RoadVitals

2003 Mazda Tribute Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest May 7, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 199 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

AirbagsSteeringSuspension
Filed May 7, 2019

NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FRONT END ISSUES FOR SOME TIME NOW.

NHTSA ID
11205991
Incident
May 15, 2010
Mileage
179,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 1, 2018

EVERY TIME I START MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND EVERY 30 MINUTES OF OPERATION THEREAFTER, THE CAR MAKES 5 SETS OF 5 BEEPS. AN INTERNET SEARCH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT TO INDICATE THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. A MAZDA MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. AND EVEN IF I HAVE THE VERY EXPENSIVE JOB DONE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM, THE REPLACEMENT PARTS DON'T WORK EITHER. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME. MAZDA NEEDS TO PROVIDE A GOOD WORKING SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND SOON.

NHTSA ID
11132802
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
64,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 12, 2018

AIRBAGS SIGN ACTIVE

NHTSA ID
11129166
Incident
Jul 1, 2017
AirbagsDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2018

TAKATA RECALL, LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING IN PARK, GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS.DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STOPPED PULLING WITH TRAFFIC SPEED OF 65 MPH HAD TO MANEUVER OFF THE HIGHWAY. WOULDN'T PULL IN ANY GEAR, SHIFTER ONLY HAD ONE GEAR IT WOULD SIT IN WILL SLIDE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE 2. COST $224.00 TO TOW WHICH I HAD TO BORROW.

NHTSA ID
11114420
Incident
Jun 11, 2018
Mileage
135,440 mi
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2018

STRUCTURE CROSS BRACKET FOR LOWER CONTROL ARM. ACCELERATOR CABLE.CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THROTTLE BODY STICKS EVEN AFTER THE RECALLS THE DRIVER AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK LIGHT ON DASH IT'S THE PLUG AT WIRE HARNESS MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS LOSE BRAKE FLUID ENGINE STALLED WHEN ON HWY105 WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT WHILE TURNING CAR STARTED TO ROUGH IDLE AND STARTED TO DIE AGAIN. IDLED TO A STOP CAR WAS SHAKING AND WOULD RUN. HAD TO SIT AROUND 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RUN AND STAY GOING. CAR HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN MINNESOTA AND CANADA BOTH HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
11071847
Incident
Jul 1, 2012
Mileage
104,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 26, 2016

I START MY CAR UP AN I SEE THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING

NHTSA ID
10876698
Incident
Jun 22, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jun 16, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

WIFE HAD AN ACCISDENT WITH SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SHE WAS INJURED HIT A TREE

NHTSA ID
10874637
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 24, 2016

2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OUT.*BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10838434
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEAT BELT CONNECTION WAS REPAIRED TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10781578
Incident
Oct 9, 2013
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 17, 2015

2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIRBAG ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF HIS VEHICLE WAS ON THE RECALL LIST. *JB

NHTSA ID
10761577
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jun 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V157000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,654.

NHTSA ID
10723968
Incident
Jun 5, 2015
Mileage
202,654 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 26, 2015

2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT. *MW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE CONNECTORS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE CONNECTORS UNDER THE DRIVER' SEAT WERE BAD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10660632
Incident
Sep 30, 2014
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2015

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON, FIRST BLINKING, AND THEN IT STAYS ON FOR ALL OF CAR'S OPERATION. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THE CAR, NOT KNOWING WHETHER IT WILL DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED OR WHEN NOT NEEDED. THE CAR IS IN FINE SHAPE, NO ACCIDENTS, AND THERE APPEAR TO BE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AS WELL AS FRUSTRATION WITH THE INADEQUATE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO DO TO GET THEIR AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUE ADDRESSED. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A FORMAL RECALL TO COINCIDE WITH THE BULLETIN ISSUED RELATING TO IT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10678678
Incident
Jan 12, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10651582
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Airbags
Filed Dec 7, 2013

THE AIRBAG ALERT LIGHT COMES ON ONCE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT FLASHES UP TO SIX FLASHES AND THEN REMAINS ON IN A STEADY MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555177
Incident
Dec 7, 2013
Mileage
112,734 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 14, 2013

SHORTLY AFTER STARTING MY MAZDA 2003 TRIBUTE ON 10-10-2013 AT APPROXIMATELY:30 PM, AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE OF TRAVELING,MY AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD & SHORTLY THEREAFTER STAYED ON SOLID WITHOUT FLASHING. EACH TIME I HAVE USED MY VEHICLE SINCE THAT DATE I EXPERIENCE THE SAME TROUBLE WITH THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT INITIALLY FLASHING AND THEN STAYING ON STEADY THROUGHOUT THE DURATION TRAVELING FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547843
Incident
Oct 10, 2013
Mileage
115,797 mi
Airbags
Filed May 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS OPERABLE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10511224
Incident
Jun 6, 2012
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SPRING TENSIONER FOR THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10498252
Incident
Aug 6, 2012
Mileage
98,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 27, 2010

