Two problems related to brake light on have been reported for the 2001 Mazda Tribute.
Brake Light On problem
1 When I driving on a local drive, and tried to slow down for the construction work about 50 yards in front of the vehicle, I stepped on the brake and felt no brake at all, even I stepped all the way to the bottom. I tried again and again, and the same thing happened. I almost thought I was in a dream, a nightmare. Then, I remembered the hand brake, which was more or less functioning at the time, and also shifted the gear toward parking. At the same time, I was looking something that could put the vehicle at the full stop. Fortunately, it was a slightly uphill drive and no other vehicles behind or in front of me. So the vehicle stopped slowly, after it was on the parking gear. I called aaa. When the help from aaa came, he pointed out to me that there was some fluid gushing out from underneath the hood at the right front, next to the wheel. I did not recognize what it was then. After it was towed to a Mazda service shop, I was told later that one of the brake pipes was exploded, and the other one was nearly exploded. The brake sensor light was not on until at the time the vehicle was towed. The total cost of the repair was $568. 81, including fixing the right front axle abs sensor ring that was cracked.
Brake Light On problem
2 Was stopped at light when all of a sudden the brakes went down to the floor. Tested brakes when light changed and no brakes at all. Had just recently been driving about 50 miles per hour. Drove very slow into parking space and found out brake hose had broke.