2002 Mazda Tribute problems
Owners have filed 502 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mazda Tribute. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 26% of complaints. Next are brakes (18%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 502 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 26% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 24 and 29
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 280 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 46 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 45 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 30 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 39 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 22 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 28 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 22 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 12 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 8 |
| 200k+ miles | 9 |
What the data shows
Of the 280 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 70,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 25,000 miles (45 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 24 complaints mention a crash; 29 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the Mazda Tribute with enough data (302 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Driver of vehicle 1 ran red light at an approximate speed of 40-45 MPH and hit passenger door of vehicle 2 causing severe damage to passenger side of vehicle 2 and totally front end of vehicle 1. We own vehicle 2. It is a mazda tribute 4 door sports utility vehicle with dual front air bags and option air bag 2 which is front-side air bags. We have digital pictures of vehicle 2 that we can send you.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 mazda tribute. While driving forward at approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle made a left turn and crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained face lacerations from plastic fragments after the air bag deployed, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.
NHTSA recall 04v583000 on the accelerator cable. Approximately two years after having the accelerator cable replaced the problem recurred. While driving 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. The driver applied the brake pedal and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The driver was not able to maintain control of the vehicle and collided into a light pole. This caused the driver to sustain minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the front passenger door malfunctioned and as a result, she unable to unlocked or open the door. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000 and the current mileage was 152,000. The consumer stated brake fluid leaked which caused her to not have any brakes. As a result, the consumer had an accident and hit a pole.
After starting the vehicle air bag warning light illuminated while the vehicle was being operated. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.