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ABS SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES.*AK

I DRIVE A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE THAT HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RUST-COLORED AND WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT JUST HAVE TO DO WITH THE DEALERSHIPS WORK. I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY AND NOTICED THAT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE RPMS WERE IN THE "RED ZONE" SO I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIRS TO LEARN THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

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

DOOR HANDLES BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ON MY 2001MAZDA TRIBUTE ARE BROKEN.THIS PREVENTS ME FROM ENTERING MY VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.I REPLACED THE INSIDE HANDLE BUT NOW THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE DOOR THAT OPENS THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IS BROKEN.THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSIDENT.THERES A LOT MORE MAZDA OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IDENTICAL MALFUNCTION.THERE NEEDS TO BE RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.IN ORDER FOR ME TO ENTER MY VEHICLE I HAVE TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE.I GUESS SOME ONE HAS TO BE HARMED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET IN THEIR VEHICLE QUICK ENOUGH TO ESCAPE HARM.I GUESS RECALLS ARE ONLY GENERATED WHEN THERE'S BODILY HARM,THEN IS TO LATE. *TR

BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING WIRING FIRE. *NM

DESCRIPTION : DRIVER'S SIDE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO WORK. UPON DISASSEMBLY, WE FOUND THAT THE PART THAT CONNECTED THE HANDLE MECHANISM TO THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS A FLIMSY THIN METAL WASHER, WHICH HAD BROKE IN HALF. THIS COMPONENT IS DEFINITELY SUBSTANDARD FOR THE CONSTANT USE IT GETS. UPON CONFERRING WITH OTHER 2001 ESCAPE OWNERS AT ESCAPE-CENTRAL.COM (TECH. TIPS ), NOT ONLY DOES THIS PART FAIL, BUT THE HANDLE ON THE INTERIOR DOOR EVENTUALLY FAILS TOO, THUS YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE.' THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM AS POSTED BY OTHER OWNERS. THIS CREATES THE POSSIBILTY OF BEING TRAPPED INSIDE DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, SUCH AS A FIRE, ACCIDENT, ETC. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A MORE SUBSTANTIAL PART. *TR

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH SIDES (IN THE FRONT) ARE INOPERABLE. THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CAR IS TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF THE EVENT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

MAZDA 2001 TRIBUTE SUDDENLY STOPPED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. THEN GEAR BOX DID NOT WORK AT ALL. SO, I HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY TO TOW THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALER SHOP. OAK TREE MAZDA DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND ASKED ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME, MAZDA TRIBUTE RECORDED ONLY 45K MILE. I ASKED ANOTHER MACHINE SHOP TO INSPECT THIS CAR. HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM OF MAZDA TRIBUTE. *JB

I HAVE JUST REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS TIME, BRAKE FLUID ACTUALLY LEAKED INTO A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CARDONE AFTERMARKET MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THE ORIGINAL FAILED, THEN TWO OTHERS, NOT CARDONE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL, BUT NONETHELESS, THERE MUST BE A STRUCTURAL DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSES THE LEAK. *TR

STARTING 2006 COULDN'T GET TRUCK INTO REVERSE AND IT WAS HARD TO FIND THIRD GEAR AND WOULD BE STUCK WINDING BETWEEN GEARS ON THE ROAD AND ON HIGHWAY CAUSING POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK FROM SUDDENLY BEING UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER HAD CAR FOR OVER A WEEK AND FINALLY ENDED UP REPLACING A CABLE FOR THE COST OF $760.00. TWO WEEKS LATER THE TRUCK IS POPPING OUT OF THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DE-ACCELERATE QUICKLY WHILE STRUGGLING TO FIND THE GEAR OR NEXT GEAR. BROUGHT TRUCK BACK IN THEY SAID IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $5,800.00 BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN TAKING IT APART AND FIXING INDIVIDUAL GEARS. TOTAL NEW VALUE OF VEHICLE 19,700 BEFORE TAXES. KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE ON THIS YEAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION ONLY 5,700. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT NOW. JUST MADE LAST PAYMENT TWO WEEKS BEFORE PROBLEM STARTED. *JB

MAZDA TRIBUTE 2001. WHILE STOPPED IN DRIVE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; CRUISE CONTROL OFF) WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED TO 4000 RPM. HAD TO USE HARD, FULL BRAKING PLUS EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP SUV FROM MOVING FORWARD AND HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN NEUTRAL, ENGINE REVVED AT 4000 RPM. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND RESTATED -- SITUATION HAS NOT REPEATED YET. *NM

PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. WINDOW MUST BE RUN DOWN & OUTSIDE HANDLE USED TO OPEN. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER WHO WILL REPAIR @ MY COST APPROX. A YEAR AGO THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED AT ALL MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY FROM INSIDE IT WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER MY COST $149.00. PART NUMBER ECTT-58-412C. *NM

I FILED A COMPLAINT YESTERDAY. MY COMPLAINT # WAS 10163178. THIS THE DEALERSHIP HAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AS A BAD ALTERNATOR. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TO DATE. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS, WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE RUNNING. IN ALL FAIRNESS TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAVE BEEN VERY NICE AND THEY DID GIVE US A LOANER CAR. WE STILL HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR IN GENERAL (WITH ALL THE THINGS GOING WRONG AT ONE TIME). HOWEVER, WE TRUST THAT WE WILL NOT BE HEADING TO THE DEALER ANY TIME SOON. *NM

SHUTTER OF THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER WHEN TRAVELING AROUND 45 MPH. PROBLEM FIRST REPORTED ON THE VEHICLE AROUND 30,000 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PER TECH ASSISTANCE REF. 272101. DEALER DETERMINED "NO PROBLEM FOUND" WHEN THE SHUTTER WAS REPORTED AGAIN AT 48,000 MILES. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED AT 51,000 MILES, DEALER AGAIN FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND REFLASHED THE PCM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AT 56,000 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMSSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 58,500 MILES. PROBLEM DISCOVERED AGAIN AROUND 88,000 MILES; AGAIN, DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AT 98,500 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *NM

ON JULY 3, THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEELS OF OUR 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE FROZE WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SENATOR IMPORTS, ON FLORIN ROAD, IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. ON JULY 7, ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FIXED, THEY COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO WORK WHEN WE TRIED TO PICK IT UP. ON THE EVENING OF JULY 12, WE STARTED THE CAR. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATING THE GEAR SELECTION WAS UNTIL, SO WE COULDN'T SEE WHAT GEAR WE WERE IN. ON THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 13, WE STARTED THE CAR AND THE BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DEAD. WE RE-CHARGED THE BATTERY, BUT IT WAS DEAD AGAIN IN 2 HOURS. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE BATTERY PROFESSIONALLY CHARGED. THE BATTERY WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2005. ON THURSDAY, JULY 20, THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND JUST STOPPED DEAD. WE AGAIN JUMPED IT AND TOOK IT TO OUR PRIVATE MECHANIC. ON FRIDAY, JULY 21, OUR MECHANIC DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE CAR. IT CAME UP WITH A DIAGNOSTIC TEST CODE ERROR THAT SAID THAT THE KEY PROGRAM CODE WAS ENTERED IN ERROR. OUR MECHANIC REBOOTED THE COMPUTER, TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE TRIBUTE JUST SHUTTING OFF. WHEN HE TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. (LONG STORY SHORT, THE DEALER LOST OUR SPARE KEY. WE HAD TO COME BACK FOR IT ON JULY 11, AND THEY REPROGRAMMED BOTH OUR KEYS TO THE NEW IGNITION.) OUR MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AS HE CONSIDERED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TODAY, JULY 22, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT ALL THEY COULD FIND WRONG WITH THE CAR WAS A DEAD BATTERY. WE ARE BEGINNING TO LOSE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *NM

DRIVER ACCELERATED, WITH PEDAL, WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 MPH. REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT SEEM TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE; "THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SURGE". THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF BUTTON ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE CRUISE. THE RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL INCREASED AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE AS THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS DECREASED TO AROUND 50 MPH. DRIVER SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL; THE ENGINE RPM SHOT UP. DRIVER THEN SHIFTED INTO PROGRESSIVELY LOWER GEARS AND APPLIED THE BRAKE UNTIL VEHICLE STOPPED. DRIVER THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DETERMINED TO HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE. OWNER ALLEGES THAT MAZDA DEALER (FLOW MAZDA IN FAYETTEVILLE) STATED THAT THERE IS RECALL CAMPAIGN (00V-210 002) FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT HER VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO HER VEHICLE'S BUILD DATE. PER RELEVANT 573, THE EFFECTED BUILD DATE RANGE IS FORD'S KCAP 4/17/00 THROUGH 7/24/00; SUBJECT VEHICLE BUILD DATE IS UNKNOWN. VIN RANGE IS [XXX] THROUGH [XXX]. OWNER'S VIN IS [XXX]. OWNER ALLEGES TO NEVER HAVE RECEIVED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS RECALL. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)