2008 Mazda Tribute complaints

THE STEERING COLUMN "CLUNKED" AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A METALLIC CLUNK SOUND IF I TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS COME AND GONE AT VARIOUS TIMES MOSTLY OCCURRING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. AT FIRST I WOULD JUST RESTART MY CAR A FEW TIMES AND MOST OF THE TIME IT WOULD COME BACK ON. A FEW TIMES IT WOULD GO OUT WHEN I WAS ON THE INTERESTED GOING 70 MPH. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO BE DRIVING AT SUCH SPEEDS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. IT IS COMPLETELY GONE. I HAVE TALKED ABOUT ESTIMATES TO GET IT FIXED AND THE COST IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1200-$2000 TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND JUST READ THAT FORD HAS RECALLED THEIR 2008 FORD ESCAPE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTES AS WELL BEFORE AND SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR. *TR

FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW I HAVE A RANDOM TIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR WHERE THE STEERING WOULDN'T WORK. I WOULD START THE CAR AND TRY TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN. I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WOULD WORK JUST FINE. I TOOK IT TO A FEW AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND COULD NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY WOULD TELL ME THAT THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY IGNITION KEY LOCKING THE STEERING. SO I DIDN'T LOOK INTO IT ANYMORE BECAUSE FOR A MONTH OR TWO IT STOPPED HAPPENING. THEN OUT OF NOWHERE TODAY, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 60-70 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING GOT REALLY STIFF. IT WAS REALLY SCARY BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE STEERING OF THE CAR. SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WORKED LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE I PARKED AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I'M WAITING RIGHT NOW FOR THE REPAIR SHOP TOMORROW TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A REVVING NOISE AS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL VIBRATED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND WOULD BECOME MORE PROMINENT WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WAS ALSO AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH A 4-CYLINDER STICK SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000.

TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED ,POSSIBLY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. THE REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING UNIT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I GLANCED DOWN TO SEE I WAS GOING 75MPH. WHEN I BACKED OFF THE GAS, THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. IT KEPT GOING TO 75 MPH EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL. I MANAGED TO APPLY THE BREAKS HARD ENOUGH TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. (IT TOOK ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BREAK TO SLOW IT DOWN) I HAD THE CAR TOWED WHERE THE DEALER SAID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD FIND WAS THAT THE RUBBER MAT WAS WEDGED UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. (I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER STICKING MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL AND LIFTING IT UPWARD IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE ACCELERATION AND SLOW THE CAR.) THE MATS ARE HEAVY DUTY AND DO NOT SLIDE AROUND OR BUNCH UP. *TT

THE FRONT WHEELS FELT LIKE THEY WERE LOOSE & THE TIRE COULD COME OFF AT ANY MOMENT. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WENT I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS CHARGED APPROX $2100 TO REPLACE THE STEERING PROBLEM. MAZDA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT. *TR

EVERY OTHER TIME THAT I TURN MY CAR ON, THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY TIGHT AND VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW SECONDS, THEN TURN IT BACK ON WHILE PULLING HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO "COME BACK." THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR MANY REASONS. ONE, I'M WORRIED THAT THE POWER STEERING IS GOING TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, NOT JUST WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF. ALSO, I FEEL LIKE IM WASTING A LOT OF MONEY ON GAS BY HAVING TO TURN MY CAR ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIME. LASTLY, IT JUST PLAIN DIFFICULT. IT TAKES A LOT OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH TO MANUALLY TURN AN ENTIRE MINI SUV. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

POWER STEERING IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT DURING AN OCCURRENCE. UPON TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON THE STEERING IS RESTORED. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS A PERSON WITHOUT ENORMOUS UPPER BODY STRENGTH WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING SUDDENLY BEGAN TO GRIND AND FELT UNCONTROLLABLE. MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME SO IT WAS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE INTO THE PARKING LOT WITHOUT CRASHING BUT I THINK A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THIS TRIBUTE STILL HAS UNDER 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING. POWER STEERING MODULE STOPS WORKING. *TR

