Mazda Tribute owners have reported 113
problems related to body (under the structure category).
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
1
Failure Date: 10/12/2016
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact heard a banging noise underneath the front passenger seat. The contact pulled the vehicle over, looked underneath, and found that the shock of the rear passenger tire was detachted. The shock would lean against the tire while the vehicle was being turned. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the shock was detached and the area were the shock was located was completely rusted. The inside finder panel and the shock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact the vehicle was not covered by a recall. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the subframe of the vehicle was deteriorated. The vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (structure). The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.
I own a 2005 Tribute that has been kept in meticulous condition. Always garaged and taken to the dealership for maintenance. The vehicle runs like new with no signs of wear and tear, and has been a great car. That all changed when a few weeks ago I was driving about 40 mph down a residential street, and hit a small patch of bumps in the road (not potholes, just normal uneven pavement spots) and all of a sudden heard a jackhammer noise from the back of the car. The passenger side rear wheel well had completely disintegrated, leaving the wheel/suspension detached from the vehicle body/frame. Nothing was holding the suspension tower to the car. Had I been going faster or didn't stop right away this could have killed me. I have three small kids and I am so upset that such a dangerous condition is well-known. The way I found out was that I immediately went to the Ford/Mazda dealership when the noise happened. They took in the car and called me the next morning to say they wanted nothing to do with it because their corporate Ford/Mazda policy instructed them not to accept or work on vehicles with this defect. I'm shocked that Ford/Mazda would conceal such a dangerous known condition in their vehicles, putting thousands and thousands of people at risk without any warning. If I had received some kind of notification that the problem existed I would have gone to get it fixed right away at my own expense if needed, but instead I drove thousands of miles on the highway with my kids in the car ignorant to the fact that the car could have broken apart and caused us to crash without any warning.
Body problem of the 2003 Mazda Tribute
4
Failure Date: 10/01/2016
The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (structure). To replace the part, the dealer would need to maneuver other components to access the location necessary to replace the part. Some parts could potentially fracture to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified and provided no solution other than to cover the remedy in the recall repair. The contact had already experienced the subframe cracking due to extensive rust and corrosion shortly after receiving notification of the recall. The dealer was aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
Completely rusted out right side rear wheel well and suspension support. Seems to be a common and dangerous problem. Visual inspection of the rear passenger side wheel well revealed that the suspension arm was broken away from the body of the vehicle, making it unsafe to drive based on a mechanic's opinion. The suspension mount rusted completely away from the wheel well and has now exposed the interior portion of the rear cargo area. There was a recall on the front side for this issue for up to model year '04, but not including '05 which has the same body??.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
6
Failure Date: 09/22/2016
I went to get my oil changed and the mechanic showed me my rear wheel well. The shock mount is completely rusted out and unsafe to drive. He said he has never seen anything that bad. I have to go to a body shop and get a whole new wheel well and shock system. It is going to cost around $1100.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
7
Failure Date: 09/20/2016
2005 Mazda Tribute rear right wheel well rusted through shock protruding into the interior of the vehicle. Clear factory defect. Mazda will not fix this issue.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
8
Failure Date: 09/15/2016
I am also a victim of the rear passenger wheel well rotting out so bad that it can not be repaired. Vehicle only has 90,000 miles on it . Mazda should take responsibility for this since it is not an isolated case.
Body problem of the 2006 Mazda Tribute
9
Failure Date: 09/09/2016
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda Tribute. While driving at any speed, the vehicle made a rattling noise. A mechanic diagnosed that the rear passenger wheel well and the shock mount were extremely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Vehicle has so much frame rot that it will not pass state inspection. 200k miles, unacceptable for a 13 year old car. I purchased brand new in '03 and have always taken steps to get salt, etc. , off the undercarriage.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
11
Failure Date: 08/08/2016
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving at various speeds, a popping sound emitted from the vehicle. The contact pulled over and discovered that the rear passneger side wheel well was rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,720.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
12
Failure Date: 08/03/2016
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving 65 mph, there was a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. It was diagnosed that the rear tail pipe had fallen off and the passenger side wheel well was rusted out. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
13
Failure Date: 08/01/2016
In the rear passenerger side wheel well,rusted out so bad rear shock has pulled away from body,causing jole all wsy thru car. Saw online this is a commom problem with this model and sister Ford escape heard recalls for 02 thru 04 models.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
14
Failure Date: 08/01/2016
While driving the vehicle at a speed of about 35 mph I felt what appeared to be a flat tire. After checking the tire, there was nothing obvious showing. At speeds about 55 mph the sensation of a flat tire ceased, however, as soon as I would slow down, it would return, along with a loud noise. I took the car in to firestone tire. They discovered that the passenger side rear wheel well is completely rusted out. The strut housing is exposed and the wheel is at risk for literally separating from the vehicle. We were told that any small rear impact could cause the rear end of the vehicle to completely separate from the rest of the car. After having the vehicle checked by several different mechanics and body shops we were told that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and requires over $5800 in repairs. After contacting Mazda, they refuse to acknowledge this as a recall and the only off they made was for $1,500-$3,000 off the purchase of a brand new Mazda. We have cared for our vehicle impeccably. It only has 135,000 miles on it and has always had all maintenance performed. All other areas of the vehicle are in good condition. This is obviously an issue with the parts that were used on the assembly line during production. I find it very hard to believe that only one side in one area of the vehicle would rust out like this. Mazda should take responsibility for this before someone is seriously hurt or killed.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
15
Failure Date: 07/31/2016
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving 30 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the subframe and shock mounts fractured from excessive corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
16
Failure Date: 07/22/2016
The underside and even the fuel entry area is rusted and is beginning to affect the exterior paint job around the truck and doors.
