2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE Complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE SUN ROOF COLLAPSED. THIS CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS WAS A INSURANCE ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V583000; MAZDA ISSUED AN ACCELERATOR CABLE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE PARTS UNTIL MAY IN ORDER TO DO RECALL REPAIRS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS ARE SEVERELY OUT OF ROUND AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 110 MPH FOR NO KNOWN REASON, THE CONSUMER STATED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE, WHICH FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL SEVERELY. THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE,A LITTLE WHILE LATER SHE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK *TS

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE. RESULTING IN $2,206.79 IN DAMAGE THE DEALER SAID THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE AND SAID THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. *LA

I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2004 MAZDA MPV, VIN [XXX]. I NOTICE THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFIES A TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE OF 240 KPA (35 PSI), BUT THE VEHICLE PLACARD STATES 240 KPA (32 PSI). SINCE THE CORRECT CONVERSION FROM 240 KPA TO PSI IS 35 PSI, IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE PLACARD IS INCORRECT. MOST USERS IN THE USA WILL USE THE PSI AMOUNT TO DETERMINE PROPER INFLATION PRESSURE. THEREFORE, THE INCORRECT PLACARD INFLATION PRESSURE OF 32 PSI WILL CAUSE UNDERINFLATION OF THE TIRE WHICH CAN LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE AND VEHICLE ACCIDENT.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THIS IS BASICALLY A DESIGN FLAW. OUR 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE SUFFERED "HYDRO-LOCK" AFTER TRAVERSING A FLOODED PAVED ROAD DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD CROWN. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT THE CENTER YELLOW LINE WAS VISIBLE THROUGH THE MUDDY WATER AND THE WATER LEVEL WAS BELOW THE RUNNING BOARDS. THE VEHICLE STALLED NEAR THE END OF THE FLOODED CONDITION AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES BUT WOULD STALL AGAIN. WHILE STALLED IN THE FLOODED ROADWAY, SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDING PASSENGER CARS (CHEVY MALIBU, NISSAN MURANO) PAST BY OUR STALLED TRIBUTE ON THE LEFT SIDE IN DEEPER WATER. THE TRIBUTE FINALLY STARTED UP AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE OFFICE. THE MAZDA DEALER WHERE PURCHASED ADVISED IT BE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED WATER HAD ENTERED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A "HYDRO-LOCK" (DAMAGED PISTON ROD). IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE (~APPROX. $5,000). A REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT A SUV TO HANDLE ROAD OBSTACLES SUCH AS WATER OF THE CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE, THAT WERE EASILY MANAGED BY SMALLER VEHICLES, WITHOUT THIS LEVEL OF DAMAGE. INSPECTION OF THE AIR INTAKE REVEALS IT IS DIRECTED TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEREAS MOST OTHER VEHICLES HAVE IT DIRECTED TO THE SIDE UNDER A FENDER TO PROTECT IT FROM WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION THE BRACKET SECURING THE INTAKE ENTRY ABOUT MID WAY DOWN THE FRONT GRILLE DOES NOT ALLOW MUCH AIR FLOW FROM ABOVE. MOST OF ENTERING AIR COMES FROM BELOW THE ENTRY POINT EXPOSING IT TO SPLASH CONDITIONS THAT WOULD NOT BE ENCOUNTERED IF THE INTAKE WAS DIRECTED TO THE NEAREST FENDER WELL AS WITH MOST OTHER VEHICLES I'VE SEEN. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AND AIR INTAKE CONFIGURATION AS WITH A FORD ESCAPE WHICH, PER THIS WEB SITE, HAS HAD AT LEAST 8 REGISTERED COMPLAINTS REGARDING ENGINE STALLS. NO WEATHER OR ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS WERE DESCRIBED WITH THESE COMPLAINTS HOWEVER.*AK

GAS TANK SPEWS GASOLINE OVER CAR AND OPERATOR WHEN REFILLING. OCCURS WITH REGULARITY WHEN PUMP AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF ACTIVATES FOR THE FIRST TIME.*AK