2003 Mazda Tribute Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact had taken his vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was severe corrosion on the lower control arm. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V174000 (Structure) which he linked to the failure. After performing a VIN search, the contact also discovered that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacture had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ID

11432893

Incident

Aug 17, 2021

Mileage

138,000 mi

DURING A FREE, AAA INSPECTION, THE AUTO SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS DANGEOUS DUE TO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR BODY DAMAGE. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS BEEN A PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11404928

Incident

Mar 24, 2021

THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I ENGAGE THE BREAK IT MAKES NOISE INITIAL BEFORE IT WILL START TO ENGAGE PROPERLY, BUT THE ABS LIGHT KEEPS SHOWING STEADILY. THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE REMAINS LOCKED AND CANNOT OPEN. THE LATCH IS NOT BAD.

NHTSA ID

11245355

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING EXCESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER AND ENGINE CRADLE WERE CORRODED THROUGH. ALSO, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MOUNT WAS DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12237710780. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE MANUFACTURER AND NHTSA DID NOT INCLUDE HIS STATE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. *TR*JB

NHTSA ID

11230379

Incident

Jul 4, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

I HAD A NOISE BEGIN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE MUFFLER OR SHOCK AND I WAS CORRECT. TOOK IT TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE BODY RUSTED THROUGH AT THE STRUT TOWER CONTACT AND THE SHOCK/STRUT WAS COMPLETELY UNATTACHED. IT STARTED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS BECOMES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ON ALL THESE VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO GO AND TRY TO FIND A BODY SHOP SEE IF THEY CAN FIX THIS. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

11154822

Incident

Nov 27, 2018

Mileage

221,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE I HEARD A FEW STRANGE SOUNDS. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A SOUND OF SOMETHING RUBBING THAT GOT FASTER AND FASTER AS I ACCELERATED. THEN WHEN THE CAR PULLED SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT MY SON AND I HEARD A LOUD SOUND. FORTUNATELY, I WAS FAIRLY CLOSE TO OUR MECHANIC SO I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR THERE. UPON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND THE SUB FRAME OF MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND IS NOW DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE COST TO REPAIR IT WAS ESTIMATED AT $5,000.00 PLUS. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN OTHERWISE A TROUBLE-FREE VEHICLE THAT WAS ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY SON AND I WERE NOT INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE SUDDEN VEERING OF THE CAR ' OR BY THE FRONT END FRAME COMPLETELY COLLAPSING FROM BENEATH US AS WE WERE DRIVING. MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (7514D) IN MAY OF 2014. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. IS 14V174000. I ENTERED THE VIN NO. FOR MY CAR AT SAFER CAR.GOV AND IT SHOWS 0 RECALLS. (WE WERE ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A DIFFERENT PROBLEM WHICH WE DID GET CORRECTED BY MAZDA A FEW YEARS AGO.) I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11042213

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD BOOMING NOISE SUDDENLY CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11019390

Incident

Aug 20, 2017

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BRAKE SERVICE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,402. UPDATED 11/06/17*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/05/17*JS

NHTSA ID

11016192

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

Mileage

87,402 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE SUBFRAME. WHILE DRIVING, THE FRAME FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR ONE TIME. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 07/12/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10985846

Incident

Apr 27, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL REPAIR FROM THE DEALER CONCERNING THE FRAME, BUT THE NEWLY DESIGNED REINFORCEMENT CROSS-BRACE FAILED TO SUPPORT THE FRAME AND THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION, BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VIN, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10983264

Incident

Jul 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, A SCREECHING NOISE STARTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO SEVERE RUST IN THE SUBFRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

10929881

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

143,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS SO MUCH FRAME ROT THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. 200K MILES, UNACCEPTABLE FOR A 13 YEAR OLD CAR. I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN '03 AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN STEPS TO GET SALT, ETC., OFF THE UNDERCARRIAGE.

