Most common 2005 Mazda Tribute problems
Share of the 377 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 →
2005 Mazda Tribute recalls (3)
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.
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped without side air curtains or moon roofs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement above the permitted limit at the left hand a-pillar…
Remedy: Dealers will make modifications to the energy absorbing material located above the headliner in the affected area free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2006. Owners May contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
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.
What 2005 Mazda Tribute owners say
Suspension all 137 →
The wheel well rusted out, completely leaving the shock tower and stability of the car at risk, rusted out completely, I'm a light backyard mechanic and I've seen the Ford do the same . The repair is almost the value of the car, and unless you trust them your basically buying a new vehicle, because while you're there may change the set of shock's and absorber that's about 700. To include. This car had a rumor of being as good as the Everlasting Santa Fe, and Toyota 4runner. Vehicle is in pristine shape aside from the fatal rust.. recall recall recall recall
Right rear frame has rusted out enough to cause brake and shock issues causing a perfectly good vehicle to become unsafe and dangerous for my family and others. The shock and brake line broke and the vehicle slid to a stop.
Body & structure all 126 →
owned since day one, bought brand new, religiously maintained, perfect shape other than completely rusted wheel house back left passenger side. Shock went through rusted area all the way to trunk. Mazda recalled models 2003 to 2004 for this problem yet so many 2005 Mazda Tribute owners are having exact problem especially when manufactured in 2004! This is serious and I had my granddaughter with me when this happened and yet Mazda wants to do nothing about it when it's a serious hazard and ongoing problem with the 2005's. It is always the back passenger side with this problem! I have no money to purchase a car and now my lifeline to support my family is broke!
The rear wheel well was completely rusted out while the other side is fine. The shock broke loose causing the vehicle to drop down. I have a 17 year old that is not an experienced driver and this could have resulted in her getting seriously hurt. From what I read they recalled the vehicle to to 2004 and I don't understand why they did not recall this one. They should have and this is a serious safety issue. Does someone have to die before they see that this needs to be fixed?
Speed control & acceleration all 85 →
When approaching a 4-way intersection during daylight hours, the light turned yellow then red. I tried to stop by pressing my brake pedal. My vehicle did not slow down, but continued to accelerate up hill. I pressed as hard as possible but my vehicle went through the intersection and I ran into the side of another vehicle. I was originally going about 30mph and when I hit the other vehicle, I was going about 25mph. My vehicle stopped after hitting the other vehicle but continued to rev higher. I was injured when my arms bent the steering wheel forward, the seat belt bruised me and my right foot (talus bone) was broken by the pressure on the brake pedal. I required surgery. I was out of work for 3 weeks and wore a cast for 7 weeks. The policeman who reported to the accident site discovered the gas pedal was half way down to the floor and stuck. …
Vehicle was traveling on a four-lane highway with cruise control on. The vehicle suddenly began to accelerate uncontrollably; tried applying the brake, turning off the cruise control, pressing the decelerate button, nothing worked. I had to apply a great deal of force to the brakes in order to slow the vehicle enough to get it off the road. I shifted the transmission into neutral and the engine began to rev uncontrollably. I turned the ignition switch off and opened the hood to investigate. The throttle cable on the cruise control servo had rotated up to about a 30-degree angle and had the throttle held open. I rotated the cable back down to its normal position and the throttle snapped free. I will not use the cruise control again until the issue is resolved. …
2005 Mazda Tribute engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 27 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mazda Tribute a good car?
Based on 377 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Tribute rates use caution: 2.0× 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 2005 Mazda Tribute?
The suspension — 137 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the body & structure (126) and speed control & acceleration (85).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mazda Tribute have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2005 Mazda Tribute, the most recent from July 27, 2012 (cables). 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 2005 Mazda Tribute problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 101,000 miles; 18% 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.