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 2008 Mazda Tribute owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I'm driving down the road and when trying to ride in 5th gear since its a manual transmission it keeps popping out of 5th gear every time I'm driving down highway no matter what I'm doing I go to put in 5th gear and it pops back out every time unless I hold the gear shift in place....I just had bought this vehicle t swartz auto sales in harrisonburg va and I brought it to their attention for which they're not wanting to help on this issue even though I have just gotten it literally last week n only have put maybe 250 miles and not only that the first day I bought it brought it up home washed it up I then realized that the tires are dry rotted which I have attached pictures it has an inspection sticker stating its good til March 18 not sure how these tires even passed inspection I took to my regular mechanic and he advised me that they shouldn't have been passed. …
While driving I stopped at a stop sing, when I went to take off the vehicle started rolling backwards. I stopped turned off the car. Then when I started it again and put it in reverse it went forwards. When I put it in drive it was in neutral, and natural was reverse. After turning it off again and restarting it all gear positions did not function and acted as if they were in neutral. Now every time I try to put it in a gear it May be the right gear and sometimes its not and some times it jumps to neutral out of no where. There is a recall on this exact issue, when I contacted Mazda I was informed that my car was not covered in the recall and there was nothing they would about it.
Steering wheel violently jerks & vibrates while driving and in idle. Steering column / wheel makes a grinding noise when it jerks & vibrates. Accelerator pedal sticks, especially in colder weather, making it hard to control vehicle...ie accelerating to get onto a highway or even coming out of a side street onto a main road. Recall for electric power assist system was "fixed" by Mazda in 2018, but I feel a major problem still exists. This is a dangerous mix for driving safely. I am fearful of driving this vehicle due to the fact that I cannot accelerate properly or hold onto my wheel without it jerking.
Got in car to drive Monday 02/03/2020 morning, car was extremely hard to turn. Able to drive vehicle but turning is extremely hard. Took it to mechanic and then to autozone to price part and was told this vehicle was part of a recall. I called Mazda and was told recall was no longer open, was closed in 2014. The recall is what is wrong with my vehicle. I have called Mazda with no resolution, is there any way to make them responsible for this issue, since there was a recall for it, mine just did not have issue in that time frame.
After driving around for about an hour, I stopped at a store and after that the vehicle wouldn't excel correctly. Vehicle wouldn't shift into 2nd or 4th gears. Shop said it was a 2/4 belt or something like that which had to be replaced. They had called Mazda to determine which transmission my vehicle had, thankfully it was the one that could be replaced without tearing down the whole transmission. Sounds like this was a common issue for this transmission.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. While driving at unknown speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The contact noticed that there was a sudden increase of engine rpms and the throttle and power train warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. While at a red light, the vehicle would not respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was idling and moving, but there was no acceleration. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 127,800.
2008 Mazda Tribute, all scheduled maintenance done on time. At 118,110 miles transmission went out within a day no warning. The Tribute, just started losing power on my way home, then in my driveway would go into any of the automatic gears.
Power steering failed all of a sudden without warning. Lost almost all control of steering. PSCM
I took my 2008 Tribute (purchased in July 2007) for service when at the 50, 300 miles. I reported to the service department that my vehicle does a mild or hard jerk when coming from a complete stop. It was discovered that I had a small hole in the condenser causing the vehicle to lose transmission oil. I do a lot of highway driving thus the high mileage so they surmised that maybe a rock hit it. I thought this was outrageous because this vehicle was suppose to be durable since it is a SUV. My driving is not in rough terrain just smooth highways. The service department pointed out to me that the style has these exposed or open areas in the front lower part of the SUV so because they saw a tiny rock embedded in the grill of the radiator that possibly this is what happened to the condenser. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Tribute vehicles manufactured February 9, 2007 to April 22, 2008. The affected vehicles have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission and if necessary tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015.
Transmission complaints in other Tribute years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Mazda Tribute?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Mazda Tribute, 12% of the model year's 202 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Mazda Tribute transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-677 (floor shift, Oct 19, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Mazda Tribute transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 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.