Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
Safety risk
A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Safety risk
A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Manufacturer remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-5500, option #6.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Manufacturer
MAZDA MOTOR CORP
Vehicles affected
95,300
Reported to NHTSA
2007-04-10
Owners notified
2007-05-09
Defect description
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Safety risk
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.
Safety risk
IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.
Safety risk
AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Suspension
48
140,250 mi
Structure: body
36
132,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
25
90,000 mi
Air bags
15
80,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
11
53,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
10
80,000 mi
Wheels
10
142,631 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables
7
55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
6
53,800 mi
Structure
6
181,000 mi
Unknown or other
6
137,501 mi
Engine
5
110,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
4
35,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
3
13,500 mi
Air bags: side/window
3
98,000 mi
Electrical system
3
35,000 mi
Steering
3
80,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
3
100,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module
2
70,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
2
53,000 mi
Equipment
2
—
Power train
2
59,925 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
2
10,000 mi
Tires
2
23,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
238,564 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
1
39,720 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
1
114,000 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights
1
121,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
1
160,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
1
35,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: filling/charging
1
—
Latches/locks/linkages
1
161,094 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
1
39,720 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
1
13,500 mi
Service brakes
1
189,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
1
53,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate
1
23,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
1
158,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields
1
58,000 mi
Suspension: rear
1
181,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
1
—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
1
—
The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2005 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.