STARTING IN 7/2009 MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE'S AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASS SEAT. SINCE THEN THE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES AND EACH TIME A CONNECTOR KIT WAS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT BURNED OUT AND COST OVER $200.00 FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED MAZDA AND COMPLAINED. I ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON OR BURNED OUT ACCORDING TO MECHANICS I HAVE TALKED TO THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10357925
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
72,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2010

MAZDA TRIBUTE, 2003. AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. MAZDA REPAIRED IT 5 TIMES AND STILL IT IS LIT. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY SHOULD I BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND UP TO NOW IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY $400 TO FIX SOMETHING THEY CAN'T FIX ANYWAY. I FEEL A DEFECT TREND EXISTS WITH THEIR AIRBAGS FROM ALL THAT I'VE READ. IF CARS ARE MANDATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS THEN WHY IS MAZDA NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS IN THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10348370
Incident
Mar 3, 2009
Airbags
Filed Mar 30, 2010

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE WENT ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALER OF ORANGE CA. THEY HAD CLAIMED TO MY FACE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA TRIBUTES LATELY. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH MANY OF THE TRIBUTES NOT JUST MINE. WHY HAS MAZDA NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM IF THEY ARE AWARE OF IT? THEY CLAIMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OF THE SEAT BELTS THAT CONNECTED TO THAT AIR BAG. THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT LOCK IF WE WERE EVER IN A CRASH. IS THAT SAFE? DOES A DEATH NEED TO HAPPEN TO GET ATTENTION ABOUT THE PROBLEM? BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, I PAID 486.00 OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX A DEFECT THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT GET THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO TURN OFF. I ASKED IF THERE MAY BE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT WAS OVERLOOKED. THEY SAID NO THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL PERIODICALLY TURNS ON AND OFF. IF I OR ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS GETS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY NEGLIGENCE ISSUE, I WILL SUE MAZDA. THIS SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM INJURY.

NHTSA ID
10322877
Incident
Mar 26, 2010
Mileage
89,286 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2009

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE WENT ON. I ASKED THE LOCAL MECHANIC SEE WHY DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. HE SAYS MAZDA HAS A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" OUT FOR WIRING REPAIRS UNDER THE SEAT. HE SAYS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THIS WIRING PROBLEM. SINCE MY CAR HAS 100,000 MILES MAZDA SAYS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T COVER IT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THEIR WIRING ISSUE. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $700 TO FIX THEIR WIRING PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279195
Incident
Aug 3, 2009
Airbags
Filed Jan 14, 2009

I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX. MY AIRBAG DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON OTHER TIMES IT BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. MY MAZDA WARRANTY RAN OUT AND I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL COST TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS AND TO HAVE REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT COST. I BOUGHT THE MAZDA ON 2006 SO ITS ONLY 2 YEARS THAT I HAVE THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254946
Incident
Dec 28, 2008
Mileage
54,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 31, 2008

I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE LX. MY AIRBAG DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON OTHER TIMES IT BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. MY MAZDA WARRANTY RAN OUT THIS PAST MAY AND I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL COST TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS AND TO HAVE REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND I AM SINGLE WITH A FIXED INCOME. ARE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR MAZDA? HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10253401
Incident
Dec 22, 2008
Mileage
31,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 14, 2008

2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE, PURCHASE NEW. ABS LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING AND THEN STAYS ON AND THEN GOES OFF. THREE SEPARATE TRIPS TO WHITE PLAINS MAZDA AT A GOOD COST TO US AND TELLING US IT WAS CORRECTED - DRIVE A 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEALER AND THE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. CORRECTED AGAIN AND A WEEK LATER IT GOES ON AGAIN! ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE AN INCIDENT IN A PARKED POSITION WITH MOTOR RUNNING (10/13/08) WHERE THE CAR'S RPM JUMPED TO 7,000, THE CAR RUMBLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST TO ME INCLUDING A SEPARATE CHARGE TO TRY AND JUMP THE CAR AND NOW IS AT MAZDA WHITE PLAINS AGAIN. PLEASE CONTACT ME. I HAVE CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY ARE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH MY DEALER. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245411
Incident
Feb 8, 2008
Mileage
29,900 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .