2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE Complaints

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL HAS A LARGE HOLE GOING THROUGH TO THE LIFT GATE AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S ALL RUSTED OUT.

THE RIGHT REAR STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED CAUSING THE BRACKET TO COME LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I CALLED A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THIS AND THEY KNEW THE TYPE OF VEHICLE I HAVE JUST BASED ON THE PROBLEM AS IT IS SO PERVASIVE. IN RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THESE MAZDA AND FORD ESCAPE MODELS AS IT IS A COMMON FINDING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-WELDED AND RESTRUCTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

UPON BRINGING MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE INTO THE MAZDA SERVICE CENTER FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL WAS HEAVILY RUSTED AND THE SHOCK WOULD SOON BREAK THROUGH THE RUST AND DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATION TO INITIATE A COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION. AFTER THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE (CONTACTING THE DIAGNOSING MAZDA SERVICE CENTER), I WAS INFORMED MAZDA CORPORATION WOULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, THE VEHICLE WARRANTEE EXPIRED, AND MAZDA WAS UNAWARE OF ANY SIMILAR ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. THIS TRIBUTE HAS 109.000 MILES AND BASED ON THE DEALERS SERVICE CENTER ASSESSMENT IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION: ALWAYS GARAGE PARKED, NO OTHER RUST EXISTS (INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE) ON THE VEHICLE, ALL MAINTENANCE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, AND THIS VEHICLE NEVER INCURRED BODY DAMAGE (NO ACCIDENTS). AS ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, WE INITIALLY PURCHASED THE CORROSION PROTECTION AND EXTERIOR PAINT SEALANT (THE RUSTPROOFING MATERIAL IS STILL VISIBLE WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL). WE HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE AND LOYAL MAZDA ORIGINAL VEHICLE OWNERS, ALTHOUGH AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS WHICH OBVIOUSLY RELATES TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM APPALLED THAT MAZDA AND THE NHTSA HAVE NOT INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED THIS VEHICLE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO REDUCE THE SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL OWNERS AND DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE MAZDAS OWN INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT THE TRUTH BUT INSTEAD A COVER UP RESPONSE TO AVOID CULPABILITY.

I HEARD A LOUD THUMP COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I ASKED MY HUSBAND TO LOOK AT IT WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND THE REAR PASSENGER FENDER WELL RUSTED OUT AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION AND IS ONLY TEN YEARS OLD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WAS RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IRREPARABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCK ALSO DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE, I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPROMISED BY EXCESSIVE RUST. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR QUALITY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE AND SIMILAR FORD AND MERCURY MODELS (ESCAPE AND MARINER). I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR, BUT ONLY NOW NOTICED THE RUST. SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL/REPAIR FOR THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE. I AGREE WITH THEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HOUSING AND STRUT WERE CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED IRREPARABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. *CN

WHILE TURNING INTO A BUSINESS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT CAME APART AT THE SUBFRAME. THERE APPEARS TO BE SUBSTANCIAL RUST IN THE AREA.