Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Mazda Tribute owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My wife was in the parking lot at church waiting for a car to pull away so she could park. The car started to roll forward so she stepped harder on the brake. The car lurched ahead crashing into the car in front of her. My wife is quite sure she had her foot on the brake. As she told me about this I started remembering an event. This car had belonged to my father who has since passed away. He purchased it new. I'm not exactly sure of the date, but I believe it was in the first year of ownership. He was parking at a hospital when all of a sudden the vehicle was taking off and pushing the car in front of him. I figured he was having a senior moment and had his foot on the wrong pedal. I did some quick research today and found that others have had this problem. Maybe my father was doing all the right things and it really was the cars fault. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, smoke was seen coming for under the hood. The contact opened the hood to allow the smoke to exit and called a tow trunk. The tow truck driver stated that the vehicle was safe to drive however, when the contact started the vehicle, the check engine and the ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle and parked the vehicle again. The vehicle was on fire and destroyed the vehicle. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The fire department did not state what caused the fire. The contact called the manufacturer to file a report. The manufacturer stated they would not take a report until there was a fire report issued that stated what caused the fire. The contact did not have a report of what caused the fire. The failure mileage was 139,000.
Wife drove 2003 Mazda Tribute to arby's (I was meeting her there), got out of car and walked up to the entrance. As she got to arby's door, someone outside mentioned to her that her car was smoking. She came inside to get me and as I came out a lot of smoke was coming out of the engine compartment. I unlocked the car cracked the hood slightly where I saw flames close to the firewall. Used fire extinguisher to put out flames. Fire seemed to originate towards the back of the engine close to brake master cylinder. I have many pictures of the engine compartment if needed. Seems similar to NHTSA action # pe06048.
Oil pan gasket is leaking. I called Mazda customer service, received a file #115785220. My 2003 Mazda Tribute (5 years old with 35,000 miles) is leaking oil from the oil pan gasket. My vehicle is no longer under warranty. Since I purchased my vehicle, Mazda has redesigned the oil pan with an embedded o ring in lieu of a gasket. The local Mazda service center (Mazda 112) does not replace the gasket; they fix the vehicle by selling and installing the redesigned oil pan for $440 + tax (medford, ny). You can buy a gasket for the original pan and do it yourself or maybe have a local mechanic do it (I don't know if it's worth it). Mazda 112 told me they called the regional Mazda representative and they would save me the price of the parts but the cost of repair will still be over $300. …
My 2003 Tribute has been leaking oil from the oil pan gasket between the oil pan and engine block. Of course after time it would leak but I have heard that the Tribute has a bad design with the oil pan and gasket. The dealership tried to sell me the new oil pan replacement for the defective one and the new gasket replacement for also that defective part. Mazda redesigned the oil pan with an embedded o ring in lieu of a gasket. The dealers want to sell the newly designed pan installed for $440 + tax (medford, ny). I would think that it is a defect and would like this agencies opinion. If the design was good from the start Mazda wouldn't put the time and money into redesigning the oil pan and gasket, and recommending the replacement. Mazda will not do the gasket replacement unless the new designed pan and gasket was used. [redacted]
Upon starting, a severe explosion occurred, denting the hood from parts of engine. Smoke poured out from hood, but ignited gasoline did not leave engine. Engine is an interference Ford product and SUV has always been well maintained and serviced. The severity of the danger of this explosion cannot nor should be overlooked or dismissed. Had the hood been open, someone could have resulted in severe injury or possibly death. I have tried to work with Mazda for a resolution in this matter and all attempts have failed. As a previously satisfied customer for almost 30 years, I am frustrated and infuriated by their denials to work out a resolution, in either a new engine or substantial trade on a new vehicle. An engine with this low mileage exploding is unheard of and, certainly, not expected. My letter to Mazda ceo and president james o'sullivan and my mechanic's assessment is available.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving about 30 MPH, with accelerator pressure applied, the accelerator pedal pulled to the floor without warning. The vehicle accelerated at a high speed onto the highway. The contact attempted to disengage the accelerator pedal by pumping the pedal several times without success. The vehicle slowly responded to brake pressure and the vehicle was placed in park. While parked, the engine revved until the ignition was turned off. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who determined the casing on the cruise control cracked which caused the cruise control cable to stick, although the cruise control was not engaged at that time. The dealer replaced the cruise control casing and cables which corrected the problem. The valve cover and gasket were replaced. Updated 07/07/06
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that when driving uphill or approaching a stop sign, the vehicle would stall. The vehicle had been to the dealer several times; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer replaced the battery but to no avail. The contact was able to locate a recall, in which she believed to be directly related to the failure (NHTSA campaign id number 04V175000: power train: automatic transmission: control module TCM, PCM), however her VIN was not included. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage 82,000. Updated 11/03/10 the consumer also stated the vehicle would stall while backing up, and when it stalled, it couldn't be restarted. Updated 11/04/10
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. While driving 40 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel and the vehicle stalled. Immediately after the failure, the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V175000 (power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM, PCM)). He would be responsible for the repair costs. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure mileage was 86,400 and current mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the vehicle made abnormally loud sounds when started and while driving. The sounds began after the vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 14V174000 (structure: frame and members). The dealer stated that the exhaust bolts were not tightened and the front driver side tie rod end was loose. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,685.
Engine complaints in other Tribute years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Mazda Tribute?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Mazda Tribute, 14% of the model year's 199 complaints. The component named most often is engine (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Mazda Tribute engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2003 Mazda Tribute, though it has 6 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 2003 Mazda Tribute engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.