Car Problem DataNHTSA records

Mazda Tribute

Owners filed 2,102 complaints across 12 model years of the Mazda Tribute. The 2001 drew the most (563).

Model years12
Complaints2,102
Recalls57
Fires55
Deaths5

Which Mazda Tribute years should you avoid?

Going by 2,102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Mazda Tribute years to avoid are 2004, 2001, 2003 and 2002.

  • 20043.9× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (3 fires, 15 crashes, 2 deaths).
  • 2001563 complaints, 2.8× a typical Tribute year, most often about the engine.
  • 20032.4× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (9 fires, 17 crashes).
  • 20022.4× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (24 fires, 19 crashes).

How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →

Every Mazda Tribute model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
20117
0—1SteeringRoutine
201039
3——SteeringRoutine
200935
2—2SteeringRoutine
2008202
516SteeringAbove average
20074
1——Vehicle Speed ControlRoutine
2006130
319Vehicle Speed ControlFatalities reported
2005377
4416SuspensionAbove average
2004Avoid157
7315SuspensionFatalities reported
2003Avoid199
8917Air BagsRoutine
2002Avoid384
92419Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineHigh concern
2001Avoid563
151321Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineAbove average
20005
0—1Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust SystemRoutine

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.