2002 Mazda Tribute from North America - Comments

The interior of the 2002 Mazda Tribute was it's worst factor because the covers for the seat belts fell off along with some paneling in the rear. And the overdriver shifter rubber cover was not glued on properly. A lot of plastic that seemed flimsy.

This is not an off-road SUV. No low range gear. Felt awkward on back woods dirt roads.

Once I reached 100,000 miles the Tribute started to head downward fast. Hard starts in the winter. Needed replacement of mostly everything. Probably all my fault because I drove it hard through a few harsh winters.

Also, the rear window to the tailgate vibrated a lot in the last year and made an annoying chirping sound.

This was a very good vehicle. It served me well, as I drive approx. 50,000 miles a year. It withstood a lot of punishment. But the cost to keep it going after 125,000 was not worth it and I traded it in a month ago for a Jeep. If I coddled the Mazda and lived in a less harsh environment, I'm sure I would have had it for a few more years. Mazda makes a very good product and I'm considering buying a small car (the 3) from them for the good driving season to save on gas. The Tribute came with excellent features that are not normally associated with something in it's price range, such as fog lights, cruise control, power everything. The stereo system was an in-dash 6disc tape cassette with great speakers. It was the best stereo system I have ever bought that came directly from the manufacture.

The Tribute handled very well on the highway and accelerated nicely.

Very comfortable to drive.

Excellent cargo room.

I didn't buy a new Tribute because the '05 had performed poorly in recent roll-over tests (Along with the Ford counter-parts) according to Consumer Reports. I was also looking for something that seemed more solid and tank-like to handle my driving experience.

Just wondering how you like the Jeep? Liberty or Cherokee?

Am trying to decide between smaller SUV or heavier Jeep...

Thanks!

Has anybody Had a problem with a bad clutch judder on a Tribute, Mine has only done 32,000 Mile's. apart from that it is a very nice car.

Re the query about Mazda Tribute clutch juddering:

I have a Canadian model 2001 Tribute DX 2WD and this is a constant problem, caused by either a string of faulty clutches, or by a defective transmission. In the 65,000 kms we have put on the truck, we have had to replace the clutch twice. The current clutch is also on its way out, though - as with the other problems we've experienced with the power-train - Mazda is giving us the runaround. The extended warranty is about to expire, and I have a feeling that by the time they "find" the problem, it will be on our dime.

It's too bad the vehicle is, in my estimation, a lemon, as we love it when it works.

To back up the "lemon" claim, here is the list of repairs needed to date, over and above the standard maintenance schedule:

June 6/03 - 33210 km

- replace front wiper rack

- order clutch assembly and latch assembly for rear hatch.

June 30/03 - 33495 km

- replace clutch assembly

- replace defective DP-FE sensor ("check engine" light)

Feb 19/04 - 41571 km

- latch assembly replaced.

Feb 27/04 - 41941 km

- replaced brake cables

- key fobs & receiver replaced as not reading one fob.

April 29, 2004

- rear brake service & adjust rear brakes (cable replacement did not 100% cure problem)

- reposition, adjust motor mounts.

-re-flashed PCM (1st attempt to fix two problems - motor surging and return of trans-axle hop)

**extra** replaced recalled seat belt covers.

May 21 - 44112 km

Took truck back with same problems (surging and juddering) as Apr 29. They handed it back and told us to try a few tanks of different gas. It wasn't the gas.

June 14-26 - 45168 km

- replace clutch and flywheel assembly (2nd time in a year)

Autumn of 2005 - after several follow-up visits to dealer and communications with regional rep about the surging, only days after basically being told we were imagining the problem, we received a recall notice from Mazda describing exactly the problem we had. We had a PCV valve replaced per the notice and the surging stopped.

- And now the clutch is on its way out again. Mazda has, to date, refused to replace the entire transmission (which, given the way it eats clutches, seems the likely source of the problem), despite our requests. And we are about to run out of warranty.

Finally, for the record: My wife and I have never owned anything, but manual-transmission vehicles. We had, between us, six prior vehicles, buying the first one in 1986, have never put less than 45,000 kms on a vehicle (with most going 100,000 to 175,000 kms while in our ownership) and have never before replaced a single clutch - so we're pretty confident that it isn't our driving!!

Keith Osmond

42 Gondola Crescent

Brampton ON

L6S 1W6

(905) 792-9088.

We bought a used 2002 Mazda Tribute DX with 2.0 litre engine and with 5 speed standard transmission.

At 70,000km we had to replace front brakes and rotors and 4 new tires.

At 74000 km we had to install a new clutch assembly for $700.00 due to shudder when changing gears.

At 90,000km replaced seized emergency brake cables with $350.00 cost.

At 95,000km this SUV broke down in Florida with faulty alternator with $600.00 repair bill.

Trim is poor and cheap. Plastic hood chrome trim piece cost $120.00 to replace. Triangular black plastic piece on rear window broke at $44.00 cost.

Vehicle is very noisy on the road.

This is a poorly made vehicle and I would not recommend it to anyone.

Does anyone know if Mada will cover any of these costs.

Wayne

519-767-1152

Note that LHD Tributes are not made in Japan. Expect quality of US built product to be inferior.

UK and ROI cars don't have the quality problems mentioned above.

At 51,000 miles my 2004 Mazda Tribute had transmission failure requiring it to be replaced -- at my expense. The standard warranty expired at 50,000 miles. Let me say I am very disappointed in the quality of this vehicle and that I would not recommend buying one -- new or used. This car was "babied", kept in a garage, never asked to tow anything, basically used to commute back & forth to work and haul the kids to and from sporting activity.

January 24th.

I had to have my oil pan gasket replaced under warranty and because I was smart enough to be using synthetic oil. Mazda would not pay for synthetic oil to go back in. So they put the same oil back in and left my down in oil.

I bought a new 2002 Mazda tribute and it has been the worst experience of my life. I have had constant electrical problem with it. First it was the blower motor for the air conditioning. Then, within the first year I had to have the front wheel bearings changed. Then the alternator went bad and had to have it changed at a cost of almost $550.00. Since then, the alternator has gone bad 4 more times, and it is now in the driveway waiting for a tow truck to take it back to the dealership again. WHAT A LEMON. I had enough of this Mazda and am trading it in for a TOYOTA. 704-649-7176.

My daughter bought a 2002 Mazda Tribute and it had just about 100,000 miles on it. She really liked it and had good luck with it.

One day her room mate ran a curb and cracked her transmission on the bottom. Going through the plastic skid plate. After finding this out, we thought it was the oil pan cover and we could replace it with just a simple service. No, the pan and filter is on the side of the transmission. It cracked the casing. Well we JB welded it and it is fine, but the problem is, it is temporary for now. I have a problem with the design and think that it was a bad way to do the transmission design. The car is very low and the transmission is actually in the bad spot. It hits first. So, other than that, the car has done her real good, and yet the air conditioner is bad as well too, but if that is all, the car has done her great. Sorry for all the trouble.

Took possession of 2002 Mazda Tribute DX FWD five speed manual in early January 2009. Styling cues are very sharp. However, repairs to vehicle were required to transfer ownership.

Here goes: New tires (typical of 165km), ball joints; both sides. Tie rods, both sides. Brakes all way round (normal). E-brake cable (which still sticks). Rear glass hinge, and exhaust flange. Total $$$ was $2550.00 CDN.

Now I have a check engine light; code read an O2 sensor failure.

The point is, the 2002 Mazda Tribute is actually a FORD!! The only thing Mazda is the strong motor. The rest; chassis, interior, body, transmission is FORD. I ran a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier to 301100 km with no major problems except regular maintenance.

I hope this is not a harbinger of endless repairs going forward.

I have a 2002 Mazda Tribute ES and it served us great until it hit over 100,000 miles. Now it seems like a never ending repair bill. We are in the process of buying a new vehicle since we don't want to keep pouring money into the Tribute anymore. I loved my Tribute and would buy another one... but it doesn't seem to last well and something starts going on it; it seems to open a can of worms. We seemed to constantly replacing brakes, tie rods had to be replaced, tires, several coils, now my AC hose is leaking and needs to be replaced and my check engine light is on - code read O2 sensor.

The kicker now is the cable to my door handle has snapped and the drivers side car door can only be opened from the outside... a real pain in the neck!

I have been disappointed in how this car has held up over time. I hope my next car serves me a bit better. They just don't seem to make cars like they used to!