RoadVitals

2005 Mazda Tribute Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
19
Latest Oct 2, 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.
5%
of 377 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mazda Tribute submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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 electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2019

SENSOR ALARM FOR DOORS IS GOING OFF..CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY TI SOLVED THIS.

NHTSA ID
11265543
Incident
Sep 10, 2019
Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed Sep 21, 2019

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
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Oct 22, 2018

TAKATA RECALL MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT TIGHTEN AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FIXED BUT IS NOW ON AGAIN I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WILL PROBABLY NOT WORK PROPERLY AND MY LOCKS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I PAID $300 THE FIRST TIME TO FIX THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. IT WAS ONLY FIXED FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND NOW THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND I HAVE TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT BECAUSE THAT SEAT BELT DOES NOT TENSION PROPERLY

NHTSA ID
11141733
Incident
Oct 3, 2017
Mileage
121,770 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 21, 2017
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT'S WIFE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000.

NHTSA ID
11024794
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Mileage
187,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jul 17, 2017

SEAT BELT IS STICKING AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNBUCKLE. ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT,LEARNED THAT TAJATA HAD A RECALL ON 2005 MAZDAS AND NEED TO KNOW IF MY 2005 TRIBUTE SERIES S IS EFFECTED. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL MAY HAVE ACCELERATION PROPULSION GETTING STUCK. NEED ANY DOCUMENTATION YOUR AGENCY HAS SENT SNAIL MAIL TO [XXX] ,[XXX] PHONE [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID
11005960
Incident
Jul 1, 2017
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2012. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE MOTHERBOARD BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER AND THREE CYLINDERS WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10924344
Incident
Nov 4, 2016
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 26, 2015

TAKATA RECALL THIS 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE LIGHT START TO FLASH AND THERE IS A CAR THAT SHOWS UP ON MY DASH I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED AT. AND EVERYONE SAID IT WAS WIRING PROBLEMS THIS SUV HAS ALMOST. HAD ME HIT AND IN A CAR WRECK. BECAUSE. IT WILL SHUT DOWN AND NO PULL A HILL. OR LOSE IT POWER.

NHTSA ID
10816296
Incident
Dec 26, 2015
Mileage
220,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 13, 2015

2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE ISSUES AND REQUESTS COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10715866
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 29, 2014

WE TOOK TO THE MAZDA DEALER (5900 NORTH OAK TRAFFICWAY, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118) IN 2009 BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT START. THEY CHANGED THE STARTER MOTOR AND STILL IT DID NOT WORK THEN THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT DID NOT WORK AGAIN THEM THEY SAID IT IS THE ALTERNATOR THIS ALL HAPPENED JUST WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO AND HAD TO SPEND LOT OF MONEY. THEN AGAIN WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY FOUR TIMES WITH IN 2009 TO 2014. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND AN AUTO DEALER IS SAYING IT IS THE ALTERNATOR. I STRONGLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL TO THIS AS I HAVE NOT SEEN A CAR LIKE THIS THAT HAS SO MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. THANK YOU FOR CHECKING ON THIS AND HOPE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED AND PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668813
Incident
Nov 20, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 13, 2014

THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY IN THE SHOP TO REPAIR SHOCK TOWER ON THE RIGHT REAR WHICH WAS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT, THAT EXPENSE COST $1200, WITHIN THE WEEK, WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE ABS LIGHT, THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW TO A STOP. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. I PLACED THE CAR INTO PARK, I WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SHOP AND NEEDED REPAIR OF FUEL INJECTION, ENGINE COMPUTER, SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS CAME TO $1500 DOLLARS. IT WAS UPSETTING TO DEAL WITH TWO MAJOR INCIDENTS IN 1 WEEK, ESPECIALLY EXPENSIVE ONES. THE WAY THE CAR CAME TO A SLOW STOP ON A HIGHWAY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10644307
Incident
Oct 7, 2014
Mileage
101,655 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESET THE COMPUTER BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULE TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10643601
Incident
Oct 2, 2014
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 2, 2014

