There are 10 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2002 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I BROUGHT THIS CAR FRONT THE DEALER AND DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARM AND NO ONE TOLD ME IT IS NOW 17 YEARS OLD AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR A YEAR
WE TOOK OUR MAZDA IN FOR THE SUB-FRAME RECALL 11-30-2015 AND THE DEALERSHIP, MORRIES MAZDA INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN, SIGNED OFF THAT IT WAS FINE. NOW 29 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES LATER THERE IS A DIME SIZED HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE SUB-FRAME AND BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MAZDA USA ARE REFUSING TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WHICH WILL RUN ABOUT $4,000. THE FRAME IS A HEAVY PIECE OF METAL AND THERE IS NO WAY A DIME SIZED HOLE SHOULD OCCUR IN THAT SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME. I BELIEVE DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR MAZDA USA AND MORRIES REFUSED TO DO THE NECESSARY RECALL REPAIRS WHEN WE ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR IN ON 11-30-15 AND ARE NOW REFUSING AGAIN TO COVER THE COSTS (MAZDA USA TICKET # 1-1249669028). THIS WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AND IF THE SUB-FRAME FAILS WHILE DRIVING , PARTICULARLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT CARRIES POTENTIAL LIFE THREATING INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE AND OTHERS IN THE AREA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TURNED INWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (SUSPENSION). THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BOTH FRONTAL STRUTS, AND THE TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ UPDATED 8/5/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, A LOUD BANG SOUNDED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ONTO THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE BOTH OF THE SUB FRAME BARS WERE BEING REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE REPAIR, THE TRANS AXLE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE{THE TOP PORTION} WHEN IT BROKE IT BLEW OUT MY TIRE AND LODGED A PIECE OF IT IN BETWEEN THE BRAKE ROTOR SOME HOW TEARING THE TIRE TO BITS. AND THEN APX A MONTH AFTER THAT THE OTHER ONE BROKE LUCKILY IT DI NOT DO THE SAME DAMAGE AS THE FIRST TIME. SO BECAUSE OF THE CHEAPLY MADE AND WRONGFULLY HEAT TREATED METAL THE SPRING BROKE. WHICH COST ME A TIRE OF 165.00 AND TO REPLACE THE SPRING AT THE COST OF 273.69 THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE AFTER LOOKING IN TO IT FORD EXPLORER,AND THE ESCAPE WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME AS THE MAZDA I FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE. A SPRING OF ALL PARTS OF A CAR SHOULD NEVER BREAK LIKE THIS. THIS COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY NOT OVER HEATING THE STEEL THAT THE SPRING WAS MADE OUT OF THE IS CLEARLY NEGLECT ON FORD MANUFACTURING AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER MY CAR SO I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.... *TR
1. INCREASED VIBRATION AND NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA. VIBRATIONS TRANSMITTED UP THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AND EVEN THROUGH BRAKE / ACCELERATION PEDALS. VEHICLE HAD APPROX 70K MILES ON ODOMETER. 2. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE BEARINGS. 3. BOTH FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE AND BEARINGS REPLACED. *TR
DT: CONTACT STATES THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION,, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ALSO, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT,UNABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. IF VEHICLE IS ON A HIGHWAY AND THE ROAD IS CURVED NOT STRAIGHT IT WILL MAKE A LEFT TURN. CONTACTED DEALER. THEY SAD THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK
VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED TWICE BEFORE. *AK STALLING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURES. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND DPFE AFTER THIRD INCIDENT, ALSO CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, THE DEALER PERFOMED AN ALIGNMENT. *YH
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