2005 Mazda Tribute Complaint Log

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.

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT CAUSING STRUT TO PUSH THROUGH INTO INTERIOR TRIM. A MINIMUM $1,000 REPAIR ESTIMATE.

PASSENGER BACK WHEEL CARRIAGE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. SUSPENSION IS EXPOSED ALONG WITH SHOCKS. MADE LOUD NOISES WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS - I HAD NO IDEA THAT MY ENTIRE WHEEL CARRIAGE WAS COMPLETED RUSTED. THIS WILL COST HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. WORST CAR I HAVE HAD. WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA. I AM AMAZED AND DISGUSTED THAT MAZDA HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CARS. WHAT A DISGRACE TO OWNERS OF THESE CARS.

WENT TO GET MY ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT MY RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER IS RUSTED OUT.

I OWN A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH 80,000 MILES, NEW TIRES, NEW BRAKES, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND PISTONS (INSTALLED IN APRIL ) COST=1200.00 TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN INSPECTION IN MAY AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE RUST ON THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL AND MAY NOT SUPPORT THE STRUTS HE ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT AND I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID D1500.+ NOT INCLUDING LABOR AND THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THEY COULD GT RID OF THE RUST, NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT-MY CAR RUNS GOOD BUT I AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. 75 RETIRED AND THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. I NOTICED ON LINE MAZDA HAS RECALLED A LOT OF CARS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM-DO THEY NOR UNDERCOAT CARS ANYMORE.

REAR INNER WHEEL WELL SHOCK MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. SHOCK COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE WITH DRIVERS SIDE CONDITION SOON TO FOLLOW. PROBLEM NOTED 04/27/15 AT 95,000. MILES. PHOTOS TAKEN OF ISSUE. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. HEARD NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY BOUNCING IN THE REAR END.

BIG LOUD NOISE, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, SPEED AND NEARLY LOST CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

TAKATA RECALL MAZDA TRIBUTE 2005 COMPLETE BODY UNDERNEATH WAS RUSTED LUCKILY I FOUND A WELDER WHO INSTALLED A NEW BOTTOM ALSO HAD A BRAKE JOB= $880.64 AT 66,216 MILES - HAD TO REPLACE 6 SPARK PUGS 6 IGNITION COILS AND 1 INTAKE PLENUM GASKET SET SPENT 1,204.25 ALSO 800.00FOR A NEW BOTTOM TO BE WELDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AS THE BOTTOM WAS RUSTED AT A COST OF 800.00 CONCERNED THAT THE CORROSION ISSUE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CAR IS UNDER 100,000 MILES IS THIS CAR A LEMON

EXCESSIVE, LOCALIZED RUST HAS DEVELOPED IN THE RIGHT, REAR WHEEL WELL, RESULTING IN THE SHOCK BEING LOOSE AND MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND WHEN GOING OVER EVEN SMALL BUMPS. THE LEFT SIDE AND THE REST OF THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM INDICATING A LOCALIZED MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT. *TR

BRAKES HYDRAULIC PROBLEM. NO MATTER DRIVE OR PARK, THE LEAKING IS CONTINUING. *TR

2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE ISSUES AND REQUESTS COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT ON PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED AND BROKE OFF FROM FRAME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR. UPON INSPECTION BY OUR MECHANIC IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A COMPLETE RUSTING THROUGH OF THE RIGHT REAR WELL, CAUSING THE SHOCK TO NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. THE SHOCK WAS ACTUALLY VISIBLE FROM THE INSIDE REAR OF THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. MAZDA WAS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE, IN SPITE OF MY FINDING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE SAME FAILURE ON BLOGS. A FRAME SHOP HAD TO INSTALL A NEW INNER WHEEL HOUSE PANEL. COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $2000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

AFTER HEARING RATTLING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE WHEN GOING OVER POTHOLES, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SHOCK/STRUTS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS NOT MY SHOCKS, BUT THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED OUT. THE SHOCKS WERE OK, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO ATTACH THEM TO. I WAS FURTHER TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN CORROSION THIS BAD ON A 10YR OLD CAR WITH 50,000 MILES. ADVICE WAS TO FIND A BODY SHOP TO FABRICATE A PART. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS OCCURRING WITH LOTS OF MAZDA TRIBUTES AND FORD ESCAPE IN DIFFERENT YEARS. SO WHY ISN'T MAZDA/FORD MAKING THESE REPAIRS. THIS IS A DEFECT. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A HONDA: SOMETHING I TRUST. *TR

THE RIGHT BACK SIDE BY THE TIRED THE CHASSIS IS ALL RUST IT AND THE SHOCK IS LOOSE I CAN MOVE IT WITH MY HANDS AND THE LEFT SIDE IS ABOUT TO GET LIKE THE OTHER SIDE. *TR

LEFT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME DURING NORMAL DRIVING (SLOW SPEED - 25MPH) DUE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN. ALL CONNECTING BOLTS, WASHERS AND NUTS ARE INTACT AND SECURE IN THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND MOUNT AREA. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS FORTUITOUS THAT THE DRIVER WAS NOT OPERATING IN HIGHWAY OR MORE INTENSE CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE RECEIVED A SERVICE REPORT FROM THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER IN CHARLOTTE, NC. (INFORMATION AVAILABLE IF NEEDED). WHILE THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD, A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE IS UNUSUAL AND RARE BUT IDENTIFIED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES AS CORROSION ISSUES THAT FORD / MAZA HAVE ON THE 03 TO 05 MODELS WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL AND REMEDY BY THE MANUFACTURER. HAVING RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE IT'S CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THIS MODEL, NOT JUST BECAUSE AS AN OWNER I HAVE AN ISSUE TO DEAL WITH, BUT AS A CONSUMER WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNUSUAL NATURE OF THIS FAILURE. *TR

THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED AWAY AND THE SHOCK IS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME ON OUR TRIBUTE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AS THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND IT IS ONLY HAPPENING ON THE REAR PASSENGER. IT IS GOING TO COST ME A LOT TO FIX AND WILL DEFINITELY BE THE LAST MAZDA I BUY (UNLESS BY CHANCE MAZDA SEES HOW THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TRIBUTES/ESCAPES AND MAKES IT RIGHT). *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED OUT. SUSPENSION IS NOW PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE EXTENT OF THE RUST IS ABNORMAL, EVEN FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA. IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. CONDITION IS RESULT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CONTACTED MAZDA USA TO ASK WHEN THEY WILL BE SCHEDULING RECALL BASED ON HUGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RE: SAME ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUE IS DUE TO IMPROPER WASHING OF THE CAR AND SENT PARAGRAPH ON HOW TO WASH A CAR. USELESS.

I HAD A RATTLING NOISE THAT STARTED COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR AND SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BOUNCING AROUND IN THE BACK COMPARTMENT. IT GOT WORSE FAST. I WAS STUNNED TO FIND NOT ONLY THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL, BUT BOTH SIDES COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SHOCKS WERE READY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE MOUNTS. BOTH MY MECHANIC SHOP AND A REPUTABLE BODY SHOP INDEPENDENTLY TOLD ME THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE BODY SHOP IS HESITANT TO TOUCH IT. THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN TRY TO FABRICATE AND FIX IT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THERE IS RUST INVOLVED, WHERE DO THEY STOP? I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, SUPPOSEDLY TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF, AS I DO. I STILL OWE THOUSANDS ON IT AND I'M NOT HAPPY! MY 2002 ESCAPE DIDN'T HAVE RUST PROBLEMS ... THE MOTOR WENT OUT BEFORE IT HAD RUST! *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE BRAND NEW FROM MARTIN MAZDA, LOCATED IN NEWARK, DE. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I JUST DRIVE IT BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. IN JANUARY I STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE WHICH STARTED TO GET LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING/RATTLING AROUND. ON FEBRUARY 10, 2015 I TOOK MY CAR TO NUCAR MAZDA IN NEW CASTLE WHO HAS SERVICED MY VEHICLE SINCE 2005. [XXX] , MAZDA SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR SUBFRAME AND WHEELWELL HAD RUSTED AWAY AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE LINE HAD STARTED TO RUST, AS WELL. THE SHOCK ATTACHED T THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED AWAY, AS WELL. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE REAR COULD COLLAPSE. I CONTACTED MAZDA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO THE WAY THAT DELAWARE SALTS THEIR ROADS IS WHY THIS RUST OCCURRED ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. A FAMILY MEMBER SUGGESTED THAT I GET AN ESTIMATE FROM A BODY SHOP. NORTHEAST BODY SHOP WAS ABLE TO REPAIR ALL OF THE PARTS THAT HAD RUSTED OUT AT A COST OF $2,710.00. [XXX] , OWNER STATED THAT THIS RUSTING OUT WAS DUE TO THE UNDERCOATING WAS NOT COVERING THE PARTS THAT RUSTED OUT. HE PROVIDED ME WITH THE ENTIRE PIECE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT ON MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVED IN MAZDA AND I AM VERY UPSET THAT I WAS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE UPPER REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT CAME APART DUE TO RUST, THE SHOCK ABSORBER CAME LOOSE AND WAS HITTING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL OR TIRE. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A COST OF 4600. THE OTHER REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF RUST. UPDATED 09/29/15*JB... UPDATED 09/30/15*BF