FLASHERS CAME ON WHEN CAR WAS STARTED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618364
Incident
Aug 26, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 11, 2013

2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE COMPUTER CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS TO MIS-FIRE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, ON THE LAST THREE OCCASIONS THEY SENT HER HOME WITHOUT RESOLVING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10508013
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 20, 2012

SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR THE 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT IS MOSTLY ON--ALL THE TIME. IT IS A MINOR ANNOYANCE; HOWEVER, I AM READING TONS OF OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTE OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. NO ONE I'VE HAD IT TO--INCLUDING THE DEALER--COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. IT CLEARLY IS A DEFECT. SOMETIMES I AM CONCERNED IT WILL POSE A SAFETY ISSUE AS, FOR INSTANCE, IT WILL BE OFF (RARE, BUT SOMETIMES IT TURNS OFF). THEN I ROLL DOWN A WINDOW, OR SOMETIMES DO NOTHING, AND THEN THE LIGHT SUDDENLY COMES ON. IT DINGS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON IN THE CAR AS THOUGH SOMEONE OPENED A DOOR. I ASK THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND HOLD MAZDA RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID
10489392
Incident
May 1, 2007
Mileage
9,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 10, 2012

I HAVE A KARR CAR ALARM, DEALER INSTALLED PRIOR TO PURCHASE. RECENTLY, WHILE THE CAR LOCKED IN THE DRIVE WAY, THE ALARM WENT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. THEN WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR AJAR ALARM WENT OFF CONSTANTLY. WENT TO KARR AND HAD A NEW ALARM SYSTEM PUT IN. STILL HAPPENS. WENT TO MAZDA AND THEY FOUND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY FIXED IT. 11 DAYS LATER THE ALARM WENT OFF AGAIN IN THE DRIVE WAY WHILE SITTING THERE LOCKED. CALLED MAZDA AGAIN AND AM SCHEDULED TO BRING THE CAR IN TO CHECK IT OUT AGAIN. KARR MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH FORD ESCAPE AND MAZDA TRIBUTE CUSTOMERS ALL DUE TO THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLIES IN THE FACT THAT THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM SEEMS TO BE REVERSE LOGIC THAN OTHER CARS. THIS IS BECOMING BOTH ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING. IN THE MEAN TIME I CANNOT LOCK THE CAR IN THE DRIVE WAY OR WHEN I AM AT STORES - NO SECURITY OR THEFT-CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470122
Incident
Jun 24, 2012
Mileage
73,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 5, 2009

2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH 60,000 MILES, HAZARD FLASHERS STARTED GOING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT...WOULD NOT TURN OFF...STUCK THIN CARDBOARD UNDER SWITCH TO HOLD SWITCH IN..DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BEFORE. STOPPED ON ITS ON..THEN STARTED AGAIN..WILL HAVE TO TAKE TO DEALER TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, WARRANTY IS OUT...EXPENSIVE JOB..NEVER TOUCHED THE SWITCH BEFORE THIS HAPPENED...AGGRAVATED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10291090
Incident
Oct 10, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2009

IN 2007 VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD REACH A DEALER OR SHOP THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FRIED THE MAIN COMPUTER. COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS CHECKED. DEALER FOUND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT WERE LOOSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAUSED A RECALL ON THE TRIBUTE / ESCAPE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258067
Incident
Oct 1, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 21, 2006

MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE I-4, WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT, EXPERIENCED AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER TO BRING THE CAR IN BECAUSE IT MIGHT DIE. MY VEHICLE IS NOW BEING HELD FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT ALTERNATORS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE BACK-ORDERED. I WONDER IF THEY ARE BACK ORDERED BECAUSE OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT VERY LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10160388
Incident
Jun 14, 2006
Mileage
19,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 30, 2005

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, THEN STALLED. DRIVER RESTARTED VEHICLE AFTER TEN MINUTES. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10117134
Incident
Mar 30, 2005

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 .