Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Mazda Tribute submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
Corroded Subframe led to almost complete separation of drivers side control arm, 72k original miles, took my problem to Bergery Mazda where no one cared. If the part was already replaced in 2014 how is it possibly broken already.
SUBFRAME RUST,LOWER ARMS CANOT BE CHANGED.I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD POP AND COULDN"T KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT
MAZDA RECALL 7514D, CROSS BRACE KIT, FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF STEERING. THE CROSS BRACE ATTACHMENT AT THE FRAME FAILED. CROSS BRACE INTACT, BUT THE FRAME ATTACHMENT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED CAUSING FRAME FAILURE AND CROSS BRACE SEPARATION FROM THE FRAME. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED 8/21/14. IT IS SUSPECT THAT SEVERE CORROSION MAY HAVE EXISTED AT THE TIME THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, BUT WAS EITHER NOT DETECTED OR NOT ADDRESSED, LEADING TO THE ULTIMATE FRAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, HAVING JUST STARTED FROM A STOP AND IN A RIGHT HAD TURN, AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT SHE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE EVENT AND CONTINUED DRIVING SINCE THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY CORRECTED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CAR REACHED 30-45 MPH WHEN SERIOUS STEERING ISSUES WERE DETECTED. THE DRIVER WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE SAFELY STOPPED THROUGH FULL CROSS STEERING AND WAS VERY SHAKEN BY THIS EVENT, SINCE 2 SMALL CHILDREN WERE PASSENGERS DURING THIS SERIOUS EVENT.
PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF REVERSE. STEERING TOTALLY LOCKED UP. I LOOKED ON GOOGLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING QUITE A BIT AND A FEW YEARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. I WAS IN A CVS PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. BLOCKED TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING EXAMINED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V223002 (STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,000.
2001 TRIBUTE RACK AND PINION AND SHAFT BROKE INTO PIECES MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO STEER. *TS THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN IRREPARABLE LEAK. *NM
UNUSUAL SQUEAKING NOISES HEARD FROM LOWER STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT CONNECTS TO POWER STEERING RACK AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN GOING SLOWLY OVER SMALL BUMPS AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE, STRANGE NOISES CAN BE HEARD FROM THE STEERING RACK INCLUDING A MECHANICAL NOISE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 29,300 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT USED OFF-ROAD. MAZDA DEALER FINDS WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AND HAS ORDERED REPLACEMENT PARTS. WE WILL ASK FOR THE OLD PARTS WHEN THE FINAL REPAIR IS MADE.
MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX-V6 4WD, WAS RECALLED TO REPLACE THE "RACK "ON THE STEERING, THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY. THEN 8,728 MILES LATER THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT I PROBABLY HIT A POT HOLE!! I FEEL THESE REPAIRS WERE DUE TO SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE WHILE REPLACING THE RACK. I'M THE SOLE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS MOSTLY CITY DRIVING OR INTERSTATE...NOT FOUR WHEELING!!!*JB
1.THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY TRIBUTE WAS ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT, SO THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. 2.THE SECOND, WHEN GOING FOR MY FIRST BRAKE JOB I'M INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ARE TOO THIN AND UNDER SPECS. AND NEED TO BE REPLACED (A $700 JOB) SO, I WENT TO MAZDA AND THEY SAID THE BRAKE PADS ARE TOO HARD FOR THE ROTORS ARE ARE UNUSUALLY WEARING SO, THEY REPLACED MY ROTORS. 3.THE THIRD, A WEEK LATER I'M STRAINED, BECAUSE THE STARTER STUCK AND BURNED ITSELF OUT, THEY TOWED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE STARTER. 4.THE FOURTH, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD LEAKAGE SO, I HAD TO HAVE THEM FIX THAT. 5.THE FIFTH, NOW I AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH A SPUTTERING OR CLUNCKING NOISE THAT OCCURS UPON SLOW ACCELERATION OF 40 MPH WITH PEDAL VIBRATION AND ALSO OCCURS SOMETIMES AT 60 MPH NOW. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AND FIX THIS PROBLEM YET. BUT, THOUGHT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY FOUND A BUSHING NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED SO, THEY REPLACED THAT. UNTIL NEXT TIME.....
