2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER BEING JUMP STARTED BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACED THE SAME PARTS TWICE BEFORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DRIVING 65MPH ON FREEWAY WENT TO SWITCH LANES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL COMPLETELY TO FLOORBOARD. IMMEDIATELY PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND PUMPED BRAKES INTO EMERGENCY LANE. UPON INSPECTION SHOWED THROTTLE CABLE JUST SNAPPED CLEAN. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V583000(VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

BRAKE LINE FAILING, DURING A NORMAL STOP ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURE. TWO OTHERS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POOR CONDITIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,913. UPDATED 5/9/11 *CN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/16/11

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON OCCASIONS WHEN I STOP AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. IT RESTARTS EACH TIME. II TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER. LEFT IT THERE 3-4 DAYS AND THE DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT IS WRONG OR FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN COLD TEMPERATURES AND WHEN THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BY THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE AND EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS TO 4000. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE TO BE INVOLVED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V157000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX(NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO START HIS VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EXPLODED BUT DID NOT IGNITE; PARTS FLEW AND PENETRATED THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TYPE OF ENGINE, WHICH WAS CALLED AN "INTERFERENCE ENGINE" AND THE DESIGN OF IT. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT HE REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

UPON STARTING, A SEVERE EXPLOSION OCCURRED, DENTING THE HOOD FROM PARTS OF ENGINE. SMOKE POURED OUT FROM HOOD, BUT IGNITED GASOLINE DID NOT LEAVE ENGINE. ENGINE IS AN INTERFERENCE FORD PRODUCT AND SUV HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. THE SEVERITY OF THE DANGER OF THIS EXPLOSION CANNOT NOR SHOULD BE OVERLOOKED OR DISMISSED. HAD THE HOOD BEEN OPEN, SOMEONE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURY OR POSSIBLY DEATH. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH MAZDA FOR A RESOLUTION IN THIS MATTER AND ALL ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED. AS A PREVIOUSLY SATISFIED CUSTOMER FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, I AM FRUSTRATED AND INFURIATED BY THEIR DENIALS TO WORK OUT A RESOLUTION, IN EITHER A NEW ENGINE OR SUBSTANTIAL TRADE ON A NEW VEHICLE. AN ENGINE WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE EXPLODING IS UNHEARD OF AND, CERTAINLY, NOT EXPECTED. MY LETTER TO MAZDA CEO AND PRESIDENT JAMES O'SULLIVAN AND MY MECHANIC'S ASSESSMENT IS AVAILABLE.

STARTING IN 7/2009 MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE'S AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASS SEAT. SINCE THEN THE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES AND EACH TIME A CONNECTOR KIT WAS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT BURNED OUT AND COST OVER $200.00 FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED MAZDA AND COMPLAINED. I ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON OR BURNED OUT ACCORDING TO MECHANICS I HAVE TALKED TO THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. *TR