2002 Mazda Tribute DX from North America - Comments

New transmission. New wheel rim. New wheel bearing. New tire.

Manufacturer will not replace vehicle. No payment has been made on it yet. That's what warranty is for!! Noticeable vibration and thumping noise on front passenger side. Enjoy driving vehicle, but would never by a Mazda again. Headaches shouldn't be part of spending thousands of dollars on a new vehicle.

The Tribute uses the same transmission used by the Mazda 626 from 1994 - 2000 (?). This is the same one that is built by Ford with Ford quality, i.e., it will fail prematurely. Beware!

I am a UK owner of a Mazda Tribute 2.0 GSi 4wd, which I believe to be the same as the DX (4 cylinder,16 valve, front mounted, transverse petrol) and it's a manual. I purchased it as a new vehicle on 1st September 2003. At 950 miles on the clock I noticed that the engine was getting noisier. The revs went up and down for no reason and there was a smell of burning rubber. This was more noticeable when the car was going slowly uphill or when the car was held on the clutch. I took the car back to the dealer on 6th Jan 04. They had it for 2 days, but could find nothing wrong with it apart from a sticking throttle. I kept the car till the 13th Jan, but I took it back because the problems were still there. The engine 'died' whilst doing 40mph ad then roared back into life. Could have been dangerous, but fortunately I kept the vehicle in control. I returned the car on the 13th Jan and they still have it. I am being told that there is nothing wrong with the car and that they will now refund the cost of the car or provide a refund. The 'noisy engine 'was investigated by a Mazda Technician and I was told that it was a 'characteristic of the vehicle' and I have this in writing from them. However before I bought the car I was given a brochure stating that the Tribute has 'Powerful, quiet running engines'. The car has been with the dealer for 27 days. 25 of which I have had no courtesty car or compensation. All they have done in this time is repair the throttle, before informing me first, and denting, scratching and chipping the car! Has anyone had any similar experiences? Mazda are saying that all Tributes are noisy, but they have no complaints about this engine on their database worldwide.

I have a Mazda Tribute 2ltr G X I. Having covered 12000 miles I am also having problems, with the throttle and the clutch. The car has been back to the dealer on three occasions to sort out the throttle spindle that for some reason is becoming sooted up and sticking. The second and most serious problem is the clutch, it has been replaced once already to try to cure a judder on the clutch, but that only lasted 1000 miles and was back to normal. More of a problem is when I hook the caravan on the back the clutch is smelling during towing when you start off and when reversing and MAZDA refuse to do anything about it even though their service manager has witnessed the problem himself. This is my third Mazda, but it will be the last. The other two were faultless. Do Not buy this vehicle if you intend to tow a caravan/trailer.

My Mazda Tribute is the WORST vehicle I have ever owned! It has been to the dealer's mechanics four times in the past three months for the same problem... it wouldn't start! I have come to two, no three conclusions about my experience:

1) the Mazda Tribute is a crappy car

2) the Mazda mechanics are under educated

3) I will never buy another Mazda so long as I live!