2005 Mazda Tribute problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (108) · Vehicle Speed Control (75) · Structure:body (42)
🧭 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
312 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
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.
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 (139)
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 139 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-07-21 · Suspension“passenger rear shock mount toatly rusted through. a big hole!…”
2023-07-25 · Suspension“rear passenger shock mount rusted out completely …”
2023-04-23 · Structure:body“the rear wheel well was completely rusted out while the other side is fine. the shock broke loose causing the vehicle to drop down. i have a 17 year old that is not an experienced driver and this could have resulted in her getting seriously hurt. from what i read they recalled the vehicle to to 2004 and i don’t understand why they did not recall th…”
2022-01-04 · Structure:body“owned since day one, bought brand new, religiously maintained, perfect shape other than completely rusted wheel house back left passenger side. shock went through rusted area all the way to trunk. mazda recalled models 2003 to 2004 for this problem yet so many 2005 mazda tribute owners are having exact problem especially when manufactured in 2004! …”
2022-01-02 · Unknown Or Other“the passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out and the brake mount is deteriorating as well affecting the safety of the vehicle. i have been told that this is a common issue on mazda tribute and ford escape models for the years 2001-2005 by my mechanic as well as mazda dealer reps. they stated the 2001-2004 models were recalled but not the 200…”
2021-10-07 · Unknown Or Other“i have found several complaints on the 2005 mazda tribute with the rear wheel well rusting out. mazda did a recall on the 2004 but not the 2005. i previously had to replace the rear wheel in 2018 and it now needs replaced again due to rusting. with the number of complaints i have read, along with the outrageous cost to repair, i do not understan…”
2021-09-17 · Suspension“the wheel well rusted out, completely leaving the shock tower and stability of the car at risk, rusted out completely, i'm a light backyard mechanic and i've seen the ford do the same . the repair is almost the value of the car, and unless you trust them your basically buying a new vehicle, because while you're there may change the set of shock's…”
2021-05-09 · Unknown Or Other“as a problem with many other mazda trubutes, the wheel well is rusted through and the strut is no longer held in place, yet protruding into the interior of the car. this has been an issue that required a recall for other mazda tributes, but not the 2005 version. according to many forums, this is a problem with many other 05 tributes.…”
2021-04-20 · Structure:body · 180,000 mi“right rear shock tower rusted out and shock broke through and into the passenger compartment. sever rust on right side of front sub frame as well. i came across this performing general maintenance.…”
2021-02-05 · Wheels · 180,000 mi · 💥 crash“right rear frame has rusted out enough to cause brake and shock issues causing a perfectly good vehicle to become unsafe and dangerous for my family and others. the shock and brake line broke and the vehicle slid to a stop.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.