2008 Mazda Tribute problems
Owners have filed 251 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mazda Tribute. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 37% of complaints. Next are cruise control (21%) and drivetrain & axles (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 251 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 38% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 9 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 207 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 | 13 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 23 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 30 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 27 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 25 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 17 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 9 |
| 200k+ miles | 8 |
What the data shows
Of the 207 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 82,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 102,000 miles (72 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 9 complaints mention a crash; 2 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 2008 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the Mazda Tribute with enough data (111 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 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.
Air bags did not deploy in 2008 mazda tribute when it crashed into a utility pole. The car has been declared total loss. There are injuries that could have been prevented by deployment. This car was purchased by my father I believe in june and he was driving.
Rear end collision 10/4/09. Stopped with turn signal on to turn into a parking lot. Rear ended, both front passengers had seat belts on. We were thrown forward and then backward breaking both front seats. Injuries back, hip, broken vertebra in neck from being thrown around. Very disappointed at the seat breaking causing us more body damage. Entire back of vehicle pushed in and buckled roof. Car was purchased 4/19/08 and had less then 6000 miles on it.
The gas pedal is sticking, not allowing you to accelerate. My wife and I purchased this car so that our son would be safe. It has happened at stop signs and on the highway going 65-70MPH. It happened around ten separate occasions, mostly in the morning. I would hate for my family to be in the car when something were to happen. We want to fix the problem but this seems to be a chronic issue with the mazda tribute. We love our car. Can you please help?
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.