Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Mazda Tribute owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Mazda Tribute. While driving forward at approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle made a left turn and crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained face lacerations from plastic fragments after the air bag deployed, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000. Updated 8/19/15 updated 9/30/2015.......updated 12/17/15 updated 10/17/2017
Tl* the contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2002 Mazda Tribute. While driving 30 MPH, another vehicle abruptly stopped in front of the owner's vehicle. The owner was not able to stop the vehicle in time and crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. The air bags deployed with force. As a result, the contact sustained crushed ribs and a broken right foot that required medical attention. The contact stated that the other driver left the scene of the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,270.
My airbag warning light has been flashing on and off for a while now. I removed the items under the seat and the lights went off and worked for almost a month. All of a sudden the lights are now flashing again, even though there are no items below my seats. I was able to search online and see that there have been many issues with the seatbelt pretensioners and/or the connections below the seat that need to be wiggled or disconnected and then re-plugged in to make the light go out. It has happened in all situations including stationary, in motion, on the highway, or in the city.
Driver of vehicle 1 ran red light at an approximate speed of 40-45 MPH and hit passenger door of vehicle 2 causing severe damage to passenger side of vehicle 2 and totally front end of vehicle 1. We own vehicle 2. It is a Mazda Tribute 4 door sports utility vehicle with dual front air bags and option air bag 2 which is front-side air bags. We have digital pictures of vehicle 2 that we can send you. Our concern is that given the violence and location of the impact to the passenger door, why did the passenger side airbag fail to activate?
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact was involved in a head on crash and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a body shop. The manufacturer stated that they were not responsible for the air bags not deploying. The contact sustained major chest injuries. A police report was filed. The speed was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 110,000.
The airbag light has been on for about 2 months in the Mazda Tribute. We took the vehicle to duval Mazda to ask them to reset the computer since we figured that was all that was needed. They called us later in the day and told us that to repair the car so that the light would go out, would cost $397.21. We declined since they told us they needed to rebuild the wiring for the airbags. When we picked up the car (declined the repair), the estimate for repairs stated: "b1881 stored-p/s safetybelt pretensioner circuit failure. TSB: 08-001/05 has updated connectors that are soldered in to replace and upgrade the failing ones." this sounds like it should be a safety recall item not a customer cost repair issue. Or at the very least, a repair and no charge item done by the dealer since it appears to be a failure of original parts that impact the airbag system. …
I had been driving my Mazda for about 20 minutes on a 75 degree day in south texas when turning onto a flat, unobstructed, smooth paved road through a koa park. After turning, I was only driving the 5 mile an hour speed limit through this park, when suddenly the driver's airbag exploded in my face without any warning whatsoever . There was nothing that could have even slightly indicated a collision -- not a speed bump, not a bird or animal, or anything. It was just a smooth, slow drive at 5 miles an hour on a sunny day. There was 60% humidity from prior days rain. I had my arm up to my face already when it happened, which took the brunt of the hit to my wrist and forearm. Within less than 5 seconds the passenger side airbag exploded also. Both rang out a shot like a pistol in the closed window car. …
I have a 2002 Mazda Tribute. I have had the car since new and it has been in a garage the whole time. Recently the air bag light went on and I took into a Mazda dealer to have checked out and repaired. The cause of the malfunction was because of corroded connectors found under the front seat of the car. The resulting repair was over $500.00. Of the repair $127.40 was parts and the balance was labor. I feel that is a safety device that your life could rely on and feel it is totally negligent of the auto manufacture of the auto manufacture to provide a system that involves safety that is not 100% reliable for the life of the vehicle. This SUV has 84,000 miles on it and failed. I have other cars that have 250 thousand miles on them with no problems. …
There is a persistent problem with the airbag system in my Mazda, Tribute car. The first time it occurred at 23854 miles. The Mazda dealer looked into it and stated on its report "checked and found wire harness going to seat belt pretensions buckle broken-wire yellow and red stripe located at h15". The problem was rectified at the time. However, the car now reached 38,000 miles and the airbag indicator light went on again. My car is out of manufacturer's warranty now and the dealer refuses to fix the problem. I believe, that this problem is a manufacturer's defect and must be fixed at the expense of the manufacturer. Especially, when the same problem recurred during the warranty coverage. As you aware, a malfunction of airbag system can lead to serious injuries or death in case of a collision. As per my local former Mazda dealer, Mazda knows about existence of this airbag issue. …
The air bag dash light came on and stays on. Took it to the dealer to get it fixed but the extended warranty won't cover it. Also Mazda has known about the problem, they said they had a bulletin on it but it expired. I don't think it's fair since we just bought the car 2 years ago and it had already expired. Why didn't Mazda fix it before they sold it to us? I feel this is a safety issue and it's their issue, not something we contributed too. I was also told if we don't fix it we won't pass safety inspection. This is crazy that they can sell things that they willingly know have a safety issue but then want to charge us for the manufactures error. P.s. This car was bought from the same dealer as the original owner bought it and had all the service work done. That's why I can't understand why the bulletin didn't get done.
Airbag complaints in other Tribute years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Mazda Tribute?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Mazda Tribute, 10% of the model year's 384 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Mazda Tribute airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2002 Mazda Tribute, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Mazda Tribute airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to air bags 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.