Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Mazda Tribute, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling167
- Electrical system81
- Power train69
- Latches/locks/linkages59
- Service brakes, hydraulic46
- Structure45
- Vehicle speed control40
- Steering35
- Fuel system, gasoline31
- Visibility25
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 15 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 2001 Tribute vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Mazda Tribute failed the safety check 1.46% of the time — 27% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 157,168 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
46 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 15% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen23
- Band onvoldoende profiel18
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde18
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld10
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af9
- Stuurkogel te veel speling9
- Roestschade dorpel7
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
9 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 27 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
5 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 264,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
433 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports, 14% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.4–13.1 L/100 km (about 18–23 mpg US), CO₂ 239–301 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribute · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.4 | 9.1 | 10.4 |
| Tribute 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 9.8 | 11.0 |
| Tribute · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 10.5 | 12.8 |
| Tribute 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 10.9 | 13.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
10 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Mazda Tribute.
| 2014537 28 Nov 2014 | Structure On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, Ne… |
| 2014117 7 Apr 2014 | Suspension On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, N… |
| 2012237 27 Jul 2012 | Other On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine and speed control, inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could … |
| 2012020 21 Jan 2012 | Brakes Certain vehicles may have been originally equipped with a brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak. If brake fluid leaks from the cap, it could come… |
| 2007119 16 Apr 2007 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the electrical wiring connector to the ABS module may have been manufactured incorrectly. Over time, contaminants can enter the ABS electr… |
| 2004133 14 Apr 2004 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine, during deceleration at vehicle speeds below 64 km/h, the engine may stall due to an excessively rich fuel-ai… |
| 2003337 16 Dec 2003 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, a post molded into the inside surface of the front safety belt buckle cover may fracture. The fractured buckle cover post may affect the b… |
| 2000295 15 Dec 2000 | Visual System On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper linkage may disengage due to a broken ball socket which will likely result in sudden and complete loss of the windshie… |
| 2001149 13 Nov 2000 | Seats And Restraints Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with requirements of C.M.V.S.S. No. 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems." The owner's manuals do not indicate … |
| 2000212 2 Oct 2000 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the o-ring seals in the fuel line connector at the fuel filter outlet may have been damaged during assembly. This damage can result in fue… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 2000, THROUGH JULY 19, 2002. THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID. IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKS, IT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 DURATEC ENGINES , DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A POST WITHIN THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE COVERS COULD FRACTURE, WHICH COULD AFFECT LATCH FUNCTION, RESULTING IN EITHER A "NO LATCH" OR "PARTIAL LATCH" CONDITION. IN THE "PARTIAL LATCH" CONDITION, THE BUCKLE TONGUE CAN BE INSERTED INTO THE BUCKLE AND APPEAR TO BE ENGAGED, BUT WILL RELEASE FROM THE BUCKLE WITHOUT THE PUSH BUTTON BEING DEPRESSED WHEN A RELATIVELY LOW LOAD IS APPLIED, SUCH AS WHEN AN OCCUPANT MOVES SLIGHTLY IN THE SEAT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE CAN DISENGAGE DUE TO A BROKEN BALL SOCKET.