THE ACCELERATOR STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR DONE STUCK. I FOUND OUT THAT MAZDA HAD A RECALL ON THE 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WASN'T AMONG THEM. I'VE TRIED TOO CONTACT MAZDA BUT I GET NO ANSWER AND NO ONE RETURN MY CALLS. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I WOULD TURN IT OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES AND IT WOULD BE FINE, STILL SHAKE BUT I COULD AT LEAST STEER. DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 65-70 AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. VERY SCARY!! NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE OTHER THAN WORK BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. RECALL!!! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS GOING TO GO ON UNTIL SOMEBODY IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. RECALLS ARE BASED ON COST TO REPAIR VS COST OF BEING SUED. RIGHT NOW IT COSTS MAZDA MORE TO REPAIR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES THAN IT WOULD TO PAY IF THEY GOT SUED BECAUSE NOBODY HAS DIED. THEY ARE WAITING FOR THAT. SICK SICK SICK! *TR

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

STOPPED FOR GAS. UPON TURNING VEHICLE BACK ON THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON, STILL NO POWER STEERING. IT HAS NEVER COME BACK, AND ON MOST DAYS STEERING IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE, (STEERING WHEEL VERY TIGHT, WILL NOT TURN). DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. MUST DRIVE DAILY FOR WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM OUT A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE AT MALL, PUT IN REVERSE AND OUT OF NOWHERE (NO WARNING) WE HAD NO POWER STEERING. DROVE THAT WAY FOR ABOUT 5 MILES, STOPPED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS THE STEERING WHEEL STARTING SHAKING WHEN IDLE OR EVEN IN PARK AND I AGAIN HAVE LOST POWER STEERING SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR OF THE SENSOR MODULAR IN THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES OUT, IT IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED MY MAZDA BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING BECAME VERY INTERMITTENT OVER THE PERIOD OF THREE WEEKS - WOULD WORK ONE DAY SOMETIMES AND NOT THE NEXT BEFORE QUITTING COMPLETELY LAST WEEK. WHEN IT WOULD WORK IT WOULD VIBRATE AND SHAKE AS TO NEED TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO DRIVE AT ALL TIMES. EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A PROPER RIGHT HAND TURN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN TORQUE SENSOR AND THE VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM ON THE TRIBUTES. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART FAILURE AS IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS!!!!! *TR

THE STEERING STARTED SHAKING AROUND THE 10TH OF FEBRUARY JUST WHEN IT WAS IN PARK. NOW IT IS SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY EVEN WHEN WE ARE DRIVING IT. THE STEERING HAS ALSO LOCKED UP ON ME TO THE POINT I HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF 1,500.00 OR SO. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE HOWEVER TRYING TO GET IT FIXED AT A REPUTABLE PLACE HAS BEEN A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING. *TR

THIS WEEK, AT A LOW SPEED OR IDLE, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE SLIGHTLY. TODAY, I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. UPON RETURNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY...MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I PULLED INTO AN AUTO ZONE TO CHECK STEERING FLUID AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAS AN ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, IT WAS WORKING FINE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. SO DANGEROUS! *TR

I HAVE NOTICED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WHEN DRIVING... COMING TO STOP. MY WHEEL SHAKES AND MAKES THIS NOISE. THEN MY WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP SO I HAVE TO CUT MY CAR OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT FOR IT TO LOOSEN UP. THEN PAST COUPLE OF DAYS THE WHEEL BEEN LOCKING UP WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO CUT OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT TO UNLOCK THE WHEEL. I SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS BUT MAZDA HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON THEM YET. IT'S CRAZY.....SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET A LAWSUIT. *TR

