2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE Complaints

NOISE FROM FRONT END THOUGHT TO BE FROM BRAKES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 2003. EVENTUALLY BECAME WORSE DURING SUMMER OF 2005. FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE - EITHER BENT OR MISALIGNED. WHEN FINALLY FOUND VEHICLE WAS 'OUT OR WARRANTY. *JB

EGR VALVE BLEW OUT, REPLACED, REPLACEMENT VALVE BLEW OUT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REPAIR AND WITHIN 30 TOTAL MINUTES OF VEHICLE OPERATION FROM REPAIR. *NM

THERE IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN MY MAZDA, TRIBUTE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED AT 23854 MILES. THE MAZDA DEALER LOOKED INTO IT AND STATED ON ITS REPORT "CHECKED AND FOUND WIRE HARNESS GOING TO SEAT BELT PRETENSIONS BUCKLE BROKEN-WIRE YELLOW AND RED STRIPE LOCATED AT H15". THE PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED AT THE TIME. HOWEVER, THE CAR NOW REACHED 38,000 MILES AND THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. MY CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY NOW AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE, THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND MUST BE FIXED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MANUFACTURER. ESPECIALLY, WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED DURING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE. AS YOU AWARE, A MALFUNCTION OF AIRBAG SYSTEM CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH IN CASE OF A COLLISION. AS PER MY LOCAL FORMER MAZDA DEALER, MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT EXISTENCE OF THIS AIRBAG ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IGNORED AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN INDICATED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER THAT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. A MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL . THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SHE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. *AK (12/01/05) THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A NOISE WHEN BEING DRIVEN UP TO 40 MPH AND A LOUD HISSING NOISE WOULD BECOME NOTICEABLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *SC

1). THREE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE: 1ST - POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE RE-CALIBRATION RECALL 1904D. 2ND - B4000 DPFE SENSOR WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP) 59. 3RD - ACCELERATOR CABLE RECALL 2704L. COMPLETED ALL RECALLS; LAST ON 3/2/05. 2). 2/2005 I STARTED EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE: - THE CAR STOPS RUNNING USUALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. THE CAR HAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, IN THE HEIGHT OF RUSH HOUR. THE CAR STOPPED EXITING A POST OFFICE BACKING UP TRAFFIC CAUSING MOTORIST TO SEEK ANOTHER EXIT. HAVE HAD VARIOUS OTHER STOPS BUT HAVE BEEN LUCKY NOT TO CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS. - THE CAR WILL NOT START; USUALLY UPON SHORT TRIPS. AFTER WAITING 3 - 5 MINUTES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES. I LIMIT DRIVING AT NIGHT DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABILITY AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN MY VEHICLE. 3) I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICE AT OAKLAND MAZDA (510)893-7282 (3/2/05-RECALL, 4/9/05, 4/19/05, 5/11/05, & 6/20/05) AND HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERV ADVISOR, KEN MILLER & SERVICE MANAGER. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THEY THOROUGHLY CHECKED-OUT MY CAR EACH TIME THEY SERVICED IT. THEY HAVE REPEATED THE RECALL WHICH MOSTLY DESCRIBES MY SYMPTOMS (RE-CALIBRATION RECALL 1904D) AT LEAST TWICE. THEY ALSO CONTACTED THE MAZDA HEADQUARTERS SERVICE CENTER FOR DOCUMENTATION ON HOW TO CHECK OUT MY VEHICLE. I ALSO CONTACTED THE MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT (800)222-5500 IN MAY OF 2005, THEY TOLD ME THAT IF NECESSARY THEY COULD DISPATCH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO FLY IN AND REPAIR MY VEHICLE; THEY ALSO SENT A REPORT TO THE OAKLAND DISTRICT MGR. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA CUST ASSIST CENTER AGAIN ON 7/14/05 , THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME FURTHER WITH MY CAR PROBLEM. 7/15- I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN FREMONT (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR) EXPLAINED MY PROBLEMS AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER TAKING A LOOK AT MY CAR BUT THE SERV MGR NEVER CALLED ME BACK. *JB

2002 MAZDATRIBUTE MANUAL DRIVER DOOR HANDLE CEASED TO WORK. ONLY WAY TO OPEN DRIVER DOOR FROM INSIDE WAS TO OPEN POWER WINDOW AND PULL OUTSIDE HANDLE. DEALER SAID THEY'D HAD SEVERAL LIKE THIS. IF A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, POSES SAFETY HAZARD. IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY, IF CAR IS NOT RUNNING, WINDOWS CANNOT BE OPENED. DRIVER COULD BE TRAPPED AND UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE.

CONSUMER SUGGESTION FOR SAFETY FOR ALL VEHICLES.*MR THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO THE SIDE OF BOTH FENDERS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NOTICE IN THE MAIL IN 1-05 REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THERE WAS NO RECALL # AVAILABLE. SHE TOOK IT IN TO A DEALER AND THEY EITHER REPLACED/OR REPAIRED THE CABLE, SHE WAS NOT SURE. SHE HAS NOTICED AN EXTREME CHANGE IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SINCE THEN. THE GAS PEDAL SEEMS TO BE TOO LOSE; SHE SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE NO TENSION IN THE PEDAL. SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE TOLD HER THAT WAS NORMAL; THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT CABLE IN THE CAR AND THAT WAS WHAT SHE WAS FEELING. SHE DOES NOT AGREE. SHE HAS NOT YET REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER. SHE WANTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CABLE THEY SAY THEY REPLACED. *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT DRIVER HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED, AND THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY, DO TO DELAYED SHIFTING. GAS MILEAGE HAVE BEEN OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND IS MAKING THE VEHICLE SLUGGISH.*SB

DT: CONTACT STATES THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION,, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ALSO, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK