RoadVitals

2008 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.
15
Latest Apr 5, 2025
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.
7%
of 202 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.
0
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 2008 Mazda Tribute submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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

BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 5, 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
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 5, 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
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2021

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
Electrical
Filed May 22, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY NEEDED TO BE VIGOROUSLY PRESSED AND TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID
11097275
Incident
Jan 10, 2018
Mileage
146,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2017

STEERING COLOM IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE FELLS TO CRANK. THE LOCK ATTACHES AROUND THE STEERING COLOM IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH GOES IN TO. THIS IS THE 3RD REPLACEMENT OF FACTORY OEM PARTS AND IT CONTINUES TO GO BAD. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN

NHTSA ID
11031437
Incident
Oct 2, 2017
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 18, 2017

IGNITION SWITCH NOT WORKING. TRANSMISSION 2ND AND 5TH GEAR NOT WORKING AND CONTROL ARMS FOR ALL 4 WHEELS SEEM TO BE GOING BAD

NHTSA ID
11006088
Incident
Jun 6, 2017
Mileage
135,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 8, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10959562
Incident
Nov 28, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,090.

NHTSA ID
10786977
Incident
Oct 7, 2015
Mileage
100,090 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE KEY WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10630651
Incident
Sep 6, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 4, 2014

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT IN MT TRIBUTE IS SHOT! IT STARTED GOING OUT RANDOMLY AND WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON. OVER THE WEEKEND IT WENT OUT ON US WHILE DRIVING 70MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY! IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION THAT COULD'VE WENT BAD. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THROUGH MAZDA AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! IT IS THE SAME UNIT THAT WAS IN THE MAZDA 3 AND 5; WHICH WAS RECALLED. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10567014
Incident
Feb 12, 2014
Mileage
83,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 8, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT REACHING THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,418 UPDATED 8/12/13 *CNN

NHTSA ID
10523662
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 29, 2012

FROM A STOP SWITCHING TO GAS PEDAL OR ACCELERATOR THE PEDAL STICKS AND HARD TO PRESS AND DOES IT BACK TO BACK FOR A FEW MINUTES. ALSO IT CAN DO IT AT RANDOM AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE AND STOP AT A LIGHT IT WILL STICK WHEN TRYING TO GO. ONCE IT STOPS STICKING I HAVE TO QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES TO NOT CAUSE OVER ACCELERATION. *JS

NHTSA ID
10468148
Incident
Feb 20, 2012
Mileage
510,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 18, 2012

LOCK ISSUE - HATCHBACK AND BACK WINDOW ONLY THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE ALWAYS HAD, AND IT IS A PAIN IN THE NECK. THE HATCHBACK DOOR OR WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN USING EITHER THE REMOTE OR THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. AFTER HAVING GROCERIES IN THE BACK, PIZZA, MATERIAL BEING MOVED, ETC. ONE HAS TO DO THE FOLLOWING TO ACCESS THAT AREA OF THE VEHICLE: 1.) CLIMB OVER THE SEAT - MANY TIMES NOT POSSIBLE TO REALLY GET AT ITEMS IN THE BACK. 2.) WAIT ABOUT 5 MINS OR SO, AND THEN THE REMOTE WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR/WINDOW. 3.) DISCOVERED THAT PUTTING THE KEY BACK IN AND TURNING IT TO ACCESSORY AND THEN REMOVING THE KEY, THE DOOR/WINDOW CAN BE UNLOCKED. NOT SURE WHAT THE STORY IS OR EXACTLY WHAT STEPS MUST BE DONE FOR THIS ISSUE TO OCCUR, BUT IT OCCURS OFTEN. USUALLY THE SEQUENCE IS, SHUT THE CAR ENGINE OFF, REMOVE THE KEY, SHUT OFF THE CARS LIGHTS, THEN TRY TO ACCESS THE BACK WITH THE REMOTE. WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK, TRY OPENING THE CAR DOOR AND UNLOCKING ALL THE DOORS AGAIN. THIS WON'T WORK EITHER. TRY LOCKING THE VEHICLE AGAIN USING THE REMOTE AND TRY OPENING UP THE DOORS AND THE BACK. I BELIEVE THAT THE 'DOORS' WILL UNLOCK AT ALL TIMES, BUT NOT THE BACK OR THE BACK WINDOW. REALLY A PAIN......AND EMBARRASSING TO HAVE PEOPLE WATCH YOU TRY TO GET INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR, WHEN THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458905
Incident
May 17, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 17, 2012

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE. THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE STEERING ET ALL. PULLED OVER, STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT WENT AWAY. DROVE COUPLE OF MORE MILES, AGAIN WHEN THE CAR WENT BACK TO DRIVE ON BATTERY POWER THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN.HAD TO STOP AND RESTART AGAIN. THE "WRENCH" SYMBOL CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC , HE SAID THE CODE SHOWS POWER STEERING MODULE INSIDE THE STEERING IS "BAD", CHECKED WITH MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON POWER STEERING FOR MAZDA TRIBUTE , BUT ONLY TO MAZDA 3 AND 5. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458851
Incident
May 1, 2012
Mileage
41,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 13, 2010

VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DANGEROUS TOTAL SHUT-OFF OF ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT RE-START VEHICLE. STARTER WOULD TURN ENGINE BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. SHOP RETRIEVED CODE P1260 "ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM SIGNAL DETECTED - ENGINE DISABLED". MOST TOW VEHICLE TO MAZDA DEALER FOR SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330239
Incident
May 12, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .