RoadVitals

2010 Mazda Tribute Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
39
Latest Oct 20, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Apr 13, 2010

What this page shows

Our database holds 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Mazda Tribute. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 39 · page 1 of 2

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 20, 2025

Everytime I fill the car up with gas it does this thing where I lose power when I stop or when I turn the wheel. So I have to stop and start the car. Its very dangerous because it has cut off while I was making a turn. We have tried to fix it several times. We replaced the fuel pump and that helped for a month or two but then it goes right back to cutting off after it is filled up with gas.

NHTSA ID
11694516
Incident
Oct 3, 2025
Steering
Filed Apr 27, 2025

Two years ago my vehicle started loosing electrical power steering.. there is a recall for this issue… my vehicle was not experiencing this issue at the time of the recall. I have not been able to drive my vehicle because it randomly looses power steering deeming it extremely dangerous to drive.. I informed mazda who stated there system shows it was repaired during the recall will not cover the cost, but this is not true. I’m the only owner and I can’t drive it due to this issue

NHTSA ID
11657107
Incident
Oct 10, 2022
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2021

While driving at low speed (less than 50 mph) truck experienced brake loss. Was able to slow down and have no accident. Towed truck to mechanic and the next day brakes worked fine. Took truck to both AAA and to Mazda dealership for repair and no one can duplicate the issue. No instrument lights came on and no code was given for additional information. It has been stated that ABS Master cylinder and brake booster have been tested as well as the relays and fuses. This isnt the first time this has happened but the pedal has never stayed as mushy or required to go to the ground as long as it had this time.

NHTSA ID
11445225
Incident
Dec 20, 2021
Mileage
108,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 26, 2021

The contact owns a 2010 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became very stiff and was difficult to turn in either direction. The contact drove the vehicle with manual steering to his destination. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA ID
11441719
Incident
Oct 6, 2021
Mileage
123,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 1, 2021

There's no power steering as I was Driving it just got hard to steer and almost got into an accident car is not drivable at all

NHTSA ID
11423050
Incident
Apr 5, 2021
Steering
Filed Apr 10, 2020

THE STEERING BEGAN TWITCHING WHILE DRIVING AND THEN WHILE BACKING THE STEERING WENT OUT AND STOPPED RESPONDING MID-BACKING IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID
11320764
Incident
Mar 28, 2020
Steering
Filed Jan 11, 2020

STEERING IS OFF LINE

NHTSA ID
11298513
Incident
Jan 11, 2020
Mileage
10 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND AN UNKNOWN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE FAULTY COMPONENTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. CAPITAL MAZDA OF CARY (525 CROSSROADS BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, (919) 859-2000) SUGGESTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN 2014, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS, CONTACT STATED HE RETIRED TECHNICIAN FROM CATERPILLAR INC CAN HANDLE MOST REPAIRS HIMSELF, HAD AESS TO A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND PULLED THE CODES FOR THE FAILURE, LOOKED UP THE CODES UP FOR A STEERING TORQUE SENSOR ORDERED ONE FROM CAPITAL MAZDA ON NOVEMBER 14TH FOR DELIVERY ON FRIDAY THE 15TH PICKED IT UP BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO INSTALL TIL THE 16TH WHICH IS A SATURDAY. INSTALLED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME FAILURE. BUT THE SENSOR PART FROM MAZDA HAD BEEN USED AND PUT BACK IN BOX WHICH WERE ESTIMATED AT $2,800. THE SENSOR ALONE WAS $368.98 LOCATED A TRIBUTE IN A LOAD U-PULL-IT JUNKYARD GOT THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY FOR $35.44 GOT THE PART REMOVED AND REPLACED THE UNIT VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *BF *TP

NHTSA ID
11279972
Incident
Nov 13, 2019
Mileage
106,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 27, 2019

WHILE THE CAR WAS IN USE AND RUNNING, THE TIMING CHAIN COVER FAILED RESULTING IN THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER COMING DETACHED. THE SERPENTINE TENSIONER MOUNT BROKE OFF THE TIMING CHAN COVER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ALL LOADS DRIVEN FROM THE SERPENTINE BELT. THIS FAILURE PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS WITHOUT THE SERPENTINE BELT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING THE ALTERNATOR WILL NOT GENERATE ELECTRICITY, THE BATTERY WILL BE DRAINED AND THEN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. AN AVERAGE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSISTANCE. UNTIL ALMOST ALL OF THE OIL HAS BEEN THROWN FROM THE ENGINE OR THE BATTERY DIES, THERE IS NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER -- THE DRIVER KNOWS NOTHING OF THIS FAILURE UNTIL THE LOW OIL PRESSURE, ALTERNATOR OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 62156 MILES WHEN THIS EXTRAORDINARY FAILURE OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
11204178
Incident
Apr 13, 2019
Mileage
62,156 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2019

POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK AND NOT ALLOW MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING

NHTSA ID
11164972
Incident
Sep 25, 2018
Mileage
128,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH UP A MOUNTAIN, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERRA MAZDA (1503 GADSDEN HWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35235, (205) 304-4075) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS FAILING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WARNING INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
11098755
Incident
May 29, 2018
Mileage
88,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 8, 2018

2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH 57K ON IT JUST DIED WHILE DOING 80 DOWN THE FREEWAY, HAD TO GET IT TOWED. IT SIMPLY SHUTOFF. I THINK ITS THE FUEL PUMP BUT I AM NOT REALLY SURE. PLUGGED IT INTO A SCANNER AND NO CODES. IT STARTED UP AFTER THE TOW. THE GOOGLES SAYS THIS IS COMMON IN THE TRIBUTE/ FORD ESCAPES. NOT SAFE AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11092585
Incident
May 7, 2018
Mileage
57,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT DROVE SLOWLY AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL MAZDA OF CARY (525 CROSSROADS BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, (919) 859-2000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11065831
Incident
Jan 24, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 19, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V788000 (FUEL PROPULSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (DAVIS-MOORE MAZDA IN WICHITA, KANSAS) CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11055574
Incident
Dec 19, 2016
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 11, 2017

FUEL FILL NECK DIAGNOSTIC CODE PO457 OCCURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH SEEMED TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SPUTTER, AND TO HAVE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PART. UPON A GOOGLE SEARCH OTHER HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THEY RECALLED THIS SAME VEHICLE WITH THE 3.0 ENGINE (MINE HAS THE 2.5).

NHTSA ID
11022669
Incident
Sep 11, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistance
Filed Aug 16, 2017

HATCH DOES NOT OPEN CONSISTENTLY. VEHICLE STALLS THEN ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, IN ADDITION, THROTTLE BODY LIGHT STAYS ON. POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO COME UP AND DOWN.

NHTSA ID
11015843
Incident
Aug 16, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Jul 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V788000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11004645
Incident
Dec 21, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V788000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-222-5500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED TIME AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11003018
Incident
Oct 26, 2016
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CHECK ENGINE AND FUEL CAP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID
10925889
Incident
Nov 14, 2016
Mileage
59,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10659189
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 18, 2014

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO CROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION! STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS IN THE TURNING LANE WATCHING A SEMI AND 20 CARS HEADED STRAIGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER. LUCKILY SHE THOUGHT QUICK ENOUGH TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, SINCE SHE WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL, SHE ROLLED BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT. FORD HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE ESCAPES (SISTER TO THE TRIBUTE) FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. MAZDA HAS ONLY ISSUED A SPECIAL BULLETIN THAT THE TRIBUTE CAN LOOSE ACCELERATION, BUT DID NOT SAY HOW TO FIX IT. I FOUND ALL THIS INFORMATION AFTER THAT FACT THAT MY DAUGHTER ALMOST DIED!!! WE HAD THE VEHICLE AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP THE FRIDAY & SATURDAY BEFORE. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ALL THEY DID WAS CLEAN OUT THE THROTTLE BODY, AND SAID THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WHY DID MAZDA NOT HAVE TO DO THE SAME AS FORD? WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES! CONSUMERS WITH THESE AUTOS NEED TO BE NOTIFIED!!! FORD HAS NOT NOTIFIED ANYONE EITHER, WE ALSO HAVE A 2011 FORD ESCAPE WHICH HAS NOT HAD THE ISSUE, BUT WE ARE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY JUST TO CHECK IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10599070
Incident
Jun 17, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 23, 2014

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY CUTS OUT DUE TO POWERSTEERING SENSOR WITHIN COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593675
Incident
May 23, 2014
Mileage
47,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 21, 2014

WAS DRIVING ON LARGE BLVD THRU TOWN AT APPROX. 45+ MPG, THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN QUIT ACCELERATING, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, ALL POWER TO CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY LOSS AND IT BEGAN CONVULSING ABRUPTLY AS A I MANEUVERED IT OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE STOPPING SPOT. I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS, COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING OR GET IT TO REPRODUCE WHAT I EXPERIENCED, SO I WAS CHARGED THE $120 DIAGNOSTIC FEE WITHOUT IT BEING FIXED AND SENT HOME WITH MY FINGERS CROSSED. THE CAR BEHAVED FOR AWHILE, BUT THEN IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN ON AND OFF OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. BECAUSE OF THE $120 FEE FOR NOTHING I HAD BEEN HESITANT TO GO BACK UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY (A COUPLE OF TIMES) AND THE CAR DID THE SAME THING! LUCKILY I WAS IN THE SLOW LANE AND COULD PULL OVER QUICKLY, TURN OFF THE CAR, COUNT TO 10 AND THEN START IT UP AGAIN AND GO. THESE LAST FEW TIMES IT WAS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER (CAR IS SUPPOSEDLY CERTIFIED) AS OF THIS WRITING THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR AGAIN FOR 3 DAYS, AND JUST NOW, AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY HAVE DECIDED IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDS REPLACING. IT IS "CONVENIENTLY" NOT LISTED IN THE "COVERED COMPONENTS" OF THE CERTIFIED WARRANTY. ITS GOING TO COST $500+ TO GET MY CAR BACK + THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR I'VE HAD TO GET BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE LOANERS, JUST A SHUTTLE, WHICH DOES ME NO GOOD ON A DAILY BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593298
Incident
Aug 14, 2013
Mileage
58,269 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 21, 2014

FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR HESITATED, CHUGGED, THE WRENCH LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED WITH VERY SLOW FORWARD MOMENTUM. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM UNTIL THE END OF THE PARKING ROW WHEN I STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC, IT CHUGGED AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, WRENCH INDICATOR ON AGAIN. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND COASTED TO A PARKING SPOT. RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER WITH NO PROBLEMS FOR ALMOST A WEEK. NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN AND ONLY HAD CRAWLING SPEED NO MATTER WHAT I DID WITH THE GAS PEDAL. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS AGAIN ON WITH THE VEHICLE CHUGGING AND HESITATING. DUE TO PARKED VEHICLES I HAD TO DRIVE ALMOST THE LENGTH OF THE BLOCK IN THIS CONDITION BEFORE HAVING A PLACE TO PULL OVER AND MOVE OUT OF THE LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC I HAD CREATED. ONCE AGAIN AFTER A BRIEF WAITING PERIOD I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OUT AND IT HAS BEEN DRIVING OKAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593196
Incident
May 15, 2014
Mileage
48,684 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 10, 2014

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS BEING PRESSED AND RELEASED, THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THE CAR RAN NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE CAR HAS REPEATEDLY HAD THIS SYMPTOM ALONG WITH FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR AND SHUTTING OFF. THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MARCH 9TH OF 2014 WHILE TURNING RIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION THE CAR FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR AND JUST QUIT. I ALLOWED THE CAR TO DRIFT TO A CENTER AREA OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE DEALER HAS ONCE TOLD US WE WERE PROBABLY OVER FILLING (TOPPING OFF) THE TANK, WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE LET THE PUMP STOP AFTER IF CLICKS OFF THE FIRST TIME YET THE INCIDENTS CONTINUE AND AT AN INCREASED RATE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568203
Incident
Jan 7, 2014
Mileage
61,000 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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