2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE Complaints

VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THERE ARE OPEN HOLES ON THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE BOX WHICH COULD ALLOW CO2 AND/OR GAS FUMES TO ENTER INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.LARGEST HOLE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE SHOCKABSORBER HOUSING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER AND "LEMON" WEST COAST COORDINATOR SHOW NO CONCERN. OTHERWISE A GREAT CAR.

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND COMING TO A FORK IN THE ROAD, AS SOON AS CONSUMER MERGED TO RIGHT STEERING WHEEL GOT VERY STIFF. THEN, WHOLE DASH LIT UP. CONSUMER PUT ON BRAKES/ PUT IN PARK, AND WENT TO A MAZDA DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. AT ANOTHER DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER WAS BEARING OVER, STEERING WHEEL GOT TIGHT AGAIN, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF.*AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A FAST FOOD PLACE WHEN MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVE THROUGH ATTENDENT TOLD US THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I GOT OUT TO SEE AND THERE WAS THE LEAK. RIGHT UNDER THE PILLAR BETWEEN THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR DOOR.IT WAS A STEADY DRIP.*AK

EXCEPT FOR THE INITIAL IGNITION EACH DAY, EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A WAFT OF GASOLINE FUMES COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, THEN DISSIPATES AFTER 5-10 SECONDS. AN ODOR OF GASOLINE CAN BE DETECTED SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING, AND A DISTINCT GASOLINE ODOR IS EVIDENT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO, MOSTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT.CAN BE DETECTED

WHEN THE CAR ENGINE IS DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 10 MIN AND THEN SHUT OFF, WHEN YOU RESTART THE ENGINE YOU GET A STRONG FUEL VAPOR FROM THE VENTS IN THE CAR. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS COLLING DOWN LIKE IN THE GARAGE YOU GET A STRONG FUEL VAPOR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO FUEL LEAKS AND THAT IT MUST BE A NEW ENGINE BURN OFF SMELL. I HAVE SPOKE TO AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE ON EDMUNDS .COM WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP BECAUSE I FEEL THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *AK

MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE MAZDA TRIBUTE AND FORD ESCAPE ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A CHEMICAL BURNING OFF THE ENGINE - THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE SMELL USUALLY ONLY OCCURS WHEN YOU START AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. UPON STARTING, A FAINT GASOLINE SMELL COMES THTOUGH THE VENTS FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY. WE(OWNERS OF THIS NEW TYPE OF VEHICLE) ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A LEAK/ LARGER PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK