Body problems of the 2005 Mazda Tribute - part 2

The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle independently veered to the right and crashed into a curb. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the sub frame was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (structure) and could not be repaired under the recall a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Rusted on left side rear wheel will not pass inspection new tires, brakes spark plugs and pistons rides like a dream but the rust will not support the shocks needs to be recalled by Mazda an inferior Ford body.

2005 Mazda Tribute, rear wheel well completely rusted. While driving my wife hit a bump in the road, she then tells me there is a rattle. So I drive it the next day. The rattle was very easy to hear. Upon inspection the rear passenger wheel well had disintegrated and was almost completely gone, and the rattle was the strut that had come undone hitting the cargo compartment. Just had tires and brakes replaced and they inspected the vehicle as well only 2 months prior with no mention of any other problems. Now it is unsafe to drive. No help from Mazda, insurance, or the super warranty that covers everything bumper to bumper(or suppose to). Come to find out while doing some research, this seems to be a problem for Mazda. The 01-04 Tribute has a recall for the same thing except calling for the front driver wheel well. When you take it in they replace all four. It also seems that the 05 model year has just as many problems with this as well. Both of us work and have to be able to get there as well as getting the children to multiple places. We bought this vehicle thinking that it was going to be a good and safe way to get where we need to go. Turns out it was just a matter of time with this issue. We are lucky that it was the back I guess and not the front as she had the kids with her while on the highway and if the front would have come loose at hway speed it could have been a different outcome. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. 2 estimates to repair both are $5-7000. Can't pay to fix, and can't trade it in as it is worthless right now. This is a problem that the NHTSA and Mazda needs to address. It is not only monetary but a safety issue as well. We work hard for what we have and feel like we just got robbed of our money. The dealers and Mazda got theirs though.

Was driving and heard a loud thud in the backseat passenger wheel well. I drove less than a mile home and saw that the wheel well had disintegrated completely above the tire forcing the shock into the body of the car.

Went to get my annual inspection and was told that my right rear shock tower is rusted out.

I own a 2005 Mazda Tribute with 80,000 miles, new tires, new brakes, new spark plugs and pistons (installed in April ) cost=1200. 00 took my car in for an inspection in may and my mechanic told me there was considerable rust on the right wheel well and may not support the struts he advised me not to drive it and I took it to a body shop and they said d1500. + not including labor and they could not guarantee they could gt rid of the rust, not involved in an accident-my car runs good but I afraid to drive it. 75 retired and this is my only mode of transportation and I cannot afford another car. I noticed on line Mazda has recalled a lot of cars for this same problem-do they nor undercoat cars anymore.

Takata recall Mazda Tribute 2005 complete body underneath was rusted luckily I found a welder who installed a new bottom also had a brake job= $880. 64 at 66,216 miles - had to replace 6 spark pugs 6 ignition coils and 1 intake plenum gasket set spent 1,204. 25 also 800. 00for a new bottom to be welded to the bottom of the car as the bottom was rusted at a cost of 800. 00 concerned that the corrosion issue should not have occurred because the car is under 100,000 miles is this car a lemon.

Excessive, localized rust has developed in the right, rear wheel well, resulting in the shock being loose and making a loud banging sound when going over even small bumps. The left side and the rest of the car does not have this problem indicating a localized manufacturing/engineering defect.

The entire rear passenger wheel well has rusted away and the shock is completely detached from the frame on our Tribute. This is obviously not normal wear and tear as the vehicle is only 10 years old and it is only happening on the rear passenger. It is going to cost me a lot to fix and will definitely be the last Mazda I buy (unless by chance Mazda sees how this is a major problem with Tributes/escapes and makes it right).

The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out. Suspension is now protruding into the interior of the vehicle. The extent of the rust is abnormal, even for the geographic area. It is no longer safe to drive the vehicle. Condition is result of manufacturing defect. Contacted Mazda USA to ask when they will be scheduling recall based on huge number of complaints same issue and they stated that the issue is due to improper washing of the car and sent paragraph on how to wash a car. Useless.

I had a rattling noise that started coming from the right rear and sounded like something was bouncing around in the back compartment. It got worse fast. I was stunned to find not only the right wheel well, but both sides completely rusted through and the shocks were ready to break away from the mounts. Both my mechanic shop and a reputable body shop independently told me that this vehicle is not safe to drive. The body shop is hesitant to touch it. They said that they can try to fabricate and fix it, but the problem is when there is rust involved, where do they stop? I bought this vehicle less than a year ago, supposedly taken very good care of, as I do. I still owe thousands on it and I'm not happy! my 2002 escape didn't have rust problems . . . The motor went out before it had rust!.

The upper rear shock absorber mount came apart due to rust, the shock absorber came loose and was hitting against the wheel well or tire.

Driving cross country and heard a loud thump in rt rear wheel well. After that every bump no matter how small the thump became more pronounced. Stopped to check things out, rt rear wheel well completely rusted through exposing suspension and corrosion on attachment to frame. Able to drive home safely, had dealership check it over and cost of repair to frame damage over cost of vechicle. Dealership reports ongoing issue with rt rear wheel well on 2005 year. Way to early for this much corrosion.

The sub frame and axles completely rusted through and the lower control arms and everything supported came loose. It all needs to be replaced at a cost of thousands of dollars. This is the same issue I have been reading about on the same vehicle years 2001 - 2004 as well as many Ford escapes. They have been recalled so why would newer units with the same problem not have been recalled. For a newer car to have the same problem would make this issue be even worse then the manufacturer is reporting. Every dealer and every junk yard tells me the same thing, this is not isolated to the 2001 - 2004 model years. I have no option but to fix the manufacturers defect and hope that they admit more vehicles need to be recalled. They should fix the problem and pay for the parts and labor to repair their problem which they knowingly passed onto the consumer. I will do whatever it takes to inform as many people as possible to never buy a Mazda or Ford vehicle until they prove that they actually care about the consumer, recall these vehicles and pay for their defective product. They are putting people in a dangerous situation and they know it! another problem has been the engine. I have had problems with faulty ignition coils and sensors and the rusting of the rear wheel wells, which were rusted thru and had to be welded back together since they separated from the back of the car and I had a loud rattle and shake. Thank goodness this was recognized by the repair shop as they found it before it caused an accident. What is a owner to do?.

Right rear wheelhouse has completely rusted out at 146,000 miles, and the strut is disconnected from the frame. Mazda has denied any responsibility for this issue and offered no assistance despite the fact that there are hundreds of complaints of this very issue on the NHTSA website, and despite the fact that the 2001-2004 Tributes were recalled and repaired for corrsion issues. The mechanic and collision repair center said they have never seen rust this bad in the same area of makes of vehicles. The collision repair center also stated that this is a $4,000-$6,000 repair that the owner should not be stuck with as it is a manufacuture defect. They manufacutured the 2005 Ford escape frame in the same plant and they share the same problem. This occured while I was traveling down the highway at 70mph and the shock broke free right behind my sons carseat, the shock was touching the inner plastic . Luckly I pulled over to find out what the noise was. Mazda seems to have no concern for their customers safety. Customer beware. . . . And if you have a child at least put them on the drivers side for some safety. Lets all hope Mazda will stand up for their defective product. . . . . . . .