DRIVING CROSS COUNTRY AND HEARD A LOUD THUMP IN RT REAR WHEEL WELL. AFTER THAT EVERY BUMP NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE THUMP BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. STOPPED TO CHECK THINGS OUT, RT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH EXPOSING SUSPENSION AND CORROSION ON ATTACHMENT TO FRAME. ABLE TO DRIVE HOME SAFELY, HAD DEALERSHIP CHECK IT OVER AND COST OF REPAIR TO FRAME DAMAGE OVER COST OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPORTS ONGOING ISSUE WITH RT REAR WHEEL WELL ON 2005 YEAR. WAY TO EARLY FOR THIS MUCH CORROSION. *TR

HAD JUST RETURNED FROM DRIVING ON FREEWAY, PULLED INTO GAS STATION, NEEDED TO MOVE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES FAILED AND PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. ROLLED CAR INTO SNOW BANK TO AVOID ACCIDENT. NOTICED FLUID LEAKING AROUND FRONT TIRES. HAD TO FILL BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND DROVE CAR ACROSS STREET TO MECHANIC. BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES WERE SPLIT NEAR BASE OF CONNECTOR AND VERY STIFF. BOTH WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH 1 CALIPER FOR $300. MECHANIC STATED HE NEVER SAW BOTH HOSES GO AT ONCE AND WAS SURPRISED THEY SPLIT AT ONLY 100,000 MILES. PER THE INTERNET, MANY FORD ESCAPES AND MAZDAS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF WE HAD STILL BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I'M SURE FORD AND MAZDA ARE BOTH AWARE OF THIS ON GOING PROBLEM AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO REMEDY IT. HAVE OWNED MANY DIFFERENT CARS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A BRAKE HOSE. I HOPE THEY DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ON TOP OF THE FACT I DID NOT HAVE $300 TO SPARE FOR A REPAIR WHICH I FEEL WAS AVOIDABLE ON THEIR BEHALF. *TR

MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS RUSTED OUT IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEELHOUSE AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT.CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR AND TO TAKE IT TO A WELDING/FAB SHOP.THE MAZDA TRIBUTE ONLY HAS 71000 MILES ON IT SO IT IS NOT DUE TO ANY EXCESSIVE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT PASSENGER'S REAR WHEEL HOUSING HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE LONG LIST OF MAZDA TRIBUTE 2005 OWNERS WITH THE RIGHT REAR WHEELHOUSE PROBLEM DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION CAUSING THE STRUT TO DISCONNECT FROM THE FRAME. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 116K MILES. THE LEFT REAR AND FRONT WHEEL HOUSE AREAS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. ITS ASTONISHING WITH THE MULTITUDE OF MAZDA OWNERS REPORTING THIS ISSUE AND THE 100'S OF INTERNET WEB SITES DOCUMENTING THIS ISSUE THAT MAZDA HASN'T TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND RELEASED A FIX. I'VE READ THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID JUST SO WITH THE COMPARABLE 2005 ESCAPE LINE. *TR

CAR STOPS ACCELERATING DUE TO GAS PEDAL BEING STUCK. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND LEFT THE SHOCK ATTACHED TO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

JUST WANT TO ADD MY TRIBUTE TO THE LIST OF 2005 ESCAPE, TRIBUTE, AND MARINER RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL / UPPER SHOCK MOUNT RUSTING TO FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, ACCELERATED AT A RAPID PACE, AND THEN DECELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,940.

THE SUB FRAME AND AXLES COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND EVERYTHING SUPPORTED CAME LOOSE. IT ALL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT ON THE SAME VEHICLE YEARS 2001 - 2004 AS WELL AS MANY FORD ESCAPES. THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED SO WHY WOULD NEWER UNITS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NOT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FOR A NEWER CAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD MAKE THIS ISSUE BE EVEN WORSE THEN THE MANUFACTURER IS REPORTING. EVERY DEALER AND EVERY JUNK YARD TELLS ME THE SAME THING, THIS IS NOT ISOLATED TO THE 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO FIX THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND HOPE THAT THEY ADMIT MORE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED. THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR THEIR PROBLEM WHICH THEY KNOWINGLY PASSED ONTO THE CONSUMER. I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO INFORM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO NEVER BUY A MAZDA OR FORD VEHICLE UNTIL THEY PROVE THAT THEY ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER, RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY KNOW IT! ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY IGNITION COILS AND SENSORS AND THE RUSTING OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, WHICH WERE RUSTED THRU AND HAD TO BE WELDED BACK TOGETHER SINCE THEY SEPARATED FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR AND I HAD A LOUD RATTLE AND SHAKE. THANK GOODNESS THIS WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE REPAIR SHOP AS THEY FOUND IT BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHAT IS A OWNER TO DO? *TR

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND ABOUT 5 TIMES OVER THE HISTORY OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, THE GAS PEDDLE STUCK AND ON THE LAST MOST RECENT EVENT THE CAR GOT STUCK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE FREEWAY AND IT COULD NOT BE SLOWED BY PULLING THE PEDAL UP WITH FOOT. THANK GOD THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND OR SLOWING TRAFFIC AHEAD. MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL #94751 - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES BUT WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE'S VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL AS IT SUPPOSEDLY DOES NOT HAVE THE "DEFECTIVE PART(S) INSTALLED." YET THE SUMMARY OF THE RECALL DESCRIPTION NOTES THAT IT IS A DESIGN/INSTALLATION FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE I.E. "INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ENGINE COVER AND SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONNECTOR" RESULTING IN A STUCK THROTTLE. MAZDA WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLE NOW AND WANT US TO PAY TO HAVE IT SERVICED/DIAGNOSED/FIXED?! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE IN THE PAST WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. MAZDA NEEDS TO DO A MORE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND DESIGN/PARTS FLAW AND ISSUE A MORE EXTENSIVE RECALL ON THEIR 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTES. NOTE OUR MODEL IS A 2.3L, 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AND THEIR RECALL ONLY COVERS THE 3.0L V6 ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

RIGHT REAR WHEELHOUSE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AT 146,000 MILES, AND THE STRUT IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. MAZDA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS VERY ISSUE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE 2001-2004 TRIBUTES WERE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR CORROSION ISSUES. THE MECHANIC AND COLLISION REPAIR CENTER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN RUST THIS BAD IN THE SAME AREA OF MAKES OF VEHICLES. THE COLLISION REPAIR CENTER ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A $4,000-$6,000 REPAIR THAT THE OWNER SHOULD NOT BE STUCK WITH AS IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEY MANUFACTURED THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE FRAME IN THE SAME PLANT AND THEY SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE SHOCK BROKE FREE RIGHT BEHIND MY SONS CARSEAT, THE SHOCK WAS TOUCHING THE INNER PLASTIC . LUCKILY I PULLED OVER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE NOISE WAS. MAZDA SEEMS TO HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. CUSTOMER BEWARE.... AND IF YOU HAVE A CHILD AT LEAST PUT THEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FOR SOME SAFETY. LETS ALL HOPE MAZDA WILL STAND UP FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT........ *TR

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. *TR

RIGHT REAR WHEELHOUSE HAS RUST AND CORROSION AT 102,000 MILES, AND THE STRUT MOUNTING IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX AS IT AFFECTS THE FRAME AND THEY DO NOT WANT THE LIABILITY. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS VERY ISSUE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND OTHERS FOR THE 2005. IN ADDITION, MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL IN 2014 FOR THE 2001-2004 TRIBUTES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A RATTLING SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESET THE COMPUTER BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULE TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

ENTIRE RIGHT (PASSENGER) REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED AWAY, INCLUDING THE SHOCK MOUNT. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL STRUT MOUNT IS ONLY HANGING ON BY A SMALL AMOUNT OF STEEL. YOU CAN SEE THE INTERIOR TRIM PLASTIC ON 3 SIDES OF THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT BRACKET. PIECES OF RUSTED STEEL PEEL AWAY WITH 2 FINGERS. THERE IS NO UPPER STRUT SUPPORT AND THE TOP THREADING OF THE STRUT IS HITTING THE PLASTIC INTERIOR PIECE IN THE TRUNK AREA. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN; IF THE LOWER STRUT MOUNT IS LOOSE, THEN THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE AREA AND POTENTIAL THE UPPER BRACKET GETS INTO THE TIRE. MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS MY #1 PRIORITY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL. BOTH THE 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAVE A HIGH VOLUME OF THIS DEFECT. BASING MY EXPERIENCE AS A QUALITY ENGINEER IN A SHEET STEEL FABRICATION FACILITY, THIS TYPE OF DEFECT CAN BE RELATED TO EITHER POOR MATERIAL QUALITY OR CHOICE OF MATERIALS, POOR ENGINEERING PRACTICES, POOR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES, AND/OR POOR PROTECTION OF THE WHEEL WELL AREA (MORE DURABLE COATINGS). EITHER WAY, BASED ON MY ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AND OPINION, THIS DEFECT REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE HAD OLDER VEHICLES THAT NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A SIMILAR TYPE OF VEHICLE BY THIS MANUFACTURER AGAIN DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE NO RECALL CONDITION OF THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE MANUFACTURER IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO QUALITY AND SAFETY RELATED ISSUES ON THE TRIBUTE AND ESCAPE. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OLDER VEHICLE, BUT SOME QUALITY ISSUES DO NOT SHOW UP UNTIL YEARS LATER AND THE MANUFACTURER IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TYPES OF SAFETY CONCERNS THE PUBLIC IS OBVIOUSLY HAVING WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

THE FRAMEWORK UNDERNEATH AND AROUND THE VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAS ROTTED AWAY, AND THE SHOCK HAS PENETRATED THE WHEEL WELL. THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE "RATTLES" LOUDLY BECAUSE OF THIS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS DEFICIENCY WAS FIXED, TEMPORARILY, BEFORE THE SALE OF THE VEHICLE WAS PURSUED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1500 AND 2500 RPMS, THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPS IN RPMS AND EITHER STALLS ALTOGETHER OR STARTS MAKING A JERKING MOTION AND THUDDING NOISE. CANNOT GET OUT OF THE GEAR UNLESS YOU JAM ON THE ACCELERATOR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEAR UNDRIVABLE ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, RUINING THE ENGINE COILS THE FIRST TIME AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS THE SECOND TIME. IT SEEMS THE PCM IS FAULTY AND RUINING ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED PARTS. HAVE READ UP ON THE TOPIC AND MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE STALLING AND JOLTING OF THE ISSUE, ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE PCM. THIS VERY MUCH SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS THE REPAIRS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY COSTLY AND AFFECT MANY VEHICLES. *TR

RIGHT REAR WHEELHOUSE HAS RUST AND CORROSION AT 128,000 MILES, AND THE STRUT IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. MAZDA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS VERY ISSUE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE 2001-2004 TRIBUTES WERE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. THE MECHANIC AND COLLISION REPAIR CENTER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN RUST THIS BAD IN A VEHICLE HOUSED AND DRIVEN IN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE THERE IS LITTLE TO NO SNOW/SALTED ROADS, AND NO HISTORY OF FLOOD DAMAGE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOUD BANGING COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTING THE REAR DOOR TO VERIFY THE SOUND WAS NOT AN OPEN DOOR, I FOUND THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, SPECIFICALLY THE REAR RIGHT AXLE, WAS RUSTED AND DETERIORATING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD RUSTED, A PROBLEM THAT WILL SOON CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE WHEEL MOUNT. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE, ALL POINTING OUT THAT THIS IS A FACTORY ISSUE, AND ALL MAZDA TRIBUTES AND FORD ESCAPES IN THIS YEAR RANGE HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE FIXED IN THE NEXT WEEK OR ELSE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR- A CAR I HAVE OWNED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT CAUSING THERE TO BE NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE REAR SHOCKS. LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL IS STARTING TO RUST. NO OTHER RUST ON THE CAR OTHER THAN THE WHEEL WELLS. ESTIMATE FROM THE SHOP IS OVER $4000. ONLY 9 YEARS OLD AND 125,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE REAR WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ON MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE STARTED TO KNOCK AND BANG. ONCE I ARRIVED HOME, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND ROTTED. I ALSO NOTICED THAT AND THE SHOCK MOUNT WAS FULLY RUSTED AWAY FROM THE BODY. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED ME THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND MAZDA TRIBUTE FRAMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELD WAS RUSTED AND AS A RESULT, THE STRUTS FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.