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE OWNER'S MANUALS DO NOT INDICATE WHICH SEATING POSITIONS ARE EQUIPPED WITH CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGES. ALSO, THE MANUALS DO NOT EXPLAIN THE MARKINGS IN THE VEHICLES THAT LOCATE THE LOWER ANCHORAGES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE O-RING SEALS IN THE FUEL LINE CONNECTOR AT THE OUTLET END OF THE FUEL FILTER WERE DAMAGED WHEN THE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. IN SOME CASES, THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A FUEL ODOR, OR POSSIBLY IN FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE CONNECTION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME 4X2 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY BEEN BUILT WITH 4X4 REAR HUBS INSTEAD OF 4X2 HUBS. IF THE INCORRECT HUBS ARE INSTALLED ON A 4X2 VEHICLE, THE REAR WHEELS CAN LOOSEN, OR IN SOME CASES, SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL. THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CAN HAVE A CRACKED OR MISSING SPEED CONTROL CABLE SERVO CAP LOCATING TAB. THE LOCATING TAB COULD ENTER THE SERVO CLUTCH CAVITY AND INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO CLUTCH. ALSO, WATER COULD ENTER THOSE UNITS THAT CONTAIN A CRACKED OR MISSING SERVO CAP LOCATING TAB, EVENTUALLY CAUSING CORROSION THAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE FUNCTION OF THE SPEED CONTROL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A MIS-ASSEMBLED OR INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED NUT THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NUT COULD BE UPSIDE DOWN IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, WHICH COULD OVERSTRESS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WHEN THE NUT IS TIGHTENED. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE NUTS MAY HAVE BEEN CRACKED DURING MANUFACTURE RESULTING IN THE NUT FRACTURING WHEN IT IS TIGHTENED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 2001 Mazda Tribute: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635775 | SUBJECT REGARDING PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT (PATS) DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE TIPS. *TT |
| 635773 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR CONDITIONING MUSTY / MILDEW ODOR. *TT |
| 635766 | SOME VEHCLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L ENGINE AND A MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A ROLLING IDLE CONDITION IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 635764 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L DURATEC ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT ENGINE QUIT CONDITION. *TT |
| 635042 | INFORMATION REGARDING LOSS OF POWER DUE TO SPEED LIMITER MALFUNCTION.* TT |
| 635041 | SOME 2001 2.0L 4X4 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES MAY EXHIBIT GEARSHIFT LEVER BUZZ, RATTLE, OR WHINE IN 3RD GEAR. *TT |
| 635039 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INOPERATIVE OR INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER, 4X4 LAMP ILLUMINATION, AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1635 AND / OR P1639, P0602 PRESENT AFTER POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) OR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 635035 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF NOT BEING ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR REMAINS ON THE FLOOR. *TT |
| 634467 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT ENGINE QUIT OR IDLE DIP, REGARDING 3.0 L DURATEC ENGINES ONLY. *SLC |
| 634463 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 12-FEB-2002 MAY EXHIBIT A POWER STEERING LEAK AT THE RETURN HOSE AND/OR COOLER HOSE AT THE INTERMEDIATE TUBE ASSEMBLY DURING EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES -20 TO -28 DEGREES CELCIUS. *SLC |
| 634458 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HESITATION ON ACCELERATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START UP OR DURING ENGINE WARM UP BETWEEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OF 10-32 DEGREES C. *SLC |
| 634452 | SOME VEHICLES WITH A 3.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE PINGING DURING HARD ACCELERATION (FULL THROTTLE) FROM 4000-5500 RPM WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED AND WITH LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. *SLC |
| 634451 | SUBJECT REGARDING LOSS OF POWER, 2.0L WITH VINS LOWER THAN 4F2 U0 B 1KM52163. *SLC |
| 634441 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 31-JUL-01 MAY EXHIBIT A HEADLINER SAG/LOOSE CONDITION AT REAR QUARTER GLASS AREA NEAR C/D PILLAR. *SLC |
| 634439 | SUBJECT REGARDING A WHINING/BUZZING NOISE FROM RADIO SPEAKERS. *SLC |
| 634381 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIP IN CENTER OF INSTRUMENT PANEL. *SLC |
| 634363 | SUBJECT REGARDING HARSH/DELAYED UPSHIFTS AFTER TSS SENSOR REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 634351 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455, P0456 AND P0457, VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 06-JUNE-2001. *SLC |
| 634338 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHARGE LAMP ILLUMINATION OR DISCHARGED BATTERY FOR VEHICLES WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES. *SLC |
| 634325 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION OF OXYGEN SENSOR, CATALYST EFFICIENCY AND FUEL SYSTEM MONITORS. *SLC |
| 634322 | SUBJECT REGARDING RECOMMENDED ENGINE OIL. *SLC |
| 627931 | SUBJECT REGARDING FALSE LOW COOLANT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION.*JG |
| 627921 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHARGE LAMP ILLUMINATION OR DISCHARGED BATTERY. *JG |
| 620902 | SOME 4X4 VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A REAR AXLE PINION SEAL LEAK AT THE ROTARY BLADE COUPLING (RBC). *TT |
| 620895 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT FROM 7/8/2000 THROUGH 2/12/2001 MAY EXHIBIT A RED CHARGE LAMP ILLUMINATION IN COLD AMBIENT TEMPREATURES (BELOW 20 F). *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Stuck Throttle
Cruise Control Cable
Engine Compartment Fire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
ENGINE STALLING
ENGINE STALLING
GASOLINE VAPOR INTRUSION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation