Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
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. …
The vehicle shut off (engine stopped) when coasting downhill toward construction barrels. Was able to avoid barrels by turning into unoccupied turn lane. Power steering had gone out. Power brakes had gone out. Have owned the car for three weeks. Occurred once. Noticed that a recall (campaign id # 04V175000) that required reprogramming of the PCM module, and the symptoms of which exactly described this problem, existed for this vehicle model year. Made an appointment with dealer to check the car the following day. The dealer told me that there were no open recalls on my vehicle so I decided to pay for a diagnostic test. The test uncovered that the PCM module did need the reprogramming which the dealer did, but they also told me that the car needed additional parts to completely resolve the problem which I had to pay for. …
On July 9, 2007, I paid to have my transmission rebuilt after a transmission failure in our 2001 Mazda Tribute, (es-v6 4wd), resulted in stranding my wife and young daughter on a busy roadside, 45 miles from home, in san leandro. At the time of the transmission failure the car had 93,782 miles on it. I purchased the Mazda new in 2001 from the almaden Mazda dealership in san jose. (now capitol Mazda). The transmission repair involved towing the car to a shop and rebuilding the automatic transmission. The rebuild included replacing the torque converter, solenoids, direct drum, shell, pistons, and a valve body upgrade among other parts. The repair cost was $3085.00 plus towing charges. The incident also resulted in the loss of use of the car for 1 week. At the time of the failure the car was out of warranty, and I considered myself an unfortunate victim of unusual circumstances. …
I have just found this website and realized that an existing problem that I had been complaining about in my car. The dealer claimed the problem didn't exist ,even after the first recall. I brought in to fix. I had no knowledge of the power train recall the manufacturer never informed me of this problem at all nor the dealer. I've been an owner for 6 years. An extended warranty, I am apauled at the way Mazda Ford dealers handle there customers after repeatedly telling them of this problem. I'd like to know what I'm going to do at this point but to engage a petiton to my friends and family not to buy this product Ford Mazda. I think this is wrong on your part what can I do about this problem now that it's getting worst . You've put my life and my families life at risk knowing that if my car stalls out while driving which it has already happened on a few occasions. …
There is something very wrong here with this vehicle, I have had 2 transmissions counting the first one installed by Mazda. I found this site today and read what I have been looking for. Consumers who are at high risk driving an unsafe vehicle. The fact that it completely stalls while driving is unacceptable. This is a harmful and expensive vehicle to operate. I also found that Mazda and or any dealership involved with this vehicle is not going to support the consumer at all. I had to pay for 2 transmissions of 9500 total. No help at all from Mazda, or Ford for the bad transmission I got on the 2nd time it failed. It is now dead again in the driveway, less than a year after the 3rd transmission was installed. I hope someone gets madza or our government to step in and take care of this matter as it is huge safety problem. …
This complain concerns the powertrain - automatic transmission. The car, was parked during the day in a standard parking spot. When I later tried to back up, it would not go into reverse. It had worked perfectly that morning! The car was brought to a local mechanic. They stated that reverse, drive and second did not function. This is the second transmission which had been installed by this mechanic in this Tribute! It had only 39,000 miles. It was installed in 2007. The first transmission failed at 110,000 miles. The Mazda corporation would not admit to a problem with their transmissions at the time the second one (a Mazda transmission bought directly from a Mazda dealer)was installed). The mechanic, in good consciousness, will not replace this a third time. So we are left with a perfectly good body, new tires, and a car that is junk. …
Starting 2006 couldn't get truck into reverse and it was hard to find third gear and would be stuck winding between gears on the road and on highway causing possibility of being struck from suddenly being unable to accelerate. Dealer had car for over a week and finally ended up replacing a cable for the cost of $760.00. Two weeks later the truck is popping out of third gear while driving causing the vehicle to de-accelerate quickly while struggling to find the gear or next gear. Brought truck back in they said it needs a whole new transmission for $5,800.00 because it would be cheaper than taking it apart and fixing individual gears. Total new value of vehicle 19,700 before taxes. Kelly blue book value on this year in excellent condition only 5,700. The truck only has 57,000 miles on it now. Just made last payment two weeks before problem started.
Tribute would make slipping noise when on a hill. It would also shutter when I first took off. I called the dealership about the problem. They thought it was the transmission, but couldn't look at the car until after the first of the year. About 2 weeks later, I took off and the car surged. I pulled off the road and when I put the car back into drive, it wouldn't move. It was towed to the Mazda dealership where it still sits. I was told it needed a new transmission that would cost $2900+. The district manager was notified. They took $1000.00 off the price. Which leave me paying only $1900+ the other $900. I've put in this car since July 04. I had a full circle service inspection done on oct.25 ,2004. The transmission condition was good at that time, just 2 months earlier.
Shutter of the transmission/torque converter when traveling around 45 MPH. Problem first reported on the vehicle around 30,000 miles at which time the dealer flushed the transmission fluid per tech assistance ref. 272101. Dealer determined "no problem found" when the shutter was reported again at 48,000 miles. When the problem was reported at 51,000 miles, dealer again flushed the transmission and reflashed the PCM. The problem occurred again at 56,000 miles at which time the dealer determined the transmssion needed to be replaced. Transmission was replaced at 58,500 miles. Problem discovered again around 88,000 miles; again, dealer flushed the transmission. Problem occurred again at 98,500 miles at which time the dealer replaced the torque converter.
Related recalls
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.
Transmission complaints in other Tribute years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2001 Mazda Tribute?
NHTSA has 69 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2001 Mazda Tribute, 12% of the model year's 563 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Mazda Tribute transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-175 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Apr 9, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Mazda Tribute transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain 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.