NHTSA ID

10926581

Incident

Aug 18, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). TO REPLACE THE PART, THE DEALER WOULD NEED TO MANEUVER OTHER COMPONENTS TO ACCESS THE LOCATION NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE PART. SOME PARTS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO COVER THE REMEDY IN THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE SUBFRAME CRACKING DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10914207

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10852759

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMP, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ID

10821261

Incident

Dec 8, 2015

Mileage

166,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVIALBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10818586

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,800. MA 10/25/15 *CN

NHTSA ID

10758764

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

91,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID

10721674

Incident

May 25, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL AND SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10690857

Incident

Feb 5, 2015

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT IS NOT COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10631602

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

THE SUBFRAME ON MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE V6 ROTTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE SUBFRAME BROKE, SENDING THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL AGAINST THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE TRIBUTE WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT WITH THE LOW NUMBER OF MILES AND CONDITION OF MY CAR, THAT THE SUBFRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE ROTTED THROUGH LIKE THIS. THE SUBFRAME ALSO HOLDS UP THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A 10 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536975

Incident

Jul 7, 2013

Mileage

94,782 mi

MY FRONT SIDE PASSENGER SUBFRAME MUST HAVE BEEN ROTTED AS OPPOSED TO RUSTED. PLEASE VOICE YOUR COMPLAINT IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE. MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS ... DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 02/15/2013 COMPONENT(S): STRUCTURE DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/14/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10498267 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLAINT VEHICLE MAKEMODELMODEL YEAR(S) ?MAZDATRIBUTE2003 DETAILS 0 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS ?CRASH:NO ?FIRE:NO ?NUMBER OF INJURIES:0 ?NUMBER OF DEATHS:0 MANUFACTURER: MAZDA MOTOR CORP VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): NOT AVAILABLE SUMMARY: I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE V6. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL, THEY NOTICED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS FINE. THE EXHAUST GOES THRU THAT AREA - IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST CAUSED THE PAINT ON THE SUBFRAME TO 'BURN' OFF AND THUS ALLOW IT TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND ROT. I HAVE READ OTHER CASES OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE RECALLS ON THIS SAME ITEM FOR THEIR VEHICLES - WHY DOESN'T MAZDA? IT IS NOT AN EASY OR CHEAP FIX! *TR

NHTSA ID

10526298

Incident

Jul 5, 2013

Mileage

142,500 mi

MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE SUBFRAME SNAPPED AFTER 9-10 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. WHEN THAT HAPPENED MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A MERLIN AND THEY INFORMED HER WE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THERE OR IT WOULD BREAK ALL THE WAY THROUGH. WE WERE INFORMED WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE UPCOMING MONDAY TO HAVE IT TOWED OUT OF THERE. WE HAD IT TOWED AND WERE GIVEN $220 DOLLARS FOR THE TRIBUTE. THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY SNAPPED ALL THE WAY THROUGH WHILE THE TOW TRUCK EMPLOYEE TURNED THE WHEEL. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY TRIBUTE WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. IT SEEMS DANGEROUS HAVING THE SUBFRAME WOULD RUST AND BREAK WITHIN A TIMEFRAME THAT SOMEONE WOULD TYPICALLY OWN A VEHICLE. ESPECIALLY WITH MY WIFE AND SON IN THE VEHICLE. IS THIS A FREAK OF NATURE INCIDENT OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED MANUFACTURER ERROR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525636

Incident

Jul 5, 2013

Mileage

142,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE HATCH OPENED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V605000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10505961

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE V6. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL, THEY NOTICED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS FINE. THE EXHAUST GOES THRU THAT AREA - IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST CAUSED THE PAINT ON THE SUBFRAME TO 'BURN' OFF AND THUS ALLOW IT TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND ROT. I HAVE READ OTHER CASES OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE RECALLS ON THIS SAME ITEM FOR THEIR VEHICLES - WHY DOESN'T MAZDA? IT IS NOT AN EASY OR CHEAP FIX! *TR

NHTSA ID

10498267

Incident

Nov 14, 2012

Mileage

151,000 mi