general problems of the 2004 Mazda Tribute

In researching the NHTSA website it is clear that this is not a unique complaint. The vehicle has 91,000 miles. The rear passenger side upper shock mount has completely separated from the chassis due to excessive corrosion. This is the only area on this vehicle where such extensive corrosion exists. Numerous sources have stated that the damage to this vehicle is irreparable, and that further use of this vehicle would be extremely hazardous. Numerous complaints for this defect indicate that it is time for this manufacturing and design defect to be investigated. #10669545.

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle had an abnormal loud sound. The contact stated that the rear passenger side shock support in the wheel well had rotted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknow. Bd.

Tl-the contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 mph I heard a noise on the rear passenger side of the vehicle . The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and vehicle was diagnosed as not drive able. The entire right wheel well is rusted and corroded. The bracket was fractured away from the wheel well. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 108000. Am.

My 2004 Mazda Tribute (just like a Ford escape) has totally rusted out on the passenger back wheel well. The suspension is affected as well as the shock mounting is completely rusted away and bangs against the car and provides no stabilizing control. The repairs are going to be very costly and I found numerous reports of the same rust out and right rear suspension failure on Mazda Tributes and Ford escape in the 2001-2005 model years. Mazda and Ford conducted a recall on Tributes and escapes due to rust out of right front suspension. The same is immediately needed on the right rear suspension. The left rear suspension appears fine and does not show any of the same rust problem.

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. While driving at 35 mph over a bump in the road, the vehicle made a loud abnormal sound. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the passenger side rear wheel well and the shock tower were corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,631.

Right rear shock has broken through wheel panel and can be seen from the trunk area. Left rear side has stress fractures and I assume will also break through eventually. Took car to body shop and was told that the wheel panel has rusted through and that it would be too expensive to fix because to properly fix the car one would have to replace the wheel panel and any other metal area on both sides of the car that is rusted. Is NHTSA willing to take the car to test the undercoating and metal to determine if they meet proper standards? I went online and have seen that this same problem with other madza Tributes and even Ford escapes. Can you help?.

Extensive rust in the back passenger wheel well which has caused the suspension to break away from the body of the car.

The rear passenger wheel well has excessive corrosion through the frame of my vehicle. The corrosion has split my frame in half and left wholes surrounding the split. My shock tower is exposed and corroded making it unsafe to drive. The rear driver side is splitting in the same exact place. This is a serious safety hazard and obvious defect. The front end of my vehicle was just recalled and repaired for the same issue. I don't understand why Mazda has not addressed this issue already. Excessive corrosion has also occurred on the Ford escape made from the same line. Mazda needs to be responsible and correct this before a serious injury or fatality occurs.

My Mazda Tribute only has 114,000 miles on it and the shock mount has completely rusted off the frame and is not in any way safe to drive. How there is no recall for this is a load of [xxx]. I have put a lot of money into my truck and for there to be no recall? what a joke Mazda is. Im 25 years old working full time and cant afford to junk my car and buy a new one. So Mazda puts me in this situation and wont fix it. I will never purchase another Mazda. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While looking for a knocking sound in the passenger side rear found that the shock mount assembly was broken loose from the body of the vehicle. You could see through to the interior fabric, leaving shock and mount attached to nothing. Serious design flaw.

We were driving on the highway and went over a spot where the pavement had been cut back for repaving and there was a loud, sharp thump from the rear wheel well. It was raining and dark so I couldn't tell what happened. It happened a few more times before we reached home. In the light of day I saw that the wheel well has rusted through and the shock is no longer attached to the body of the car. We have been told not to drive it until we have seen a mechanic.

Extensive rust in the back passenger wheel well which has caused the suspension to break away from the body of the car. First noticed a loud thumping when going over bumps a month ago and it has gotten so bad that it is putting me, my family, and others at risk of an accident and forcing me to buy another car. There is already an id # associated with this complaint (#10669545) and many complaints submitted. This issue needs be investigated as a recall. Please respond to me with information on the investigations on this matter and if I can expect any help for repair on this problem to prevent an accident.

This was not an accident. I recently have had to have the right and left inner wheelhouse panels on my 2004 Mazda Tribute replaced due to excessive corrosion. The inner wheelhouse panels were rusted thru and the shocks that were attached to those panels were loose due to cracks in the panels and were banging up against the car. I don't consider that much corrosion that caused the panels to break loose from the car body as normal wear & tear nor part of something that should be watched under routine mainenance. I have kept cars longer than 10 tyears and never had this problem! it was definitely a safety hazard and someone could have been hurt in a serioius auto accident. Please recommend a recall on 2004 Mazda Tributes due to excessive corrosion due to the manufacturer's defect in their quality control and processes.

I noticed the problem when I was driving down the road and heard a knocking coming from the rear of the vehicle I thought it was a bad shock at first so I pulled over to check it out and the rear shock brackets are completely rusted through and are breaking away from the main frame. I contacted Mazda on July 11, 2014 and they said they will not do anything until teh car is recalled. They havent provided any other info on assitance with repairs or a recall. The car is no longer driveable until it goes through massive reconstruction of the sheet metal and framing in the rear wheel well.

Excessive corrosion at rear shock mount. Rear wheel well and shock mount requires replacement.

I noticed the problem when I was driving down the road and heard a knocking coming from the rear of the vehicle I thought it was a bad shock at first so I pulled over to check it out and the rear shock brackets are completely rusted through and are breaking away from the main frame. I contacted Mazda on April 10 2014 and they said they heard of this happening to many of their vehicles as well as many Ford escapes. They havent provided any other info on assitance with repairs or a recall. The car is no longer driveable until it goes through massive reconstruction of the sheet metal and framing in the rear wheel well.

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the rear passenger side shocks was separating from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage and the current mileage was 169,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the frame, rear shock tower, and wheel well were completely corroded. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (suspension) and stated that the manufacturer was not providing a sufficient remedy. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000.

I noticed a rattle in the rear end of my vehicle. I took to my work harvard Ford and had the techicians check it out. They discovered that the panels holding the shocks/struts up has rusted through. I would like to know if there is a recall on this problem. . The techs say they have had three other vehicles( Ford escapes) with this problem in the last six months.

Inside both rear wheel wells, the body is rusting out substantially around the shock tower bracket. It is so bad that the shock tower can break lose and the car will be a danger to drive. This is documented to have happened to many similar 2004-2006 Mazda Tributes and Ford escapes (made on same factory line). It is a difficult and costly repair. . Read more...

The right wheel wheel well is completly rusted through including the rear shock mounts. The only thing holding the metal together was the outer undercoating spary. My 18 year old son was driving on the interstate in this condition. I searched the internet and see that other Mazda Tribute and Ford escape owners have the same problem. It's an obvious manufature's defect that is occuring nationally and is a serious safety issue. Department of transportation federal highway administration.

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the tires wore excessively from the inside. The contact also stated that two four wheel alignments were performed but the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.