MY 2001 TRIBUTE HAS STALLED TWICE IN THE LAST YAR. IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO HILLS. THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION COULD RESULT IN A CRASH BECAUSE POWER STEERING FAILS, AND THERE IS NO ENGINE POWER. MAZDA MUST RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. *AK
THE MADZA TRIBUTE 2001 STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, AT VARYING SPEEDS. BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING SYSTEM ARE INOPERABLE. THE CAR STARTS AGAIN AFTER THIS OCCURS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES! LUCKILY, MY SON WHO DRIVES THIS CAR HASN'T BEEN INJURED. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME? WHAT IF HE IS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 55 OR 65 MILES AN HOUR? CAN MAZDA ASSURE ME THAT HE WON'T BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED? THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS OFFERED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS AFTER VERIFYING THAT THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE AIR INTAKE VALVE STICKS WHEN CARBON BUILDS UP ON IT. NOW WE ARE TOLD IT IS A FLAW IN THE COMPUTER. CLEARLY THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR. THIS CAR IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN! HOW CAN I POSSIBLY ALLOW MY SON TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE?!! *LA
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SCC *NLM
THE STEERING WHEEL WANDERED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE LANES AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. *AK PH. THE EMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED 6 TIMES. *JB
WHEN CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS NO STEERING POWER, AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AIR FLOW SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.*JB...*AK
ENGINE PERIODICALLY SHUTS DOWN AT LOW RPMS. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL WHEN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND, AS A RESULT, THE TRIBUTE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP. SHUTDOWNS HAVE HAPPENED AT LEAST ELEVEN TIMES - ALWAYS AT LOW RPMS (1000 RPM OR LESS). EACH SHUT DOWN OCCURRED WHEN I WAS COASTING DOWNHILL. GENERALLY, I WAS ALSO BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DILIGENT IN THEIR EFFORTS BUT SO FAR MAZDA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE TRIBUTE IN JAN 2001 AND EXPERICED THE FIRST FAILURES BEFORE THE FIRST 3000 MILE SERVICING. THE FIRST DEALER RESOLUTION ATTEMPT WAS NOT DOCUMENTED. THE TECHNICIAN QUERIED THE ONBOARD COMPUTER BUT THERE WAS NO CODE INDICATING ANY FAILURE. ON 4/28/02, AFTER MORE FAILURES, THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A WIRING PROBLEM AND "FIXED". THREE MORE FALILURES OCCURRED BEFORE THE TRIBUTE REACHED 6000 MILES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT ON 8/8/01 ADVISED MAZDA. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ENGINE SHUTDOWNS CONTINUED AND ON 10/09/01 AT 7,639 MILES, THE DEALER REMOVED THE BYPASS AIR CONTROL VALVE AND CLEANED THE PASSAGEWAY - AS ADVISED BY MAZDA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE TRIBUTE THEN RAN FINE FOR EIGHT MONTHS. THEN IN JUNE 2002, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER STILL HAD SEEN NOTHING FURTHER FROM MAZDA CONCERNING RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM AND CONTACTED THEM ONCE MORE FOR ASSISTANCE. SUGGESTION WAS TO "RE-PROGRAM" THE ONBOARD COMPUTER THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WILL UTLIMATELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. SO FAR, SHUTDOWNS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN AN UNCONGESTED AREA BUT THAT IS SIMPLY LUCK. MAZDA AND FORD HAVE A REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND RESOLUTION. SO FAR I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING FROM MAZDA LETTING ME KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRIBUTE. GUESS THEY FEEL IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AS LONG AS IT CAN BE IGNORED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DIES AT 40-45 MPH WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED AND IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *YH
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR LOST POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKES, I PULLED OVER TO AVOID A CRASH.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD WANDER WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WOULD COME FROM STEERING WHEEL OR COLUMN WHEN MAKING A TURN, ON COLD MORNINGS, THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK NOTICED FROM THE UNDERSIDE CENTER, CONTINENTAL TIRES SIZE #16, DOT #A3084531901, WEARING ON THE INSIDE EDGES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING RACK, HOWEVER STEERING CONTINUES TO BE LOOSE. *YD
THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD VERY EASILY LEAD TO A CRASH, THANKFULLY IT DID NOT IN THIS INSTANCE. HOWEVER, MY WIFE IS SOMEWHAT ANXIOUS BEHIND THE WHEEL AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALER DID ADJUST THE IDLER AND REPLACED A CONTROL MODULE, BUT THEY ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY SOMEWHAT OF A MYSTERY FOR THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF THERE IS A RECALL OR DEFINITE FIX FOUND FOR THIS PROBLEM.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHILE TRAVELING 15MPH STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL AND ROLLOVER. *AKTHERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BODY SHOP, THE CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES WHEN AN ENGINE ROD FAILED, THE MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL ACCIDENT. *NLM
STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN, AND BRAKE PEDAL GETS STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I BOUGHT MY TRIBUTE IN AUGUST AND JUST HAD THE FIRST SERVICE DONE RECENTLY SO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2001, I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANY PROBLEM. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING HAD CEASED AND I BELIEVE THE BRAKES ALSO. I VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THE CAR. I PROCEEDED TO FIND A PHONE TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO RIDGEFIELD MAZDA I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND HE WAS ALMOST CERTAIN HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE TOLD ME MAZDA HAD GOTTEN SEVERAL TRIBUTES COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS THE IGNITION FAILS AND EVERYTHING GOES OUT LIKE THE STEERING ETC. JUST WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. OBVIOUSLY, MAZDA KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, AND I QUESTIONED HOW THEY COULD NOT NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS MALFUNCTION. HE TOLD ME IT WASN'T CONSIDERED A RECALL AS OF YET EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE TRIBUTE IS A NEW VEHICLE AND I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY STILL BE KINKS/BUGS TO WORK OUT WITH A NEW VEHICLE BUT THIS ISN'T A MINOR PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS CHECKED INTO AND IF POSSIBLE, MAKE IT A RECALL SO THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO OTHER DRIVERS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. THANK YOU.. *AK
I HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE FOR TWO OCCURRENCES. EACH TIME I WAS COMING DOWN A HILL AND THEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON (CHECK ENGINE, OIL, ETC.). I WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR GIVE IT GAS EASILY. EACH TIME I WAS NOT IN A SAFE LOCATION, SO I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THE CAR RESTARTED FINE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM SINCE IT OCCURRED THE 2ND TIME WHICH WAS OVER A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. THEY HAVE TOLD ME NUMEROUS TIMES THAT IT IS NOT DOING IT FOR THEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER CAUSED ME TWO WEEKS AGO AND TOLD ME THE MAZDA MANUFACTURER WAS IN THEIR OFFICE AND HE WAS AWARE OF TWO SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN TWO OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTES. I JUST WANTED YOUR OFFICE TO BE AWARE OF THIS. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD ON THE 2ND OCCURRENCE AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. I JUST HOPE IT CAN BE FIXED SO I DO NOT HURT MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS AND I LOSE POWER/STEERING. AFTER SAFELY GETTING MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I AM ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS SEEN MY CAR TWICE NOW AND FINDS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, AND EXPECTS ME TO DRIVE THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THIS STALLING HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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