2009 Mazda Tribute problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (19) · Power Train (3) · Vehicle Speed Control (2)
🧭 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
29 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.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2014-05-29 · campaign 14V282000 · 33,000 vehicles
Defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall
Service bulletins (136)
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 136 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-01-22 · Steering“lost of power steering hard to steer the steering wheel …”
2023-01-09 · Steering“the contact owns a 2009 mazda tribute. the contact stated while parking, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the service warning light illuminated. the contact then heard a beeping sound. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unavailable.…”
2022-09-23 · Power Train“autozone said that the part is called steering angle sensor and is locking up my car i am not able to press the gas as it only accelerates the engine and nothing else and the steering wheel lock i usually have my car turn on in the middle of traffic the part number they gave me is su14859…”
2022-03-09 · Steering“i pulled out of my driveway and my pporr steering did not work..parked vehicle. when i called the dealership i was told about recall on software for power steering control module (pscm) but was told mazda would not cover this that it was done in 2014 . i bought the vehicle used in 2019 ...never knew til now that it had a recall on it. what am i to …”
2022-01-31 · Steering · 99,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 mazda tribute. the contact stated while driving 40 mph, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed without warning. the contact used excessive force to drive the vehicle back to his residence. the next day, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where he was informed that he could not service the vehicle …”
2022-01-15 · Steering“mazda purchase date june 17, 2021 mazda s-plan pin: s013221306 [xxx] quoted price by [xxx] for a recall part on backorder that can not be received with proof by text was $2530.00 [xxx]: mazda agent who provided s-plan forced financing and shot-gun my credit i am [xxx] 21 years old my father bought me the mazda cash for college from bellas in por…”
2021-08-27 · Steering · 114,141 mi“the contact owns a 2009 mazda tribute. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact was able to exit the highway and noticed that the steering wheel was becoming more difficult to turn. the contact was able to drive to his residence. the contac…”
2020-03-27 · Steering · 10,100 mi“power steering does not work. started up my car and i am unable to turn the wheels at low speed. electrical power steering unit. no check engine light on. unsafe to drive, attempted to call mazda service line, says recall service for exact issue stated was completed in 2014 for recall # 7614e 'closed'. i did not own the vehicle at this time. attemp…”
2019-12-15 · Steering · 2 mi“i just lost my steering no electric power to steer i was driving down my block and then no steering was able to get my car back to my house. its sunday so i will call mazda in the morning i understand there was a call back for this problem so i will check this out with mazdz.…”
2019-09-18 · Steering · 82,767 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 mazda tribute. upon purchasing the vehicle used from scott evans nissan (725 bankhead hwy, carrollton, ga 30117, 770-832-8222), the power assist failed without warning. when the vehicle was restarted, the power assist began to work again. upon purchasing the vehicle, the power assist failed intermittently without warning…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.