2005 Mazda Tribute Problems and Recalls (375 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2005 Mazda Tribute is Suspension (25% of 375 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Suspension — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 375 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2005 Mazda Tribute?

92 of 375 filings named Suspension (25% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Cruise / speed control (78 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2004 has 155 reports on file; this year has 375. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2005 Mazda Tribute

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  3. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  4. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Suspension. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Suspension 92 complaints · 24.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 16
  • Fires 4
  • Injuries 13
  • Deaths 0
All Mazda Tribute years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Suspension (SUSPENSION) appears in 92 of 375 owner complaints (24.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Suspension (SUSPENSION): 92 complaints, 24.5% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 92 · 24.5% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 78 complaints, 20.8% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 crash reports 78 · 20.8% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 70 complaints, 18.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 crash reports 70 · 18.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 19 complaints, 5.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 19 · 5.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 19 complaints, 5.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 19 · 5.1% Engine (ENGINE): 17 complaints, 4.5% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 fire reports 17 · 4.5% Wheels (WHEELS): 16 complaints, 4.3% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 16 · 4.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 15 complaints, 4.0% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 15 · 4.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 7 complaints, 1.9% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 7 · 1.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 143 complaints, 38.1% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 8 crash reports 1 fire reports 143 · 38.1% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 92 24.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 78 20.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 70 18.7% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 19 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 19 5.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 17 4.5% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 16 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 15 4.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 7 1.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 143 38.1% 8 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2004; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2004. 2004-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2008-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2009-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2011-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2011-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2012-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2013-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2013-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2014-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2014-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2015-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2015-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2015-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2015-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2016-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2016-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2016-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2004 Jul 2024 Recall campaign 04V605000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V605000 Recall campaign 06V116000 ◆ Recall campaign 06V116000 Recall campaign 12V357000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V357000 Recall campaign 15E045000 ◆ Recall campaign 15E045000
  • Campaign 04V605000 was reported 120 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06V116000 was reported 595 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15E045000 was reported 3,964 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2004-Q3 Owner reports 4
2004-Q4 Owner reports 2
2005-Q1 Owner reports 4
2005-Q2 Owner reports 5
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 3
2006-Q3 Owner reports 3
2006-Q4 Owner reports 3
2007-Q1 Owner reports 3
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 3
2008-Q3 Owner reports 5
2008-Q4 Owner reports 6
2009-Q1 Owner reports 4
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 3
2009-Q4 Owner reports 9
2010-Q1 Owner reports 3
2010-Q2 Owner reports 6
2010-Q3 Owner reports 2
2010-Q4 Owner reports 10
2011-Q1 Owner reports 4
2011-Q2 Owner reports 6
2011-Q4 Owner reports 5
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 10
2012-Q4 Owner reports 9
2013-Q1 Owner reports 6
2013-Q2 Owner reports 3
2013-Q3 Owner reports 4
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q1 Owner reports 8
2014-Q2 Owner reports 15
2014-Q3 Owner reports 15
2014-Q4 Owner reports 12
2015-Q1 Owner reports 15
2015-Q2 Owner reports 16
2015-Q3 Owner reports 18
2015-Q4 Owner reports 6
2016-Q1 Owner reports 13
2016-Q2 Owner reports 13
2016-Q3 Owner reports 13
2016-Q4 Owner reports 11
2017-Q1 Owner reports 5
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 10
2017-Q4 Owner reports 8
2018-Q1 Owner reports 5
2018-Q2 Owner reports 5
2018-Q3 Owner reports 5
2018-Q4 Owner reports 6
2019-Q1 Owner reports 4
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 5
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 04V605000
Recall campaign 1 06V116000
Recall campaign 1 12V357000
Recall campaign 1 15E045000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Suspension.

  1. Recall campaign 04V605000

    Safety recall 04V605000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06V116000

    Safety recall 06V116000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLINER IN THE AFFECTED AREA FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 12V357000

    Safety recall 12V357000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-5500, option #6.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 15E045000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 375 complaints · page 1 of 15
2024-07-21Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11603615
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Passenger rear shock mount toatly rusted through. A big hole!
2023-07-25Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11534298
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear passenger shock mount rusted out completely
2023-04-23Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11518499
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The rear wheel well was completely rusted out while the other side is fine. The shock broke loose causing the vehicle to drop down. I have a 17 year old that is not an experienced driver and this could have resulted in her getting seriously hurt. From what I read they recalled the vehicle to to 2004 and I don’t understand why they did not recall this one. They should have and this is a serious safety issue. Does someone have to die before they see that this needs to be fixed?
2022-01-04Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11446098
CrashFireInjuryDeath
owned since day one, bought brand new, religiously maintained, perfect shape other than completely rusted wheel house back left passenger side. Shock went through rusted area all the way to trunk. Mazda recalled models 2003 to 2004 for this problem yet so many 2005 Mazda Tribute owners are having exact problem especially when manufactured in 2004! This is serious and I had my granddaughter with me when this happened and yet Mazda wants to do nothing about it when it’s a serious hazard and ongoing problem with the 2005’s. It is always the back passenger side with this problem! I have no money to purchase a car and now my lifeline to support my family is broke!
2022-01-02Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11445860
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out and the brake mount is deteriorating as well affecting the safety of the vehicle. I have been told that this is a common issue on Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape models for the years 2001-2005 by my mechanic as well as Mazda dealer reps. They stated the 2001-2004 models were recalled but not the 2005. However, t hey mentioned that these should likely have been recalled as well. One would think that if you take care of your car that the components of the frame should not rust out.
2021-10-07Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11435888
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I have found several complaints on the 2005 Mazda Tribute with the rear wheel well rusting out. Mazda did a recall on the 2004 but not the 2005. I previously had to replace the rear wheel in 2018 and it now needs replaced again due to rusting. With the number of complaints I have read, along with the outrageous cost to repair, I do not understand why Mazda, nor the NHTSA have done anything about this. A recall NEEDS to be issued ASAP.
2021-09-17Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11433399
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The wheel well rusted out, completely leaving the shock tower and stability of the car at risk, rusted out completely, I'm a light backyard mechanic and I've seen the Ford do the same . The repair is almost the value of the car, and unless you trust them your basically buying a new vehicle, because while you're there may change the set of shock's and absorber that's about 700. To include. This car had a rumor of being as good as the Everlasting Santa Fe, and Toyota 4runner. Vehicle is in pristine shape aside from the fatal rust.. recall recall recall recall
2021-05-09Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11415738
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER MAZDA TRUBUTES, THE WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE STRUT IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE, YET PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRED A RECALL FOR OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTES, BUT NOT THE 2005 VERSION. ACCORDING TO MANY FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER 05 TRIBUTES.
2021-04-20Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11413086
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER RUSTED OUT AND SHOCK BROKE THROUGH AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SEVER RUST ON RIGHT SIDE OF FRONT SUB FRAME AS WELL. I CAME ACROSS THIS PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE.
2021-02-05Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11394906
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RIGHT REAR FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT ENOUGH TO CAUSE BRAKE AND SHOCK ISSUES CAUSING A PERFECTLY GOOD VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS. THE SHOCK AND BRAKE LINE BROKE AND THE VEHICLE SLID TO A STOP.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2005 Mazda Tribute?

Owners named Suspension most often — 92 of 375 reports (25%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2005 Mazda Tribute?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2005 Mazda Tribute?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources