Fuel System complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Everytime I fill the car up with gas it does this thing where I lose power when I stop or when I turn the wheel. So I have to stop and start the car. Its very dangerous because it has cut off while I was making a turn. We have tried to fix it several times. We replaced the fuel pump and that helped for a month or two but then it goes right back to cutting off after it is filled up with gas.
Fuel fill neck diagnostic code po457 occurred and the check engine light came on which seemed to cause the vehicle to sputter, and to have loss of power while driving. Upon inspection there is nothing wrong with the part. Upon a google search other have had the same problem and it appears they recalled this same vehicle with the 3.0 engine (mine has the 2.5).
Takata recall: the brakes fail when depressed to come to complete stop. The ABS control module failed when needing to stop instantly. As I was driving down the highway and made an instant stop the SUV did not stop right away as it would jerk forward and then swerve before making a stop almost causing lost of control of the vehicle. The engine light stay on because of the gas cap error but the vehicle does not require a gas cap it is a cap-less tank. Causes gas to seep through.
Car will lose power during driving. Engine begins to sputter, which results in a jerking motion of the vehicle. Pressing the gas does nothing. Engine revs according to RPM dial, but car will not accelerate. RPM dial will continue to show engine revving while idling (after I pull over and put car in park). This has happened twice - 8/22/19 and again 8/27/19. Diagnostic run on car on 8/22/2019 lists no error codes, for me to fix issue. Video taken, but still images wont help.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. While traveling at 40 MPH, the contact changed lanes to pass a vehicle but when he depressed the accelerator pedal to speed up, the pedal went to the floorboard and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle but the engine only raced up and down with no response from the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership and the dealer stated that the air filter and fuel control module had burned out and caused the failure. The current and failure mileages were 25,185. Updated 07/22/10 updated 09/23/10 updated 09/24/10 the consumer no longer owns the vehicle. Updated 09/27/10
Happens more during cold weather. When you push on the accelerator it sticks and when it finally lets go you lurch forward. Luckily I have not had any accidents over this yet, but feel that is always a possibility and feel like it is unsafe. I was told it has to do with the butterfly valve. It has been happening for at least 4-5 years. I have asked numerous times if there has been a recall because from what I can see there have been many complaints by other consumers. If this ever causes me to have an accident, I will be suing Mazda!
On 2/10/11 my son was in an accident with our 2006 madza Tribute. The gas pedal would stick every now and then, and the only way to release it was to push down on it with you foot and it would resume. Unfortuntly, he was driving on the I-5 freeway near grants pass, oregon when it stuck and he lost control of the vehicle. He hit a semi truck, then a 2nd semi truck, and was cited for reckless driving, although driving the legal speed limit on dry pavement. My son is 31. The state police gave him a blood test for alleged driving under the influence, but it came up negative. He is suffering muscular injuries as is his girlfriend who was a passenger in the vehicle. The gas pedal sticking would happen a couple of times a month, just off and on, and I currently only work part time since loosing my full time employment this past June (2010). The vehicle is totaled as a result of the accident. …
My Mazda Tribute v 6, 3.0 all of a sudden stopped on the highway. I had it towed to my son's house, than to the Mazda dealership. It was at the dealership when I was told what had occurred. My coils had blown out and damaged my (PCM)computer. They said it would cost $2689. I could not afford the dealership's cost so I had it towed again to a private mechanic where he replaced the coils. I went on ebay and found a reasonably priced PCM where it was programmed keys included. My research has LED me into writing this letter. I found that Ford motors and their affiliates have known about this problem with the coils blowing out the PCM for quite some time and have never told the owners of their vehicles about this problem. If I had known I would have never purchased the vehicle.
Related recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured March 3, 2009, to May 26, 2011. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable.
Hybrid propulsion system
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 10, 2006, to May 23, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail, resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2014.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The o-ring seals in the fuel line connector at the outlet end of the fuel filter were damaged when the line was connected to the filter during vehicle assembly. In some cases, this damage could result in a fuel odor, or possibly in fuel dripping from the connection.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel line.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Tribute years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (33), 2005 (20), 2006 (18), 2003 (9) and 2008 (8) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Mazda Tribute fuel system problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 16V-788 (fuel pump, Oct 28, 2016); 14V-552 (hybrid propulsion system, Sep 10, 2014); 00V277002 (delivery, Sep 18, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda Tribute fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery (10 mentions), followed by the fuel injection system (8).
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.