Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mazda Tribute submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 49 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 49, in the owner's own words
rear passenger side wheel well ,shock tower mount ,and sub frame .shock tower mount broke fell off hit the cement , chipped my rim and crushed my break lines i took it to lafountaine mazda and they have done an estimate for repairs and damage
DRIVING ONE DAY, THE CAR VEERED SUDDENLY INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE THERE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS CRACKED AND THE CAR'S FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THE CAR COULD NOT BE JACKED UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL THUMPING NOISE. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK MOUNT WAS FRACTURED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-2341658425. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.
RUSTED OFF RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT, REAR FRAME. CASUES BRAKE LINE TO SEVERE AND BRAKES TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. CAR IS NON-REPARABLE AND MUST BE TOTALLED. SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT AND THEY ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON FOR RUST ISSUE IN FRONT OF THE CAR. ?????
"TAKATA RECALL" MY CAR IS RUSTED UNDERNEATH FROM THE GAS PUMP AND UNDER. ON JULY 11TH, 2019 . I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A STREET WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT CAME OUT FROM THE RUST. SOMETIMES AFTER PUTTING GAS IN MY CAR AND DRIVING OFF INSIDE OF MY CAR WILL START TO SMELL LIKE GAS. SINCE IT IS RUSTED UNDER AND AROUND.
RUSTED OFF RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT. DRIVING IN CITY, STARTED HEARING BANGING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR.
UNDERCARRIAGE CORROSION HAS CAUSED TOTAL CORROSION TO RIGHT REAR WHEEL, WHICH AS CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TO BREAK OFF. THE CORROSION IS NOT NORMAL AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT
TOP OF WHEEL WELL ON BOTH SIDES IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT - THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE AND APPARENTLY HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE BUT IT IS HARD TO NOTICE SINCE IT IS BEHIND THE CLOSED DOOR THAT IT IS APPARENT AND SINCE I AM USUALLY DRIVING, I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED IT. I WAS HAVING MY FLEX PIPE REPLACED AND HAVE BEEN NOTICING SOME ANGING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, I AM ASSUMING IT IS COMING FROM THE BODY ROTT WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE A DRIVING HAZARD AT THIS POINT. I SAW THAT SOME VEHICLES IN 2004 AND PRIOR WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT APPARENTLY NOT MINE PR MADZA. APPARENTLY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN!
SUBFRAME CORRODED AND A PIECE OF IT FELL OFF COMPROMISING THE AXLE, WHEEL BEARING, AND SEIZED THE RIGHT REAR ROTER. UPON MAZDA TAKING THE TRUCK TO REPAIR THE SUBFRAME THEY NOTED THAT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD CORRODED RIGHT WITH THE SUBFRAME BEYOND REPAIR. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN DENIED A LOANER VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL ON SUBFRAME FOR CORROSION. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE. I'VE MISSED 2 DAYS OF WORK ALREADY DUE TO THIS
ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. GAS IS NOT BEING CIRCULATED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SOME MINOR BRUISING AND SWELLING TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE BODY, BUT DID NOT RECALL HOW THEY OCCURRED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE AND RETRIEVED BY AN EYEWITNESS. THE CONTACT LATER VERIFIED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTRURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME VERY SLOWLY. THE LOCAL DEALER (OAK LAWN MAZDA, 6750 95TH ST, OAK LAWN, IL, 60453) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN VERY SLOWLY TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED. A REMEDY WAS NOT PROVIDED DUE TO THE DEALER AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE) ON JULY 11, 2014, AND THE CROSS BRACE (BRACKET) WAS REINFORCED AT THAT TIME. THE REMEDY FAILED TO RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO DEALER CJ WILSON NOT REPLACING THE SUB-FRAME AND ONLY REINFORCING IT WITH A BRACKET. UPDATED 9/13/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK MOUNT HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,826. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND THIS PAST WEEK WHILE LEAVING A LOCAL MALL THERE SEEMED TO BE MORE ROAD NOISE THAN USUAL COMING FROM THE REAR. A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL REVEALED THAT THE TOP OF THE STRUT, ALONG WITH A PORTION OF THE METAL MOUNT WAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE BODY. THE MOUNT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM THE WHEEL WELL EXPOSING THE INTERIOR OF THE CARGO AREA. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS DONE EITHER IN TOWN OR HIGHWAY. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT MAZDA (AND FORD) HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS POOR ENGINEERING. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A FATALITY OR INJURY FOR EITHER THE MANUFACTURER OR THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
MY 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE (JUST LIKE A FORD ESCAPE) HAS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER BACK WHEEL WELL.MY HUSBAND WAS DOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND HEARD THE LOUD BANG! THE SHOCK MOUNTING IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND BANGS AGAINST THE CAR AND PROVIDES NO STABILIZING CONTROL. I FOUND A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS AFTER I GOOGLED IT - ALL RIGHT REAR! THE FRONT WAS RECALLED BUT WHY NOT REAR? OUR MECHANIC SAID IT WAS BASICALLY TOTALED. AND GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO FIX IT! IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT ALL! CANT SELL IT OR TRADE IT IN! AND WE CANT FIND ANYONE TO TOUCH IT! MAZDA'S RESPONSE WAS THEY CAN HOOK US UP WITH A SALESMAN TO PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA. REALLY?????????????
THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER BROKE AWAY FROM THE BODY ,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK HARD RIGHT ,AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR,THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I CROSSED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE CUTTING OFF THE AUTO IN THAT LANE . HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE DRIVING SKILLS OFF THE OTHER DRIVER AND MYSELF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE SHOCK THEN TORE THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE UP CAUSING A FLAT. WHEN I CALLED MAZDA THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD NO PLANS TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS MOST COMMON PROBLEM.THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR RUST ON THE FRONT FRAME MOUNT BUT NOT ON THE RUST PROBLEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES. I FEEL THEY USED INFERIOR METAL IN THE ENTIRE AUTOMOBILE AND SHOULD REPAIR THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE, APPROX. 101,000 MILES. COMPLETE FAILURE/RUST-THROUGH OF REAR, PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL CAUSING SEPARATION OF SHOCK/STRUT FROM THE FRAME. AS INDICATED IN THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ, EXPERIENCED LOUD CLUNK AND SWAYING OF THE VEHICLE, BROUGHT TO OUR LONG-TIME MECHANIC WHO INDICATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND BASED ON AGE/CONDITION THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AFTER SPEAKING TO MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE (REP INDICATED THAT RECALL FOR SUB-FRAME CORROSION SHOULD ADDRESS THIS) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BUT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CORROSION AND SHOCK SEPARATION. WHEN I CALLED MAZDA BACK AND ASKED HOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON A KNOWN ISSUE FOR RUST BUT ONLY ADDRESS ONE CONTACT POINT ON THE FRAME AS, CLEARLY, THE ENTIRE FRAME IS MADE/COATED WITH THE SAME MATERIALS, WAS ADVISED BASICALLY NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND IT IS POSSIBLE A FUTURE RECALL COULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND AS A CURRENT OWNER OF A 2014 MAZDA 6 (AND PAST OWNERS OF 6 OTHER MAZDA'S) I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS THIS IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. AS EVIDENCED BY THIS WEBSITE AND MULTIPLE OTHERS, THIS ISSUE AFFECTS 2001-2006 MAZDA TRIBUTES (& FORD ESCAPES) AND WAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS USED AS EVIDENCED IN RECALL# 14V-174. EXCESSIVE CORROSION IS NOT LIMITED TO A SINGLE ATTACHMENT POINT ON THE FRAME, TO EVEN IMPLY THAT IT WOULD BE IS AVOIDANCE OF LIABILITY BY THE MANUFACTURER(S) AT BEST, CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE IS A BETTER DESCRIPTOR. IT IS THE ENTIRE FRAME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED, THE COMPLAINTS SEEM TO BE INCREASING SO IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS-THE ORIGINAL RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED ASAP
RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION FAILURE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PHOTOS OF EXTENSIVE RUST CONDITION WIDELY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET.
A VERY LOAD BANGING SOUND IS COMING FROM MY RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AREA. IT APPEARS THE SHOCK-ABSORBER MOUNTING LOCATION IS RUSTED AWAY AND BREAKING OFF. I CAN SEE INSIDE MY CAR THROUGH THE SPEAKER GRILL NOW. FIRST OCCURED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND DRIVING OVER A ROAD WITH SMALL POTHOLES. THE REST OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR SEEMS OK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK STRUT MOUNT, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE. THE CORROSION HAS SPLIT MY FRAME IN HALF AND LEFT WHOLES SURROUNDING THE SPLIT. MY SHOCK TOWER IS EXPOSED AND CORRODED MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE IS SPLITTING IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND OBVIOUS DEFECT. DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A DIRT ROAD AT 35 MPH (APPROX.) A LOUD SNAP AND DUST ROLLING THING THROUGH THE REAR SPEAKER MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL WELL. I THEN PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS ALL RUSTED OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUBFRAME CORROSION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR AND THE CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY. *JB
IN RESEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS 91,000 MILES. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT HAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THIS IS THE ONLY AREA ON THIS VEHICLE WHERE SUCH EXTENSIVE CORROSION EXISTS. NUMEROUS SOURCES HAVE STATED THAT THE DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE IS IRREPARABLE, AND THAT FURTHER USE OF THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS DEFECT INDICATE THAT IT IS TIME FOR THIS MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT TO BE INVESTIGATED. #10669545
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SNAPPING SOUND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SUB FRAME, CV JOINT, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A VIBRATING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK SUPPORT IN THE WHEEL WELL HAD ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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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