2008 Mazda Tribute Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and inoperable, with the maintenance warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 274,300.

NHTSA ID

11725529

Incident

Mar 19, 2026

Mileage

274,300 mi

The contact owned a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH and attempting to make a turn, another vehicle unexpectedly T-boned the vehicle, impacting the passenger front side. The contact and a passenger sustained minor injuries, and the passenger was taken to a local emergency room. The contact suffered a back injury and was placed on medical leave from employment due to the accident. The passenger sustained bruises and lacerations. The contact stated that the driver and side curtain deployed; however, the front passenger airbag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 245,000.

NHTSA ID

11718610

Incident

Feb 17, 2026

Mileage

245,000 mi

My brakes went out with no warning, or light on dashboard. I had the master cylinder changed and all brakes bled. The brakes went out 2months later,so changed the master cylinder again. 1 month after the brakes went out again. So I called Mazda service department and the gentleman told me to try and change the brake booster. So I changed the brake booster and master cylinder. 6 days later my brakes went out again, mazda told me they having issues with older model mazda tribute brakes going out. I have to get a rebuilt master cylinder for my car. My brakes have gone out on me 4 times and I almost wrecked each time. This is ridiculous I am scared to drive my car now and I have to keep paying a mechanic to do the repair and it's not working.

NHTSA ID

11660221

Incident

May 2, 2025

Unknown, Electric steering no longer works, ABS light, traction control light engine light air bag light and tool light are on the, brakes will be faulty at times mainly when ABS and traction control light turn on. There is Google fact that 2008 Mazda had recall for EPS, also faulty air bag and more the vehicle recalls need to be fixed desperately it's going to cause safety problems while driving if not took care of.

NHTSA ID

11652901

Incident

Jan 26, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving at low speeds and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed; however, the failure recurred while making a turn. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving and making a turn and had become a persistent failure after turning off and restarting the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would be charged a fee for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V282000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11545165

Incident

Sep 11, 2023

Mileage

125,000 mi

The steering is very tight, and sometimes the wheel gets stripped out of your hands, vehicle has been brought to the dealer for a diagnosis

NHTSA ID

11544127

Incident

Sep 12, 2023

The contact's son owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while her son was driving and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's son was able to veer to the side of the road by using physical force to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V282000 (Steering), and any additional repair was at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11518769

Incident

Oct 24, 2022

Mileage

150,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was shaking uncontrollably. There was a lot of tension in the steering wheel. While driving approximately 45 mph and making a turn, the steering wheel jerked but went in the other direction. While driving at high speeds, the tires were riding roughly. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was due to the brake pads. The contact called the local dealer who informed her about an unknown steering wheel component replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V282000 (Steering) but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11507472

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

Mileage

180,000 mi

Power steering failed all of a sudden without warning. Lost almost all control of steering. PSCM

NHTSA ID

11498758

Incident

Dec 24, 2022

I have to put the key in the ignition a certain way and press on it to get the car to start and was told it is a pin that gets stuck in the steering column and it won't let the vehicle start and they said it is a Steering column lock module and there should be a recall on it. This is a big problem my fiance' has cancer and needs to be at her appointments when she has them not when the vehicle decides to let me get her there. It won't start all the time.

NHTSA ID

11488049

Incident

Sep 13, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 218,100.

NHTSA ID

11463031

Incident

Apr 22, 2022

Mileage

218,100 mi

Driving my car pulling out of driveway when power steering cut out and steering became very difficult Had car brought to mechanic and he found there was a recall on steering torque sensor. Mazda said that was replaced on 8/10/2016 but the part they replaced it with failed just like the original recalled part did. They refused to fix it again saying they completed the recall on this car. Wouldn’t even have a next level supervisor call me to talk about fixing the safety issue

NHTSA ID

11451491

Incident

Jan 21, 2022

It just hard and cant really drive it

NHTSA ID

11443278

Incident

Dec 5, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the power steering failed which caused the steering wheel to shake. The vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the steering shaft torque sensor malfunctioned, there was an open or short in the power steering control module, and an internal failure with the torque sensor. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was a recall repair for the electronic power steering performed in 2014, and that was a one-time recall repair. The failure mileage was 167,968.

NHTSA ID

11422956

Incident

Jun 25, 2021

Mileage

167,968 mi

IN COLDER FLORIDA WEATHER, FREEZING ISN'T REQUIRED, UPON START UP AND DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE EVERYTHING IS WARMED UP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK AND BE VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN. WHEN IT DOES BREAK FREE IT CAN BE SUDDEN WHICH RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION FOR A MOMENT. THERE IS NO PEDAL OBSTRUCTION, SUCH AS A FLOOR MAT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN COOLER WEATHER, STATIONARY OR IN MOTION ON STREET, HIGHWAY ETC UNTIL IT WARMS UP. NOT LONG AFTER BUYING THIS USED CAR, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CABLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR A NEW CABLE. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. THIS STICKING PEDAL HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR SO I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE UNTIL TODAY WHEN I WENT TO FILL IT UP WITH GAS. I'M A GROWN MAN AND I HAD TO PUSH DOWN VERY HARD TO GET IT TO MOVE.

NHTSA ID

11406329

Incident

Apr 4, 2021

Mileage

2 mi

POWER STEERING BECAME UNUSEABLE COULD NOT CONTROL AUTO WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET HAD IT TOWED TO TWO SERVICE CENTER COULD NOT FIX. ; MAVIS TIRE & REPAIR, LACKAWANNA, NY AND LUKES ENTERPRISE SOUTHWESTERN BLVD ORCHARD PARK,NY

NHTSA ID

11398710

Incident

Feb 27, 2021

AS I AM DRIVING THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL START KICKING LIKE SOMETHING IS TRYING TO IN GAGE ITSELF THIS HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT SO I HAVE HAD IT REBUILT THINKING MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD I HAVE THE CAR BACK NOW AND THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AS IT WAS DOING BEFORE TRANSITION WENT OUT IT HAS DONE IT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT DRY PAVEMENT CITY AND OR COUNTRY ROADS WORRIED TO DRIVE IT NOW DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AGAIN OVER 3000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

NHTSA ID

11396225

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY LOCKS WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT RECALL IS CLOSED.

NHTSA ID

11395483

Incident

Feb 7, 2021

Mileage

275,000 mi

2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE, ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE ON TIME. AT 118,110 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHIN A DAY NO WARNING. THE TRIBUTE, JUST STARTED LOSING POWER ON MY WAY HOME, THEN IN MY DRIVEWAY WOULD GO INTO ANY OF THE AUTOMATIC GEARS.

NHTSA ID

11386250

Incident

Jun 14, 2020

Mileage

118,100 mi

MY WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING BACK AND FORTH WHILE IN PARK AND I STARTED AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. THEN TURNED CAR OFF WENT IN THE STORE AND CAME OUT AND IT DIDN'T WANNA WORK. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WORKED FINE. ON THE WAY HOME COMING AROUND A SHARP CURVE IT DECIDED TO GO OUT AND THE WHEEL TIGHTENED AT 45. I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND TRY MY HARDEST TO KEEP FROM GOING OFF THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT'S A RECALL TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WELL IN 2014 A MONTH AFTER THE RECALL WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR AIR FILTERS AND THEY HAPPENED TO "FIX" THE SOLUTION WHILE THERE WITHOUT NOTIFYING US. THEY NEVER FIXED IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE UNTIL NOW. AND THEY WONT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT IT WAS ALREADY REPAIRED. IN FACT IT WASN'T. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I PRAY THAT MAZDA CONTACTS DEALERSHIPS AND HAS THEM ACTUALLY REPLACE THE COLUMN AS NEEDED AND NOT JUST CLEAR CODES. IT DOES NOTHING BUT RESET IT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AT A LATER DATE. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD!

NHTSA ID

11375310

Incident

Nov 18, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

POWE STEERING HAS WENT OUT & I CAN HARDLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER I STOPPED IT & TRIED TO GO AGAIN

NHTSA ID

11372819

Incident

Oct 30, 2020

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO THE STORE AS I TURNED A CORNER A BEEP WENT OFF I LOOKED ON MY DASHBOARD AND SAW THE WRENCH LIGHT ON A FEW MINUTES LATER THE BEEP WENT OFF AGAIN I FELT A TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING I DROVE APPROX 4 MORE MILES TO THE PARKING LOT REVIEWED BOOK NOTICED IT SAID IT WAS A POWER TRAIN ISSUE. I WENT IN STORE GOT MY GROCERIES CAME OUT UPON STARTING CAR IT SEEMED AS IF IT DID NOT WANT TO STEER AT ALL. AFTER A FEW DAYS LEAVING IT THERE WE GOT IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAID ITS A DEALER ISSUE WE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM CALLED DEALER THEY STATE THE EPAS SYSTEM WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2016 WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR AN IGNITION KEY PROBLEM THAT WE PAID CLOSE TO 500 FOR I DID FIND THE RECEIPT AND YES IT WAS REPLACED THEN HOWEVER WE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WE TOOK IT IN FOR. THE DEALER STATES THEY CANT REPLACE AGAIN FOR FREE THEY WILL EXAMINE CAR FOR 130.00 IF WE CAN GET IT TO THEM 38 MILES AWAY. THIS IS THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM BRAND NEW IT EVEN HAD TO HAVE A REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT OUR COST WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD. WE MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE AND I WONDER IF THIS REPLACED EPAS. ALTHOUGH THE RECEIPTS DOESNT ACTUALLY SAY REPLACED NOW THAT I READ IT IT SAYS IT WAS UPDATED TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION AND CODES WERE CLEARED ACCORDING TO RECALL 7614E. NOW I AM HEARING IT MAY BE 1500 TO 2000 TO REPAIR ??????? BAD TIMING FOR ME TO NEED ANOTHER CAR. THIS CAR HAS HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS I WONDER NOW AFTER RESEARCH IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS A RECALL AS WELL

NHTSA ID

11363064

Incident

Sep 18, 2020

Mileage

213,000 mi

THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNS ACCESSORIES ON, BUT WILL NOT EASILY START THE ENGINE WHEN TURNED TO THE START POSITION. IT TAKES SEVERAL REPETITIONS OF WIGGLING AND PUSHING THE KEY IN WHEN TURNING IT TO THE START POSITION UNTIL THE CAR RESPONDS TO THE KEY START POSITION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE KEY SWITCH TO START THE ENGINE, SPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS A STICK SHIFT MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET OR INTERSECTION DUE TO INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, AND IF THIS HAPPENS, STARTING THE CAR AGAIN IS A CHALLENGE WHEN THE KEY DOESN'T EASILY START THE CAR IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

11362976

Incident

Oct 6, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

ISSUE #1 - LEFT FRONT CALIPER LOCKS UP PREVENTING VEHICLE TO MOVE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER HAS LOCKED UP AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND COMING TO EITHER A COMPLETE OR SUDDEN STOP AFTER HARD BRAKING. THE ISSUE MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. I'VE REPLACED THE CALIPER 3 TIMES AND HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH EACH NEW CALIPER. THE UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR THE BRAKE LOCK UP HAS BEEN A MALFUNCTION IN THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL UNIT AND SENSORS. TEMPORARY REMEDY HAS BEEN TO REMOVE THE 50AMP ABS FUSE FOR 24 HOURS AND REPLACE. SYSTEM WORKS LIKE IT IS DESIGNED TO DO AFTERWARDS. ISSUE #2 - POWER ASSISTED STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAD SHOWN SYSTEMS OF A VIBRATING AND TWITCHING STEERING WHEEL WHILE AT IDLE IN PARK AND WHILE IN GEAR WHILE SITTING AT A STOP. AFTER 2 DAYS OF THE MOVING STEERING WHEEL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED 5 HOURS LATER WITH NO MORE JUMPING STEERING WHEEL BUT NOW WITH NO POWER ASSISTED STEERING AT ALL. MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE UNDER NO TO VERY LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE NO POWER ASSISTED STEERING AS THERE IS NO CONSISTENT RESOURCE ON WHAT TO DO FOR THOSE VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11362494

Incident

Aug 24, 2020

Mileage

145,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT VEHICLE START-UP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED, WITH THE SERVICE INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11330199

Incident

Jun 22, 2020