Body problem of the 2004 Mazda Tribute
17
Failure Date: 07/20/2016
Tl-the contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, the technician informed that the right and left rear inner was severely corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (structure). The approximate failure mileage was 93,165.
Rear shock mount rusted, right side. Can not drive my car and no one will buy it in this condition. The body shop cannot repair and he said it is too dangerous to drive. It can cause an accident.
Body problem of the 2004 Mazda Tribute
19
Failure Date: 07/12/2016
2004 Mazda Tribute, approx. 101,000 miles. Complete failure/rust-through of rear, passenger-side wheel well causing separation of shock/strut from the frame. As indicated in the hundreds of complaints I have read, experienced loud clunk and swaying of the vehicle, brought to our long-time mechanic who indicated he had never seen anything like it and based on age/condition there is no way this should have occurred. Brought vehicle in to Mazda dealership after speaking to Mazda customer care (rep indicated that recall for sub-frame corrosion should address this) only to be told that recall repair was completed but car was unsafe to drive due to the corrosion and shock separation. When I called Mazda back and asked how it is possible to issue a recall on a known issue for rust but only address one contact point on the frame as, clearly, the entire frame is made/coated with the same materials, was advised basically not their problem and it is possible a future recall could address this issue. This is absolutely unacceptable and as a current owner of a 2014 Mazda 6 (and past owners of 6 other Mazda's) I can not understand how a safety issue such as this is not being addressed. As evidenced by this website and multiple others, this issue affects 2001-2006 Mazda Tributes (& Ford escapes) and was already acknowledged to be a defect in the materials used as evidenced in recall# 14v-174. Excessive corrosion is not limited to a single attachment point on the frame, to even imply that it would be is avoidance of liability by the manufacturer(s) at best, criminal negligence is a better descriptor. It is the entire frame that is defective and this needs to be addressed as a critical safety issue before someone gets seriously injured or killed, the complaints seem to be increasing so it is only a matter of time. Please address this-the original recall needs to be expanded ASAP.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
20
Failure Date: 06/02/2016
Extreme rust/corrosion in the wheel well area - frame degraded and fell away from the body -- shock coming loose - occurred while driving on city street - going straight.
Body problem of the 2002 Mazda Tribute
21
Failure Date: 06/01/2016
The contact owns a 2002 Mazda Tribute. While driving various speeds, the front passenger wheel became disengaged from the vehicle and jammed into the wheel well. The failure caused the vehicle to be immobile. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then transported to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer stated that the manufacturer would not cover the repair due to the extensive corrosion. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (structure) prior to the failure, but the recall repair was not performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Right rear shock mount has rusted completely through. This may result in suspension failure and possible loss of control of vehicle. Photos of extensive rust condition widely available on the internet.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
23
Failure Date: 05/30/2016
The passenger side rear wheel well is rusted out and the shock absorber is exposed and barely supported. The driver side is fine. There was a recall for this problem for the prior 4 years to this. It will be un-driveable soon.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
24
Failure Date: 05/18/2016
My right rear wheel well is completely rotted out. My body shop told me this should not ever happen. Also told me it was a bad piece of steel used in the manufacture and I could have been killed if it had not been detected and I kept driving it. The rest of my SUV is immaculate. I have seen other complaints on this. It is costing me $1500. 00 to repair. I was driving and started hearing a rattling sound and stopped at a mechanic. My mechanic told me thank god you stopped before you got hurt.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
25
Failure Date: 05/02/2016
We heard a loud drubbing sound, like the back seat had come undone. In fact, the underneath of the seat, under the car had become so rusted that the shock was detached from the rest of the car, which was making that sound. I was driving with my kids in the car for 100's of miles like this! Mazda had a recall on 2002-2004 Mazda Tributes but did not include my Mazda 2005, though made in 2004 and has the same issues as the recall, rust in the wheel well. Mazda will not fix it and will not pay for it since I had to fix it. I paid $1,086 to fix this, being without a car for a month. I was lucky that it was this cheap, only because they gave me a break. It was estimated to be over $2k. Even the clerk at Mazda said these vehicles "are all known to rust", so I can obviously sue Mazda on just that testimony, but otherwise, I have no recourse except to pay for this and wait and hope that a recall will pay me back some day.
Body problem of the 2005 Mazda Tribute
1