29th Jul 2006, 11:13
This is to further the information I have read on the Internet regarding the Mazda Tribute 2001 LXV6. After 5 years of owning what I had hoped was a quality import SUV, sadly this vehicle has shown to be a "Ford" in disguise. This dealer serviced vehicle has finally dealt me the crushing blow. I was willing to go with the flow on brakes (Rotors have to be replaced with pads, very average life span for brakes approximately 40,000 kms total $500.00 can) (Brake vacuum booster failure out of warranty $400.00) Now the final blow, a sudden failure of the transmission and water pump at 129,000 kms, estimated repair from $7000.00 can at dealer to $4500.00 after market. After 15 years in the automotive trade, including service manager with Toyota Canada, I can count the number of import failures with of this nature on one hand. Other than known defects, I rarely ever did transmission work on imports of any name. Toyota generally supported customers on a prorated (50%-50%) bases on matters such as premature transmission failure.
My experience with the Mazda service location has been excellent, but of course they are not able to provide anything more than sympathy to my current situation. As my beloved Tribute sits in a small town 400 kms from where I live, I ponder the next step:
1) What could have possibly caused this transmission to just suddenly fail? As a former service manager this is of great interest to me as I serviced the vehicle religiously according to Mazda.
2) Do I dare replace this lemon transmission with another dud unit (The price is devastating through Mazda) or go after market?
3) Why can't Mazda Canada just step up to the plate and get involved, the customer relations department just sends the issue right back to the dealer leaving them with the financial burden of a solution. (They did not manufacture the vehicle in the first place)
4) Either way this finishes, I can tell you I will never purchase another Mazda product as a result of these experiences. Until they accept some ownership (I have read a fair amount of similar customer issues on the Internet) I have no confidence remaining.
My fears of future potential service issues are too overwhelming. I think it's time to pass this vehicle on, I wish the next owner better luck...
14th Aug 2006, 15:32
My Tribute is a 2002 V6 and has been relatively good until at 5800 Km the transmission failed leaving me stranded on a highway. Repairs will cost me about $4000 Can. Mazda says I am responsible for the whole cost to repair the defective transmission and they will not assume any responsibility for the costs. What customer support!
11th Oct 2006, 11:32
NOT A RELIABLE CAR! It's a Ford underneath.
I own a 2002 Mazda Tribute and was warned by friends about buying anything with a Ford Transmission. At 39,000 miles, I learned that lesson when the transmission failed on me. I took it to the dealer and asked the service manager if this was normal and he said that unfortunately, it is not uncommon. 39,000 miles is just not OK for a transmission to fail at. My last car, a Honda, had almost 200,000 miles on it and the transmission never had an issue. My other big issue is that the brakes are simply undersized for the vehicle. I baby my car and am on my 3rd set of rotors in just over 4 years. That is a joke!
My suggestion to anyone looking at this car is do not buy any Ford products and when you look beneath the pretty Mazda exterior, that's what it is, a Ford.
10th Jan 2007, 18:09
The transmission on my 2001 Mazda Tribute died at 42,000 miles while two states away from home. The warranty expired due to the age, but no transmission should die at 42,000 miles. After all the recalls Mazda had on this truck, you would think that they would stand behind their product. Fat Chance on that. Think three times before purchasing this vehicle or any other Mazda since they do not stand behind their own products.
18th Jan 2007, 19:38
Subject: Mazda Tribute 2001 2wd 1/18/07.
The transmission went out without any warning two days ago. The car would not go over 20mph. After two diagnostic tests, one from a local shop, one from the dealer (because I did not believe the first), It's true. I need a transmission. My vehicle, as many of you, was well maintained, which brings me to this sight in search of others with this problem... premature transmission outage, on a well-maintained vehicle, with no warning. Mileage-74393 Add me to this unfortunate club.
25th Jan 2007, 14:48
I own a 2001 Mazda Tribute LX and it has been nothing, but a nightmare. My transmission gave out while driving with my 2 small children in the middle of the county in upstate NY. The total cost to get repaired was about $4000.00 and I do not recommend this car to anyone it has been nothing, but a lemon. After the transmission gave out within the same year the alternator and struts also gave way.
18th Jun 2007, 10:46
I have joined the club! Transmission failure at 108,000 miles - stuck in traffic on a highway. What a nightmare. My Corolla lasted 250,000 miles. $3000 bucks to replace. nasty
28th Jun 2007, 07:52
Please add me to the club. Mazda Tribute 2001 Ltd (Brisbane Australia). Torque converter replaced under warranty at 78 000 Km in Dec 2004.
Told today that the lock up clutch in the torque converter has burnt out again.
Transmission oil changed at 30 000 Km, 55 000 Km 78 000 Km and 116 000 Km in Feb 2007.
Washboard shudder now happening when trying to kick out of either overdrive-lock or third gear-lock.
15th Jul 2007, 10:14
One mile from work my transmission went. There was no warning. I commute to work so I take care of my car. Thank-God I was in town and not in the river canyon when this happened. This experience and reading all these comments about the Mazda Tribute makes me want to trade it in, but after going into debt for a $4,000 engine I'm going to have to hold onto it.
18th Sep 2007, 03:43
I think I probably hold the record for this lemon. I own a 2001 V6 DX 4x4 model, appropriately painted s**t brown. My tranny problems began at about 35,000 km's and was replaced 4 times within the 1st 160,000 km's under warranty. Now at just under 200,000 km's (125,000 miles) it has bitten the dust for the 5th time. I have also replaced the alternator, starter, catalytic converter (which left me with an exhaust leak on one of the exhaust manifolds which the local Ford dealer will not take responsibility for even though they did the work, but of course they're willing to charge me $1300 to fix it), and now it needs both front strut mounts replaced and a rear window wiper motor. This is the worst hunk of junk I have ever owned, and if it would move, I'd take it back & drive it right through the dealership showroom windows. I'm now faced with taking it to a transmission specialty shop to have it rebuilt yet again.
19th Jul 2006, 22:06
I own a 2001 Mazda Tribute, and my transmission went out at 80,000 miles. It happened today (7/19/06), so I have an Idea of how much the repair bill will be thanks to this website. To repair this on the low end is $1900 -high end is $5000, which I will never pay to repair any transmission. Why is Mazda not responding to this obvious engineering flaw? My trans fluid was changed at regular intervals. I wonder if this problem extends to Ford Escapes also. Looking back at Mazda's trans. repair history, I see that the model 626 experienced problems with its automatic transmission. I should have done my homework before plopping my hard earned greenbacks on this vehicle.