Most common 2001 Mazda Tribute problems
Share of the 563 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Tribute complaints by model year
Best Tribute years: 2011, 2000, 2009. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008. Compare all years →
2001 Mazda Tribute recalls (13)
Structure › Frame and members
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…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Vehicle speed control › Cables
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
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.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modify the ABS electrical system, free of charge.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0l v6 Duratec engines , during deceleration, the engine can stall.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the power control module (PCM) with the appropriate calibration. The recall began on May 3, 2004. Owners should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Show 7 more recalls
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
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.
Remedy: Dealers will have the driver and front passenger safety belt buckle cover removed and replaced with a newly designed service buckle cover. Owner notification began February 5, 2004.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The windshield wiper linkage can disengage due to a broken ball socket.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiper module.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
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.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with revised owner manuals.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel line.
Wheels › Hubcap/cover
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear hubs and, if necessary, replace them.
Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel retention armature and, if necessary, the steering column to correct this condition.
Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the speed control cables. Vehicles with speed control cables from cavities 3 and 4 will have the cable the speed control servo replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 10 possible defects involving the 2001 Mazda Tribute:
Engine compartment fire
In letters dated March 30, 2007, Ford motor company (Ford) and Mazda north American operations (Mazda) notified the agency that they will conduct recalls 07v-156 and 07v-157, respectively, to remedy a safety defect that May result in fire in a wiring connector used in certain model year (my) 2001-2004 Ford escape and Mazda tribute vehicles equipped with ABS.the recall campaign prescribes an inspection of the subject…
Gasoline vapor intrusion
There is no summary currently available
Stuck Throttle
In a letter dated July 25, 2012 Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-353 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, which could result in a stuck throttle condition.The vehicles involved are model year (MY) 2001 through MY 2004 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6…
Engine compartment fire
In letters dated March 30, 2007, Ford and Mazda notified NHTSA that they will conduct safety recalls to remedy a safety defect that May result in fire in a wiring connector used in certain model year (my) 2001-2004 Ford escape and Mazda tribute sport utility vehicles equipped with ABS.recall 07v-156 involves approximately 446,450 my 2001-2004 escape vehicles manufactured from October 22, 1999 through January 23,…
Safety belt buckle failure
This investigation was opened on July 14, 2003 based on 4 reports alleging the driver's safety belt buckle failed to latch or remain latched.Mazda notified odi that it transferred engineering responsibility to Ford when the vehicle design was brought to the united states for production in Ford's assembly plants.Ford determined that the safety belt buckle is subject to lateral flexing during use that could allow a…
Engine stalling
Engine Compartment Fire
Ford and Mazda recalled model year (MY) 2001 through 2004 Ford Escape (07V-156) and Mazda Tribute (07V-157) vehicles due to non-crash fires or non-fire thermal events originating in the engine compartment at or near the ABS control module.Approximately 545,700 vehicles were subject to the initial safety recalls and approximately 424,700 vehicles were serviced under those campaigns.
Engine stalling
Ford's and Mazda's letters to NHTSA dated April 5 and April 9, 2004, state that they will recall model year 2001-03 Ford escape and Mazda tribute vehicles with the v6 engine built thru September 11, 2002.dealers will adjust engine calibration in the programmable control module (PCM), which in its current setting, can cause the engine to shut down if the vehicle is decelerating at speeds below 40 MPH.
Cruise Control Cable
On July 8, 2012, The Center for Auto Safety has petitioned NHTSA to open defect investigations on Model Year (MY) 2002 ? 2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles with certain cruise control cables.The Center for Auto Safety has also petitioned for a hearing to address whether Ford Motor Company (Ford) and Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) met their obligations to notify owners and correct a defect in…
Engine compartment fire
The office of defects investigation (odi) received a defect petition dated March 5, 2009 alleging that the petitioner never received the recall remedy for 07v-156 and that, as a result, the petitioner's my2003 Ford escape caught fire at the ABS control module.in response to odi follow-up, the manufacturer verified that the petitioner's vehicle had in fact received service related to safety recall 07V156 - a fact…
What 2001 Mazda Tribute owners say
Engine & cooling all 171 →
The contact owns a 2001 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling and occasionally while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would stall with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ECM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referenced an unknown recall that had since been expired. The failure mileage was 132,923.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mazda Tribute. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the cruise control failed. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted, but failed to drive. The vehicle was taken to the residence where the contact was staying. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 211,000.
Electrical system all 81 →
Tl*- the contact complained against Honda motors about a 2001 Mazda Tribute that caused a fire at the san francisco embarcadero underground parking garage. The vehicle was parked on the lower level of the garage at 7:00 am Wednesday 3-28-07. At about 8:30 am the parking attendant noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle, then called the fire department. The engine compartment displayed signs that the fire originated from this area of the vehicle. The fire caused damage to one other vehicle parked next to it. The contact wanted to file a complaint against Honda motors since the vehicle had only 70,000 miles and had a service check about 4 months prior to this incident. The contact believed that this was related to current complaints about the ABS system on these vehicles.
Our 2001 Mazda Tribute was parked in the garage at the embarcadero center in sf on Wednesday 03/28/07 at 7:00 am and it was later reported to us by the garage personnel that at about 8:30 am it started smoking then caught fire. Everything under the hood burned to the ground and inside the car the dash was completely burned as well - it looked like a sink-hole. The tires were melted, the engine oozed all over the ground, the fenders melted, and the windshield was broken.
Transmission & drivetrain all 69 →
Put the car in reverse and could not get it out of reverse. Steering totally locked up. I looked on google and this seems to be happening quite a bit and a few years have already been recalled. I was in a cvs parking lot when this happened. Blocked traffic and people were not happy.
Owned my Tribute for a year before the problems began. On 3/15/02 I took it in because the low coolant light kept coming on. The dealership couldn't find a problem, but I had them do a 30K mile service and check everything from front to back. Had a rental for two days. On 6/10/02 I took it in because it suddenly started stalling dead at stops and yields. I almost wrecked due to this. Cause: internal failure. The dealership replaced the control unit, idle air valve, coolant fan relay. I had a rental for three days. On 8/5/02 it had to be towed because the ignition switch completely locked up and wouldn't turn. Dealership put in a new ignition switch and cylinder. My keys had to be reprogrammed. I had a rental for two days. On 11/13/02 I took it in because the check engine light kept coming on and the engine did not idle smoothly. …
2001 Mazda Tribute engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mazda Tribute a good car?
Based on 563 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Tribute rates avoid: 5.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Tribute at the same age. It is one of the Tribute years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Mazda Tribute?
The engine & cooling — 171 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the electrical system (81) and transmission & drivetrain (69).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mazda Tribute have?
There are 13 recalls for the 2001 Mazda Tribute, the most recent from April 4, 2014 (frame and members). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Tribute?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2000 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2008. See the full Mazda Tribute years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Mazda Tribute problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.