2005 Mazda Tribute Body & structure Problems

Passenger rear shock mount toatly rusted through. A big hole!

NHTSA ID

11603615

Incident

Jul 21, 2024

The rear wheel well was completely rusted out while the other side is fine. The shock broke loose causing the vehicle to drop down. I have a 17 year old that is not an experienced driver and this could have resulted in her getting seriously hurt. From what I read they recalled the vehicle to to 2004 and I don’t understand why they did not recall this one. They should have and this is a serious safety issue. Does someone have to die before they see that this needs to be fixed?

NHTSA ID

11518499

Incident

Apr 20, 2023

owned since day one, bought brand new, religiously maintained, perfect shape other than completely rusted wheel house back left passenger side. Shock went through rusted area all the way to trunk. Mazda recalled models 2003 to 2004 for this problem yet so many 2005 Mazda Tribute owners are having exact problem especially when manufactured in 2004! This is serious and I had my granddaughter with me when this happened and yet Mazda wants to do nothing about it when it’s a serious hazard and ongoing problem with the 2005’s. It is always the back passenger side with this problem! I have no money to purchase a car and now my lifeline to support my family is broke!

NHTSA ID

11446098

Incident

Dec 30, 2021

AS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER MAZDA TRUBUTES, THE WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE STRUT IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE, YET PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRED A RECALL FOR OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTES, BUT NOT THE 2005 VERSION. ACCORDING TO MANY FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER 05 TRIBUTES.

NHTSA ID

11415738

Incident

May 8, 2021

RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER RUSTED OUT AND SHOCK BROKE THROUGH AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SEVER RUST ON RIGHT SIDE OF FRONT SUB FRAME AS WELL. I CAME ACROSS THIS PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA ID

11413086

Incident

Apr 19, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

RIGHT REAR FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT ENOUGH TO CAUSE BRAKE AND SHOCK ISSUES CAUSING A PERFECTLY GOOD VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS. THE SHOCK AND BRAKE LINE BROKE AND THE VEHICLE SLID TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11394906

Incident

Feb 5, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

BOUGHT CAR FOR MY SON. NOTICED A BAMGING NOISE IN REAR RIGHT BACK SOME OF CAR. LOOKED AT WHEEL WELL, COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, A BIG HOLE. OTHER UNDER BODY RUST. THE 2000-2004 CARS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THEY CONTINUED TO APPLY DEFECT. AM AFRAID THE SHOCK ABSORBER WILL FALL OFF.MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING. MAZDA SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE, IT IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT THEY NEVER FIXED AFTER RECALL. THIS IS MY SON'S FIRST CAR, WORRIED ABOUT HIS SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11339186

Incident

Jul 10, 2020

Mileage

30 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED OUT SUCH THAT THE SUSPENSION IS NOW PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN REGULAR RATTLING FROM THE AREA PROGRESSED INTO LOUD BANGS WITH EACH BUMP. THE MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED STATED THAT THE RUST WAS ABNORMAL, EVEN FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND THAT NONE OF THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS EXHIBITED ANY SIGNS OF RUSTING. HE STATED IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS CONDITION WAS MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT (AS OPPOSED TO REGULAR AND EXPECTED OXIDATION).

NHTSA ID

11322447

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. THE CAR HAS BEEN RUST PROOFED SEVERAL TIMES, SERVICED REGULARLY AND ALWAYS WASHED AND WAXED SEVERAL TIMES, AND BEYOND, SINCE OWNERSHIP. THAT BEING SAID, MY 2005 VEHICLE LOOKS QUITE IMMACULATE FOR ITS AGE, EXCEPT FOR THE EVER-INCREASING SEVERE RUST ISSUE ON THE RIGHT REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL, WHICH I HAVW TRIED TO FIX, AND KEEP UP ON, BUT HAS NOW RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH, AND CAUSED THE SHOCK TO PROTRUDE INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. NOW MY MECHANIC CLAIMS HE CANNOT SERVICE MY VEHICLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE (EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE ISSUES I NEED TO ADDRESS ARE IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TO THE USE OF MY VEHICLE. I AM NOW IN A PREDICAMENT, SINCE THE COST TO REPAIR THIS DAMAGE IS VERY HIGH, SO HIGH, IT EXCEEDS THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE VEHICLE, AND I AM ENRAGED THAT MAZDA HAS NOT TAKEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS CLEAR FACTORY DEFECT. I SAY A CLEAR FACTORY DEFECT, SINCE THIS EXACT ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED, AND RECALLED, IN THE SAME VEHICLE FOR YEARS 2001-2004, BUT NOT FOR 2005. IN ADDITION, I HAVE MET SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WHO HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL THEY HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR VEHCILE. MOREOVER, I CAN FIND THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE ON ENDLESS WEBSITES ONLINE, HUNDREDS, MORE ACCURATELY, THOUSANDS OF TIMES! FOR MAZDA TO STILL NOT HAVE RECALLED THIS ISSUE IS UNFAIR, RIDICULOUS AND VERY WRONG TO LOYAL MAZDA CUSTOMERS. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE I CANNOT DRIVE DUE TO A REPAIR I CANNOT AFFORD, BUT A REPAIR THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE TIME, MONEY, MAINTENANCE AND CARE IVE PUT INTO THE OWNERSHIP OF MY CAR. IN ADDITION, THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD EASILY CAUSE HARM TO A PERSON DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, A PASSENGER, OR EVEN AN INNOCENT PEDESTRIAN WHEN POPPING THROUGH THE FLOOR, OR AT ANY OTHER STAGE OF WEARING.

NHTSA ID

11317435

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

106 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOODHOUSE MAZDA LOCATED AT 6603 L ST, OMAHA, NE 68117, (402) 592-1000, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REAR SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11300196

Incident

Jan 8, 2020

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING, THE LIFTGATE FLEW OPEN AND SEVERAL GROCERY ITEMS FELL ONTO THE STREET. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CLOSED THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID

11287149

Incident

Dec 4, 2019

Mileage

149,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE ON A PAVED CITY STREET, I NOTICED A SUDDEN LOUD CLANKING/POUNDING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE, REAR WHEEL WELL AREA. ASSUMED IT WAS A BAD SHOCK BUT SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE THE WHEEL WELL HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT, THERE IS NOW A HOLE TO THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. SOME, BUT NOT MUCH RUST ELSEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE (THE OTHER THREE WHEEL WELLS LOOK GREAT), BUT THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH TO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NOT DRIVEABLE ANYMORE UNTIL THIS IS ADDRESSED. THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS VERY MECHANICALLY SOUND AND WILL CARED FOR. THERE ARE LOTS OF EXAMPLES ON ONLINE FORUMS OF THIS EXACT ISSUE, ON BOTH TRIBUTES AND FORD ESCAPES. APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES 01-04, BUT NO FURTHER. EXACT SAME ISSUE, EXACT SAME WHEEL WELL. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

11271070

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED, CAUSING THE METAL TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11270955

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

BEGAN HEARING LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. UPON INSPECTION, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK MOUNT IN THE WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN FREE AND THE SHOCK BANGING AROUND. IT HAD PINCHED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THEY STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD ESCAPES AND MAZDA TRIBUTES OF THIS VINTAGE BUT ONLY ON THE RIGHT REAR. SO MUCH SO COMPANIES LIKE DORMAN MAKE A REPLACEMENT PART FOR IT TO REPLACE THE WHEEL WELL WHICH REQUIRES WELDING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS. NEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED TO ANY OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11257159

Incident

Aug 28, 2019

Mileage

178,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ACCUMULATION ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ROUGH DRIVING AND HEARD BANGING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER OF THE RUST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS), WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE 2001-2004 MODELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11246103

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE REAR FRAME OF VEHICLE COMPLETELY RUSTING OUT. THE MECHANICS SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COSTS THOUSANDS TO FIX. MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT NOTICE THIS UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

NHTSA ID

11208143

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

159,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SUBFRAME AND SHOCK MOUNT WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. HALBINSEL VOLKSWAGEN MAZDA (LOCATED AT 200 N 30TH ST, ESCANABA, MI 49829, (906) 789-9650) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11170713

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

136,000 mi

THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. WHEN COMPARED TO THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS YOU CAN SEE THE WHITE FOAM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. THERE IS ALSO A PLASTIC PIECE MISSING DUE TO THE SCREWS LOOSING THEIR HOLD. THE CAR MAKES A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING BOUNCING AROUND IN THE BACK WHEN IN REALITY IT IS THE SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID

11157228

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CLEANING OUT THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11141493

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE REAR WHEEL WELL IS EXTREMELY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF THE SHOCK BEING LOOSE. THEIR IS A RECALL FOR 01-04 BUT DOESN'T APPEAR TO OFFER SAME RECALL ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE. MY WIFE RECENTLY NOTICED CAR MADE A LOT OF NOISE LATELY FROM REAR WHEEL. WHEN I INVESTIGATED IT, I NOTICED LARGE RUST ISSUES ALL OVER REAR WHEEL AREA AND SHOCK BARELY HOLDING TO FRAME. MY WIFE'S CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED ALL ITS LIFE. WE BOUGHT IT NEW OFF THE SHOW ROOM. DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE SO MUCH RUST AND NOW A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. UNDERCARRIAGE WAS EVEN CLEANED THROUGHOUT WINTER MONTHS. WE CAN'T DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT MIGHT FALL APART ON ROAD AND THE CAR COULD LOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11129436

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE SHOCK SUPPORT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS BADLY RUSTED AND SAID THE SHOCK COULD RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH AND ENTER THE REAR OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME IN MAZDA AND FORD ESCAPES AND IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. BASICALLY THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVE THE SHOCK RUST COMPLETELY OFF.

NHTSA ID

11129209

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE SHOCK TO POKE A HOLE THRU THE BACK OF MY CARGO AREA. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR DRIVING. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE CAR DUE TO THIS. MAZDA HAS RECALLED 2004 AND OLDER FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED 2005.

NHTSA ID

11118135

Incident

Jul 25, 2018

Mileage

99,997 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PUGI MAZDA (1850 OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515, (877) 827-9086) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THE REAR SHOCKS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,100.

NHTSA ID

11112002

Incident

Jul 13, 2018

Mileage

146,100 mi

OUR 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THE STRUT HAS DETACHED FROM IT'S MOUNTING MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. A THUMPING NOISE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THIS IS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE WHEEL WELL. THE OTHER 3 WHEEL WELLS HAVE NO RUST. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2005S AS WELL AS PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS THAT HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS YEAR HASN'T BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN IT'S THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS OCCURRING IN EARLIER MODEL YEARS. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPORTED NOT HEARING OF THIS ISSUE WITH ANY 05S BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY FIXING A 2003 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPORTED BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A RECALL THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME OUT OTHER THAN FOR ME BRINGING IT IN TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD FIX IT AT MY COST. WITHOUT SEEING THE VEHICLE, THEY SAID IT WOULD LIKELY COST AT LEAST $700 TO FIX DEPENDING ON HOW EXTENSIVE THE RUST IS. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND DON'T FEEL THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR A VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11102926

Incident

Jun 19, 2018

Mileage

154,000 mi

ENTIRE UPPER MOUNTING AREA FOR RIGHT REAR SHOCK RUSTED AWAY; SHOCK INSECURE AT TOP INNER FENDER. REATTACHMENT NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST; EXTENSIVE REPAIRS REQUIRED THAT WOULD EXCEED VEHICLE VALUE. OUR MECHANIC WAS SHOCKED WHEN HE SAW THE LEVEL OF RUST. WE WERE TOLD BY OUR AUTO SHOP THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL & WE SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA. MAZDA DID NOT RESOLVE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT IS SIMILAR TO THE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE RECALL OF MAZDA TRIBUTES THROUGH YEAR 2004 - THE YEAR BEFORE OUR TRIBUTE WAS MANUFACTURED. OUR VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED. WE DID NOT TAKE PHOTOS AT THE SHOP & CANNOT GET A GOOD PICTURE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. WE CAN SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTS WE RECEIVED FROM OUR MECHANIC OR TAKE THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHOP FOR A PICTURE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US ADDRESS OUR CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

11076137

Incident

Feb 28, 2018

Mileage

143,000 mi