2006 Mazda Tribute problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (43) · Suspension (9) · Power Train (9)
🧭 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
106 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 (108)
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 108 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-06-07 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:lock“2006 mazada tribute- consumer sent a request to mazda north america to request estimate for cost of repair for replacement of the sensor and switches on the doors and service to the "door ajar" alarm system. mazda customer care stated they wouldn't be able to provide assistance in the issue. the vehicle is out of warranty and there is no open recal…”
2020-11-16 · Engine · 83,000 mi“we purchased a used 2006 mazda tribute with about 83,000 miles on it from a car dealer. less than 2 months after purchasing it, the timing chain broke and the engine failed. the engine failed after the car was parked and we attempted to restart it.…”
2020-06-12 · Structure:body · 7 mi“the rear right wheel well area where the shock absorber attaches to the frame of the vehicle busted out. it no longer holds the shock in place to absorb a bump. i was recently informed by a bodyshop person that there was a recall that i was not notified of. would you let me know if this is true? *tr…”
2019-07-31 · Wheels“2006 mazda tribute ,right rear wheel well rusted away,leaving shock floating and banging around in wheel well first noticed in june 2015…”
2019-06-17 · Engine · 54,000 mi“heard noise of knocking rattling 2014-15 had it towed to machanic and they informed me of i needed a new engine. got it replaced with a jasper rebuilt. right at 4 years it happens again, one yr after warranty. researching for either resell value or new engine game across a pleathera of seezed engines and thrown rods. most vehicles has great body bu…”
2019-04-24 · Air Bags · 105,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda tribute. when the contact's son exited the vehicle and shut the door, the front driver and passenger air bags, along with the side air bags deployed. the contact and passenger were both injured, but did not receive medical attention. a police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to the contact's home. an unkn…”
2019-04-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 115,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda tribute. while driving 85 mph and depressing the brake pedal. the vehicle accelerated without warning. the brake pedal had to be depressed multiple times to slow the vehicle down. the contact drove the vehicle home. also, while the vehicle was in drive, it accelerated at full throttle. the contact called kinsel for…”
2018-11-21 · Vehicle Speed Control · 138,050 mi“gas pedal sticks making it hard to accelerate. dangerous when in traffic and gas pedal will not move. whether it is summer or winter trying to accelerate is becoming very dangerous when driving.…”
2018-10-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System“hello - our 2006 mazda tribute recently had issues related to spider webs in the vent hose - in the service department notes, the following issues were noted related to the fuel tank: canister vent filter and hose: end of vent hose at top of filler kneck plugged with spider webs this resembles issues that prompted the recall of later models, h…”
2018-09-20 · Air Bags · 100,000 mi“"takata recall" i had an airbag failure after hitting a deer at 65 miles per hour on the hwy. the charge in the airbag went off but the air bag did not deploy. the airbag light remains on. i need this fixed!…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.