RoadVitals

2010 Mazda Tribute Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
11
Latest Apr 27, 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.
28%
of 39 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 steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Mazda Tribute submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 steering

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

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
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
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
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

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .