2001 Mazda Tribute complaints

THERE WERE 2 SEPARATE TIRE DEFECTS THAT AFTER GOIN FROM 1 MAZDA DEALER TO 1 FIRESTONE DEALER BACK TO A SECOND MAZDA DEALER THEN FINALLY HAD THE PROBLEM TIRE REPLACED FEE OF CHARGE BY A SECOND FIRESTONE DEALER. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE FIRST DROPPED A 2INCH BY 2INCH SECTION OF TREAD RIGHT OFF OF THE TIRE. IT WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE TREAD SECTION AND ONLY IN ONE SPOT. WHILE I WAITED FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE TO BE ORDERED AND RECEIVED AND GUARANTEED BY THE FIRESTONE DEALER(2210 W RIDGE RD ROCHESTER NY 14626)THAT THE TIRE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE ON AND NO OTHER PROBLEMS SHOULD ARISE THE TIRE BEGAN TO RIP ALONG A SEAM ON THE SIDEWALL DIRECTLY OPPOSITE FROM THE MISSING SECTION OF TREAD. THIS OBVIOUSLY COULD OF LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE OR WORSE. THE DEALER APPOLOGIZED AND QUICKLY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SIMILIAR TIRE EXCEPT THE NEW ONE HAS WHITE OUTLINED LETTERS AS PER FIRESTONE DEALER ORIGINALS DON'T AND THEY ARE ONLY AVALABLE FROM THE MAZDA/FORD FACTORY????*AK (DOT NUMBER: 0211224 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

I PURCHASED A 2001 TRIBUTE ON SUNDAY 6/17/01WITH 420 MILES ON IT. TWO DAYS LATER TUESDAY 6/19/01 THE ENGINE COMPLETLY LOCKED UP ON ME TWICE IN THE SAME DAY. IT NOW HAS ONLY 562 MILES ON IT. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A WRECK. THE ENGINE TOTALLY SHUTS DOWN, MEANING NO STEERING, NO BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY USING THE EMERGANCY BRAKE AFTER STOPPPING I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK IN WHICH IT THEN RESTARTED. THIS ALL CAME IF NO WARNING AT ALL. I IMMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BEFORE OR ANY OTHERS. I NOW SEE THEY MUST OF BEEN MISTAKEN, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME!! I WILL TAKE AS MUCH OF THIS INFO. WITH ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.*AK

I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT. IT WOULD NOT LATCH. I TRIED FOR OVER 10 MINUTES, TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AT MIDNIGHT ON THE FREEWAY, NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I ALWAYS WEAR A SEATBELT. IN ADDITION, IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEATBELT IN CALIFORNIA. *AK

WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE ENGINE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS - SIGN & RETURN THIS FORM.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER INFORMED HER THAT FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. BUT THAT FUEL TANKS WERE ON BACK ORDER. COULD NOT GIVE HER A TIME FRAME, BUT ASSURED HER VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK

ON WET PAVEMENTS WHEELS LOCK. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

STEERING SHUT DOWN, CAR DIE OUT AT 45MPH AND CAR STALLED. *AK

CONSISTANTLY VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO STALL. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE REMEDY.*AK

VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED 3 TIMES; MAZDA AGREED TO REPURCHASE VEHICLE AFTER 4TH INSPECTION, AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THIS WEEK THAT THIS EXACT SAME STALLING PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO HER TWO TIMES. I FEEL THIS IS MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE AND THAT THERE IS A SEVERE STALLING PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAS YET TO BE DONE BY MAZDA. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED AT 30 MPH, THIS HAPPENED ONCE. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S AT THIS TIME. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES AROUND 30 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RETURN VEHICLE UNDER LEMON LAW.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING LOCKED UP WITH LITTLE PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND WAITED WHICH ALLOWED STEERING TO COMEBACK. ON APRIL 26, 2001 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING UP. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE REMEDY. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A ONE LANE HIGHWAY. NLM

POWER STEERING TENSIONER BELT BROKE. DEALER HASVEHICLE AND IS WAITING FOR PARTS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A FLAT/ STRAIGHT AND PAVED ROAD WHEN A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING CONTROL, BUT NO CRASH OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT POWER STEERING TENSIONER BROKE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VIBRATION IS EXCESSIVE ENOUGH ON THE FREEWAY THAT IMAGES REFLECTED ARE COMPLETELY DISTORTED AND BLURRY WHICH DISALLOWS PROPER VISUALIZATION OF TRAFFIC AND OTHER VEHICLES. THE VIBRATION IS ALSO SO BOTHERSOME THAT I REFRAIN FROM LOOKING IN THE MIRROR ANYMORE WHICH I VIEW TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CAR MANUFACTURER, THE PROBLEM IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING ALL MODELS OF MAZDA TRIBUTES, THAT CANNOT BE CORRECTED. I FIND THAT TO BE UNACCEAPTABLE!*AK

STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK INTO ONE POSITION DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. WHEEL WILL TURN TO RIGHT, BUT CANNOT BE TURNED ANY MORE TO LEFT. STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AT LOW SPEEDS. SO FAR HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS EVENT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, DEALERSHIP WITNESSED THIS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK A BOLT WAS FOUND INSIDE THE STEERING RACK COVER AND WAS REMOVED. *YH

POWER WINDOWS/SUNROOF QUIT WORKING AFTER 1-1 1/2 HRS. OF DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED A SWITCH AND THE GENERAL MODULE WITH NO SUCCESS. RETURNING TO DEALER FOR MORE "DIGGING" INTO THE PROBLEM.*AK

MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE STALLS SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2000. MY TRIBUTE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THIS "STALLING" PROBLEM. I WAS CONTACTED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN TECHNICAL HEADQUARTERS APRIL 12. THE MAZDA REPRESENTATIVE ASKED A BATTERY OF QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. FORTUNATLEY, NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AT THIS TIME DUE TO THIS PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE NO RESOLUTION.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED AIR BAG MODULE THREE TIMES ALREADY. ALSO, REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS . PROBLEM STILL OCCURS*AK.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, HITTING THE OTHER BROADSIDE. AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAD $1200 WORTH OF DAMAGE. DEALERSHIP WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK

PASSENGER CABIN CONTINUES TO GET FUEL FUMES AT RESTART. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT NEW GASKETS ARE IN THE WORKS TO CORRECT. WE EXPECT DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE OLD ONES WITH NEW GASKETS WHEN AVAILABLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE IN FIRST 2000 MILES. BOTH TIMES WE WERE TOLD THAT GAS CAP WAS OPENED WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AND WE CONTINUE TO ARGUE OVER THIS. WE REFUSE TO PAY THE RESET FEE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO BE TURNED OFF. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CLEAR THAT MAZDA KNEW OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AS THE SALEMAN WENT OUT OF HER WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT THE CAP MUST BE TIGHT AT ALL TIMES. THIS WE HAVE DONE. DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY LOOKING AT VEHICLE FOR THIS SECOND CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON DURING A RAIN SHOWER, AND PASSENGER'S WIPER STARTED TO WIPE OUT OF SYNC, AND IT BROKE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER.*AK CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE WIPERS WERE THEN TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON, THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER MOVED, BUT HAD TORN RUBBER AND A BENT TIP, PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT WIPE, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SLOWLY TO DEALERSHIP AND WIPERS WERE REPLACED IN 2 DAYS. *JB

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS COLLECTED MOISTURE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE DRIED IT OUT ONCE ONLY TO HAVE IT FILL WITH WATER WITH ONE RAIN SHOWER. THE HEADLIGHT IS NOT CRACKED OR OPEN TO VIEW.*AK

THERE IS A FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE, CONUMER STATED THERE WAS A TSB OUT ON THIS. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SOAK UP FUEL AND CAUSED SMELL. *AK

THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO BRAKES OR STEERING. NLM

WHENEVER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED CAN SMELL FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES, AFTER FIRST TIME TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPAIRED IT. VEHICLE AT DEALER. *AK *SLC

MY NEW CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE GARAGE/DEALER WHILE THE SERVICE MANAGER IS TRYING TO ATTAIN ADDITIONAL HELP TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF MY VEHICLE NOT STARTING ON A CONSISTANT BASIS. ORIGINALLY THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE DEALER PROGRAMMED A NEWLY PURCHASED SPARE KEY IN DECEMBER. PROGRAMMING FOR THE KEY HAD TO BE DONE MORE THAN ONCE WHILE MY HUSBAND WAITED AN ADDITIONAL HOUR AND VIEWED THE SERVICE PERSONAL PUSH OUR VEHICLE BACK INTO THE SERVICE BAY. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM PROGRAMMING THE NEW KEY. LATER IN THE MONTH, THE CAR WOULD NOT START (2 INCIDENTS-6 TRYS). ON THE NEXT TRIP TO THE DEALER TO HAVE OTHER WARRANTY WORK DONE, I WAITED FIVE AND A HALF (5 1/2) HOURS OVERALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH ALL THREE (3) KEYS. LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AND I SOON RETURNED HOME. ABOUT ONE AND A HALF (1 1/2) HOURS AFTER THE FIX, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR 15 HOURS (VARIOUS TRYS). THE DEALER ARRANGED A FREE RENTAL CAR AND WAS TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED THAT MONDAY MORNING. THE KEYS WERE LEFT IN THE IGNITION OVER NIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED THE NEXT MORNING. I AGREED TO TRY A TEMPORARY FIX SUGGESTED TO THE DEALER BY MAZDA TECH SUPPORT. THREE (3) WEEKS LATER, THE CAR STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE TEMPORARY FIX DID NOT WORK. WHAT DID GET THE CAR TO WORK WAS THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DRIVER DOOR OR UNLOCKING AND LOCKING WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. I RECORDED (35 WITNESSED) MALFUNCTIONS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER LAS

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL, THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCK AND CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTROL, DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TAPPED NEW RELAY, HOWEVER STALLING STILL OCCURS. *SLC

RECALL 00 V 387 001/WINDSHIELD WIPER: VEHICLE WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING DURING BAD WEATHER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND LEARNED OF ABOVE RECALL, AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED. RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

STALE FUEL ODOR COMING INTO PASSENGER COMPLARTMENT THROUGH AC/HEATING VENTS AFTER A WARM ENGINE RESTART. ALSO NOTICED WHEN STOPPED WITH ENGINE RUNNING. AIR TEMPERATURE SELECTOR MUST ALSO BE IN THE "BLUE AREA" WHERE MORE OUTSIDE AIR IS CIRCULATED VS. HEATED AIR. *AK

FUEL ORDORS NOTED IN PASSENGER CBIN DUE TO FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD DESIGN. THIS JUST STARTED. IT WILL BE REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. YOU ARE PROVIDED THIS ADVANCE NOTICE TO START A DATABASE. THIS MAY NOT BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

AFTER ABOUT 1000 MILES OF OPERATION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SUPPOSEDLY BECOMES SATURATED WITH GASOLINE AND THE GASOLINE SMELL IS NOTICEABLE UPON WARM SHUTDOWNS AND RESTARTS. FORD/MAZDA IS SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING ON A REPLACEMENT GASKET, BUT NOTHING IS OFFICIAL YET TO THE DEALERS. REPORTING THIS DEFECT TO NHTSA MAY HELP SPEED THE PROCESS. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.*AK

FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE FROM LEAKING MANIFOLD GASKETS KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN CONSUMER NOTICED GAS SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE IS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FUEL SEEPS OUT AFTER VEHICLE IS WARM AND RESTS. INTAKE IS LOCATED NEAR VENT. *YH

RECALL 00V277002; RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM, STRONG FUEL SMELL AND FUEL LEAKAGE WAS OCCURRING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0200L FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER BECOMING DISENGAGED. VEHICLE INSPECTED ON 26 DEC 2000, COMPONENT FOUND IN WORKING ORDER. ON 27 JAN 2001, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. DEALER FOUND WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE HAD BROKEN. *AK THE MANUFACTURE BLAMED THE DEALER FOR FAILING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE PROPERLY DURING THE RECALL REPAIR. *YH

GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT BROKEN OFF FROM MOTOR THAT WAS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE PULLING OFF ROAD, AND SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THEN GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO CHECK WHAT IT WAS, A TOWEING TRUCK CAME, AND INFORMED DRIVER THAT THREE PIECES OF STTERING LINKAGE FELL OFF, AND IT WOULD AFFECT STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS OKAY THAT PIECES FELL OFF BECAUSE THEY WERE HAND MADE PARTS. CONSUMER STILL HAD THREE PIECES THAT FELL OFF , AND A VIDIEO OF THE PIECES. *AK

AT 1646 MILES FUEL FUMES/ODOR ENTER INTO VEHICLE; VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHENEVER IGNITION IS STARTED THERE ARE GAS FUMES IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE COMPLETLEY LOSES ALL POWER STEERING CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

A STRONG FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT AFTER THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. THE ODOR COMES THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER VENTS AND IS BLOWN INTO THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. IT APPEARS TO BE A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH ALLOWS GAS VAPOR INTO THE VEHICLE. GASOLINE CAN CAUSE CANCER AND IT A HEALTH RISK FOR ANYONE BREATHING VAPORS.*AK

THE VEHICLE EMITS A STRONG FUEL VAPOR SMELL, WHICH IS EASILY NOTED RISING FROM THE ENGINE, WHEN IT IS SHUT OFF HOT. THE VAPORS GET INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. TURNING THE VENTILATION CONTROL TO OFF STOPS THE SMELL INSIDE. THE VEHICLE ALSO IS GETTING ONLY 15-16 MPG IN MIXED SUBURBAN/HIGHWAY USE.

FUEL ODOR COMING FROM ENGINE THROUGH VENTS. NOTICEABLE AFTER A WARM START OF ENGINE OR WHILE VEHICLE IS SITTING. NO LEAKS CAN BE DETECTED. *AK

FUEL SMELL ENTERING CABIN THOUGH VENTS ON ALL SETTINGS DURING WARM STARTS. *AK

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH FUEL SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

GASOLINE SMELL IS COMING FROM VENTS. AFTER STARTING FUMES SMELL IS PUMPED INTO VEHICLE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS TEMPERTURE REACHES 60 DEGREES. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT ENGINE MANIFOLD COULD BE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND WHEN STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION ONLY WILL WORK IN REVERSE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE FOR NO FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH