2003 Mazda Tribute problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (22) · Vehicle Speed Control (20) · Structure:body (15)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Tribute model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
150 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Suspension:front:wheel Bearing 2015-06-03 · campaign 15E045000 · 576 vehicles
Defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Structure:frame And Members 2014-04-04 · campaign 14V174000 · 109,000 vehicles
Defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the
Risk: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.
Vehicle Speed Control:cables 2012-07-27 · campaign 12V357000 · 217,500 vehicles
Defect: Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Risk: A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-5500, option #6.
Service bulletins (135)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · SA-055-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
product quality information (pqi) description service information mt-041/12 is no longer valid. it has been unpublished and superseded by the field quality information report (fqir) reporting system.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-07-29 · 09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 description some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns causing radio reception issues or terminal tabs pulled
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service alert supersedes the previously issued sa listed below: the changes are noted in red. sa-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 description mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Unknown Or Other 2024-08-08 · 09-038-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in accordance with federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. note: tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by federal, and state laws. it is the dealer’s responsibility to comply with federal, state, and local laws concerning odometer
Unknown Or Other 2024-07-29 · SA-011-24b · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. services performed outside of mazda's factory scheduled
Unknown Or Other 2024-06-07 · SA-011-24a · Other
mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. services performed outside of mazda's factory scheduled
Showing the 6 most recent of 135 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-07-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 💥 crash“nhtsa report 7.19.2015 july 19, 2025 nhsta report this is what happened to me [xxx]: i was at an off ramp stop waiting for cars to pass. i eased forward to see if everyone had passed. the car accelerated on its own and i tried to stop. when i braked it accelerated faster. i had both feet on the brakes and tried to stop, but each time the car acc…”
2023-09-04 · Vehicle Speed Control“my abs keeps locking up and ive almost wrecked multiple times. i changed brakes and rotors and still the problem is on-going. its dangerous and ive read others saying the same thing online. …”
2021-09-18 · Vehicle Speed Control“the sensor does not send the speed to the speedometer…”
2021-09-14 · Structure · 138,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mazda tribute. the contact had taken his vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was severe corrosion on the lower control arm. upon investigation, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 14v174000 (structure) which he linked to the failure. after performing a vin search, the contact also discove…”
2021-03-25 · Structure:body“during a free, aaa inspection, the auto shop told me that the vehicle is dangeous due to structural damage or body damage. i don't know how long this been a problem…”
2020-10-23 · Vehicle Speed Control · 140,000 mi“i was driving around 50mph and comng up to a stop light, as i began to slow down in the left turning lane for the red light going left, my tribute suddenly stalled.the light then of course turned green and this was not good, cause all the cars coming up from behind me were now intending to no slow down and begin to speed up, to carry on through the…”
2020-10-23 · Vehicle Speed Control“car stalled when slowing to stop in left turning lane doing around 45mph, approaching the light in a busy intersection and vehicles approaching mine from behind. it would no longer start in park or move in drive, to get our of the way and off the street i had to wait and the move it in reverse. got towed home and it still sits.…”
2020-03-27 · Power Train · 149,374 mi“i was coming up to a stop light and as i slowed down my 03 mazda tribute stalled, leaving me stopped in the middle of 5 lanes. as the light was turning green & the cars nearing my rear, had to swerve around to avoid a collision. i had placed my shifter into park and was able to restart my vehicle, but it still would not move after shifting into d(d…”
2019-08-20 · Structure:body“the abs malfunctioned and the abs light is on. when i engage the break it makes noise initial before it will start to engage properly, but the abs light keeps showing steadily. the trunk of the vehicle remains locked and cannot open. the latch is not bad.…”
2019-07-13 · Electrical System · 180 mi“while i was driving the car just shut off. i was told it was the battery and alternator. so i had them replaced. the car ran for aboutv10 minutrs and just shut off. while at the machanics he said that the wire harnesa is melting amd that i got lucky not to have a fire. the abs light goae off and on to. i called about a recall i saw in 2007 about th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.