There are 3 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2009 Mazda Tributein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TAKATA RECALL: THE BRAKES FAIL WHEN DEPRESSED TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED WHEN NEEDING TO STOP INSTANTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MADE AN INSTANT STOP THE SUV DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AS IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND THEN SWERVE BEFORE MAKING A STOP ALMOST CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP ERROR BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REQUIRE A GAS CAP IT IS A CAP-LESS TANK. CAUSES GAS TO SEEP THROUGH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ABDOMEN AND HAD TROUBLE BREATHING DUE TO A CRACKED SPLEEN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. IT HAS APX. 15000 MILES. THE LAST OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 9,100 MILES I COMPLAINED ABOUT SQUEAKING BRAKES. THEY VERIFIED THAT THEY WERE CHECKED AND FOUND IN GOOD CONDITION. ON JUNE 8, 2010 I WAS TURNING INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN. I CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. EARLIER THAT DAY I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHILE BRAKING BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE RAIN. WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IT HAD JUST STOPPED DRIZZLING AND THE GROUND WAS VISIBLY DRY. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES. THEY DID NOT SQUEAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. SOMETHING WENT REALLY WRONG. *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 26, 2026