Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Mazda Tribute owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I bought this car from a guy in July of this year and he said "the gas pedal gets stuck sometimes but if you just pump the pedal several times it should stop". Well the gas pedal doesn't get stuck sometimes, it gets stuck all the time. It gets stuck and either causes the car not to start or it causes the engine to rev. When I am driving it'll get stuck and accelerate the car when I'm not even pressing the gas pedal and sometimes it causes the brakes to not work either. The only reason I haven't gotten in an accident yet is because it is a stick shift and I'm able to pull it out of gear but it still causes the engine to rev and isn't safe at all. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a burning smell was coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact merged to the should of the road and noticed that the brake master cylinder reservoir cap was leaking brake fluid. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V016000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000 and the current mileage was 161,000.
Brakes failed to stop vehicle within 200ft, started as a regular braking but only slowed, applied full force and held foot pressure. No pulsating and slowed to approximately 5 MPH. Turned car right to avoid car and bumped his right back bumper with my left front bumper. Minimal damage to other vehicle. My bumper has a 3 inch rip in bumper. Road was dry but it acted like the brakes where wet, Mazda recalled ABS in March 2007 by NHTSA records, I did not receive a recall on this ! Can you help, brake pads replaced approximately 12,000 miles ago.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Mazda Tribute. The vehicle caught fire under the hood after being parked for approximately two hours. As of October 9, 2007, the dealer or manufacturer had not inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that the electrical system caused the fire. There were no injuries or property damage. The current and failure mileages were 73,000. A police report was filed. Charleston police report. Updated 10/31/07
I was at a red light making a right turn. The light turned green I proceeded to drive the vehicle speed went from 25 MPH to 40 MPH and breaks failed. I was able to stop the vehicle and then put it in park. The engine was still racing and I shut the car off waited about 5 min turned the car on engine was still racing and then all went back to normal including the breaks.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the brakes failed, causing the vehicle to crash into a fence. The vehicle was towed to the owner's home. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were 157,000.
There is not enough space to file my whole complaint here, I will work with what I have. The recall part on my 2001 Mazda Tribute for the ABS module was not in stock after waiting 1 hour after scheduling 2 weeks in advance the recall appointment. So my daughter had to drive away with the same faulty fire safety problem with them knowing it and us receiving the recall notice by setting appointment for the recall part to be changed. Now for the best part to this ongoing problem is the filling you in on the previous problem. This same 2001 Mazda Tribute's ABS module recall part caught this same Mazda Tribute on fire around 4 years ago while parked in my parking lot for hours. If a neighbor would not have been outside and saw smoke coming out from the under the hood and called the fire dept. …
On Saturday, May 15, my daughter and I were traveling in our 2001 Mazda se lx. In st. Paul, mn. My 22-year old daughter was driving. We were sitting at a stop-light when the brake pedal slowly dropped to the floor. There was minimal braking power left, but enough to get home. On mon, May 15, vehicle was towed to our repair garage and diagnosed with two front brake hoses (adjacent to wheels) that had "exploded " after investigation, we learned that brake-hose failures of Ford escapes and Mazda tributes of that era were extremely common. In a 2 - 3 weeks, we're replacing the rear hoses for safety. I do not know why Mazda has failed to issue a recall with respect to this issue.. While the vehicle has had more repair issues than any other I've owned, this issue is potentially lethal, particularly if one is traveling on a highway. A recall should be required immediately on these hoses. …
When I am driving on a local drive, and tried to slow down for the construction work about 50 yards in front of the vehicle, I stepped on the brake and felt no brake at all, even I stepped all the way to the bottom. I tried again and again, and the same thing happened. I almost thought I was in a dream, a nightmare. Then, I remembered the hand brake, which was more or less functioning at the time, and also shifted the gear toward parking. At the same time, I was looking something that could put the vehicle at the full stop. Fortunately, it was a slightly uphill drive and no other vehicles behind or in front of me. So the vehicle stopped slowly, after it was on the parking gear. I called aaa. When the help from aaa came, he pointed out to me that there was some fluid gushing out from underneath the hood at the right front, next to the wheel. I did not recognize what it was then. …
1.the first problem I had with my Tribute was all the power steering fluid had leaked out, so they replaced the rack and pinion. 2.the second, when going for my first brake job I'm informed that the front rotors are too thin and under specs. And need to be replaced (a $700 job) so, I went to Mazda and they said the brake pads are too hard for the rotors are are unusually wearing so, they replaced my rotors. 3.the third, a week later I'm strained, because the starter stuck and burned itself out, they towed the car and replaced the starter. 4.the fourth, they told me that the master cylinder had leakage so, I had to have them fix that. 5.the fifth, now I am currently dealing with a sputtering or cluncking noise that occurs upon slow acceleration of 40 MPH with pedal vibration and also occurs sometimes at 60 MPH now. They haven't been able to figure out and fix this problem yet. …
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
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,…
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 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…
Brake complaints in other Tribute years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Mazda Tribute?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Mazda Tribute, 10% of the model year's 563 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Mazda Tribute brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-016 (control unit/module, Jan 20, 2012); NHTSA recall 07V-157 (control unit/module, Apr 10, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Mazda Tribute brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 117,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 6 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.