There are 10 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2005 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE WAS NOTICED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, BUT THE PASSENGER ADVISED HER TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO SEE FROM WHERE THE SMOKE WAS ORIGINATING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE IGNITION COIL UNDER THE HOOD, PASSENGER LIFT THE HOOD AND IGNITION WENT INTO FLAMES. THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM, SPARK PLUGS, AND SIX COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (KINGS COLONIAL FORD, 3565 COMMUNITY RD, BRUNSWICK, GA 31520), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000. *TT *TR
INTERSTATE DRIVING, ENGINE LOST POWER. 92,000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS AVAILABLE. MANY REPAIRS FOR LOW MILEAGE. CODES REVEALED 4 COIL PACKS OUT. REPLACED ALL 6. CAR STILL DOES NOT HAVE COMPRESSION. DEAD. SHAME ON YOU MAZDA!!!! *TR
BIG LOUD NOISE, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, SPEED AND NEARLY LOST CONTROL. *TR
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.
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.
WHILE DRIVING THE SUV HAD A COUPLE OF MISFIRES AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING. THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND WORSE, FATALITY. NOW THE COMPUTER, COILS, AND PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMAL JERKING AND THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VERY LOW, ALMOST TO A STOP. THE DEALER ADVISED RESTARTING THE ENGINE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER, COIL SPRINGS AND PERFORMED A TUNE-UP. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
WHEN ACCELERATING GREATER THAN 30 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR IS SO LOUD YOU CAN'T HEAR THE RADIO AND ITS TOO LOUD FOR MY SON THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR (USED) ON MONDAY JAN 21,08 I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE MADZA DEALERSHIP THEY KEEP TELLING ME TO WAIT SOMEONE WILL GET BACK TO ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE TO HAVE THE SOUND RE-EVALUATED THE SERVICEMAN AT MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING AND THAT IT MAY BE CAUSING THE LOUD NOISE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? IT IS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. *TR
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