MY POWER STEERING STARTED GOING OUT ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND WOULD START WORKING AGAIN AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING. NOW IT IS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO WARNING AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL IS TWITCHING WHILE RUNNING AND WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY EXPLAINED THERE HAVE BEEN A HUGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS. I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IF A RECALL IS NOT DONE. *TR

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND SHOOK WHEN STOPPED AND SLOWING DOWN AFTER STARTING CAR, STEERING FROZE, TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, STEERING WAS FINE STEERING BECAME HARDER AND HARDER AS I DROVE- STOPPED USING AND TOOK TO AUTO SHOP NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON MECHANIC FOUND THAT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT HAD FAILED- THERE IS NO POWER STEERING ON MY CAR NOW. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I REACHED A STOP LIGHT. I PUSHED THE GAS AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND REVVED UP VERY HIGH BUT DID NOT MOVE. I DID THIS THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME I DID THIS IT REVVED AND WENT TO FLOOR BUT ACTUALLY MOVED AS NORMAL. THIS CYCLE HAPPENED TWICE THROUGH STOP LIGHTS BEFORE THE ORANGE WRENCH CAME ON. IT BEGAN FEELING VERY WEIRD TO DRIVE SO I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO A FIRESTONE WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION WAS ALMOST SHOT. THIS CAR IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND WAS FINE THAT MORNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE AND CONTINUED FOR 18 MILES UNTIL I REACHED THE FIRESTONE. *TR

STEERING FAILS. DEALER REPORTS STEERING TORQUE SENSOR HAS FAILED. *TR

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MOVING ON ITS OWN TRYING TO GET BACK LEFT - SHAKING UNCONTROBALLY. THE PEDAL BEGAN GETTING VERY STIFF AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PRESS ON IT FOR GAS IN ORDER TO MOVE. WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF AND CUT IT BACK ON THE ISSUE GOES AWAY. SOMETIMES IT TAKES THE CAR A FEW TIMES TO GET GOING. MEANING I HAVE TO CUT IT OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES. THE WHEEL CONTINUES TO SHAKE ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS NOT ON. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SO I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED BUT EVERYTHING WAS OK. RECENTLY (FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS) THE CAR'S STEERING HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING IN THE CAR. WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. WHILE IT RUNS I CANNOT STEER MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALER TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM IN AWE THAT A CAR SO NEW HAS THIS MANY MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. I NOW HAVE NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AS I AM TOLD THIS IS HTE ONLY THING THAT WILL FIX THE STEERING ISSUE. *TR

ON COLD MORNINGS THE GAS PEDDLE STICKS AND WON'T PRESS DOWN UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP COMPLETELY. SOMETIMES TAKES ALONG AS 15 MINUTES TO WARM UP ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THE GAS PEDDLE. AND SOMETIMES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MILES (AS MANY AS 15 MILES) THE GAS PEDDLE STICKS AGAIN AND NO GAS IS BEING SUPPLIED. I'VE HAD TO JUST COAST OFF THE ROAD AND PAT THE GAS PEDDLE UNTIL IT BREAKS LOOSE. *TR

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

WE WERE ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY GO APPROX. 55 MPH ON OUR WAY TO A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING THEN THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT. WE PULLED OVER, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. UPON RESTART THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE AT IDLE AND WHILE MOVING. THEN THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT AGAIN AND THE PATTERN WOULD START OVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES, TWICE FOR ME AND ONCE FOR MY WIFE. ALL THREE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FIRST STARTED, ALTHOUGH I DID DRIVE IT THE FIRST TIME WITH VERY GREAT EFFORT THINKING IT WAS A PERMANENT FAILURE AND I NEEDED TO GET IT HOME. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS VEHICLES SISTER FORD ESCAPE I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT APPEARS IN MY CASE THIS IS A SWITCH PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION. ALL THE CASES OCCURRED WHEN THE STEERING WAS LOCKED HARD AGAINST THE COLUMN LOCK ON PARKING. TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE LOCK IN A FREER POSITION RESULTED THE POWER STEERING WORKING. I HAVE ON SOME OCCASIONS NOTED THE STEERING 'TWITCHING' ON THE ROAD LIKE THE POWER STEERING DID NOT HAVE A COMPLETE CONNECTION. THE REASON THAT THIS FAILURE IS SO CONCERNING IS; I HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLES WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND WHEN CONVENTIONAL HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THOSE INSTANCES ARE MERELY ANNOYING, WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING THE EFFORT NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING IS GREATLY MAGNIFIED. YOU NOW MUST OVERCOME THE EXTRA STEERING EFFORT PLUS TURN A WORM GEAR DRIVEN MOTOR BACKWARDS. I AM A STRONG MAN AND IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT AND WAS EXTREMELY SLOW AT TURNING THE VEHICLE. MANY WOMEN AND SOME WEAKER MEN WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN A FAILURE AND IF AN ON THE ROAD FAILURE MAY NOT GET THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. I WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR MY VEHICLE TO TRACE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, FORDS CU

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO DEPRESS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ANY ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 94,055. *TR

WENT TO GET ICE CREAM SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING I CHECKED THE FUSES THEY WERE ALL FINE DROVE HOME WITHOUT POWERSTEERING THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE STEERING IS NOW WORKING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES RIGHT TO LEFT UNLESS YOUR TURNING AND CONTINUES TO RATTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE STEERING OPERATION IS INTERMITTENT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YOU HAVE TO START IT AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THEN IT WILL WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WANDERS WHEN DRIVING SIMILAR TO A WORN OUT TIE ROD BUT ONLY WHEN THE STEERING IS WORKING. MILEAGE IS 52354. *TR

CPSC: I1320536A. 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER STATED THESE CARS HAVE POWER STEERING CONTROL ISSUES. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE NEW ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AND THE LEAVE THE DRIVER WITHOUT STEERING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE CHARGING UNIT AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW MY STEERING HAS GRADUALLY BEEN DISPLAYING STIFF STEERING. IT HAS PROGRESSED AND WAS UNSURE WHY IT WAS DOING THIS BEING THAT IT HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE STEERING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND IT HAS GOTTEN STIFF. I WILL TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART AND IT WILL DRIVE NORMAL AND THEN EVENTUALLY WILL STIFFEN UP ON ME AGAIN AND AGAIN. THIS IS VERY SCARY BEING THAT I HAVE ALSO BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND EXITING AND HAVE TO GRAB AHOLD OF THE STEERING TO VEER OFF THE FREEWAY CAREFULLY. IT IS STRESSFUL TO BE IN A CAR THAT IS UNSAFE WHILE ON THE ROAD. GOD FORBID I HAVE TO SWERVE AWAY FROM DANGER AND I CAN'T BECAUSE I'M IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. I AM STILL PAYING ON MY CAR AND DON'T CARE FOR A DISPOSABLE CAR WHILE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS. I CONTACTED MAZDA IN VICTORVILLE, CA AND STATED THAT IT WOULD COST ME (YOU READY) $ 2,000.00 PLUS ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED TO PROGRAM MY KEYS. ABSURD!!! MY HUSBAND MADE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO GAVE HIM A PRICE OF $1500.00 AND A LOCAL ECOLOGY CENTER PRICED AT $300-400. NOW THAT'S ON A PART I RISK PURCHASING AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN!! THIS LOCAL JUNK YARD STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY TYPICAL PROBLEM THEY HAVE HAD WITH MAZDA'S COMING IN. I CALLED MAZDA TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. NOT!! IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND A RECALL PROBLEM! I'M STILL PAYING ON MY CAR!! THIS IS A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,100.

WHEN I WENT FROM LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ST WE LIVE ON I HAD NO PWER STEERING SO I CONTINUED TO GO TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS VERY LUCKY AS WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN COULDN'T STEER IT, HARD TO AND HARDLY STEER AT ALL, ENDED UP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A MAIN ST AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RIGHT, THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE AND DON'T KNOW WHY MAZDA HASN'T PUT A RECALL ON THE TRIBUTE THEY KNOW THERE IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MAZDA 3 & 5 MODELS, AS I KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRIBUTE 2008! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO COMPLETE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AS IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS LATER TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 01/09/13*LJ UPDATED 1/11/2013 *JS

THE LOWER STEERING UNIVERSAL JOINT AND 2 INNER TIE RODS 1 OUTER WERE ALL FOUND TO CONTRIBUTE TO POOR ALIGNMENT-THE STEERING U-JOINT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED[MAZDA] WHEN NEW --AS THE JOINT WAS SUPPOSED TO MOVE FREELY IN 4 DIRECTIONS FLUIDLY--BUT, WHEN REMOVED IT WAS FROZEN;----AND U- JOINT MOVEMENT WASN'T POSSIBLE IN TWO POINTS OR DIRECTION ; I.E. FOUND LOOSE -NOT GREASED--LEADING TO SLACK AND FAILURE OF THE OTHER NAMED PARTS--WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE SLACK OVERALL IN STEERING WHEEL! OVERALL THE WARRANTY --WAS WORTHLESS AND COSTS 2500.00 OF SELL PRICE-SO BETWEEN THESE FAILURES AND A PREVIOUS REPORT WE'VE SPENT OVER 2500.00 ON REPAIRS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MAZDA--THESE ARE REPAIRS THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY COVERED BY WARRANTY! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V357000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE DEALER ONLY HAD CERTAIN PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE REMAINING PARTS WOULD NOT BECOME AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE OCTOBER 2012. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR TIME HAD EXCEEDED THE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME AND STATED THAT NOT HAVING THE SPEED CONTROL COMPONENT REPAIRED WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO FULLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS VEHICLE SURGED ABRUPTLY BEFORE FINALLY ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CARBON BUILD-UP ON THE THROTTLE BODY. THE REMEDY WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

WE HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE 3 WINDOW REGULATORS. (3 DIFFERENT DOORS.) NO WARNING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH WINDOW. 1 TIME WE WERE DRIVING WHEN WINDOW JUST DROPPED OPEN. WE LIVE IN FLORIDA AND RARELY USE THE WINDOWS AT ALL. THE 2 BACK WINDOWS FAILED WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. *TR

TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE FOR SERVICE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND FLUSHED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING AND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND FORD ESCORT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR BECAUSE THEY WERE BUILT INTO THE SAME PART. THEY TOLD ME $550 MIN. TO REPLACE. I THEN DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND WENT TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT MAZDA HAD A PROGRAM TO FIX THIS BUT THE DATE WAS UP AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO BUT PAY TO FIX IT. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID $1100 TO FIX IT. I WENT NUTS AND TOLD THEM THIS WAS A RIP-OFF. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL MAZDA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE COST SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A PROGRAM TO FIX IT FOR CUSTOMERS. THEY CALL BACK LAST THURSDAY TO TELL ME THAT MAZDA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING IN ANYWAY AND REJECTED THE REQUEST. I TOLD THEM THIS WOULD MAKE THE DECISION FOR ME ON BUYING A FOURTH MAZDA. I'M A REPEAT CUSTOMER AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN ASK THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION. THE IS A BAD PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND MAZDA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX IT!!! *TR

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

WAS DRIVING ON THE WAY HOME AT 45MPH AND THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I PULL ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE BRAKE PUT IN PARK. AFTER FEW MINUTE I TRIED TO HIT THE PEDAL AND IT COME BACK .THIS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE IF I HAVE MY KIDS WITH ME AND I WILL BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY ROAD. THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY MAZDA AS THIS CALL SO MUCH DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. THANKS. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER. *TT

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL A LOUD CLUNK NOISE IS APPARENT AND STEERING FEELS DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TR