2002 Mazda Tribute LX.
Nov 06 purchased used with 85467 miles.
Dec 07 - car would start then stall. Bought idle air control valve and replaced myself.
$64.54 fixed the problem.
Jan 08 - 101689 miles - hard shifting, had transmission flushed.
$142 fixed the problem but the mechanic told me this needs to be done every 100000 miles or so.
Jan 08
brake master cylinder replaced
$317 fixed the problem.
May 08
sunroof button sticking, don't plan to get it fixed, just won't use the sun roof.
May 08
New alternator
$500.
I won't buy another Mazda. Have a 94 Camry bought used in 2000 with 68720 miles. Now it has over 200000 miles and I spent only about $2000 total on repairs (including cost of new clutch) over the years. It's totaled and still cheaper to keep running than the Mazda.
After reading these comments...wow. Sounds like this Mazda is the biggest piece of crap on the face of the earth. Mazda and Ford should be ashamed of themselves after selling this junk to the unsuspecting public. If only people would educate themselves before buying, them we could force these crap can companies out of business, unless they step up to the plate, and start building real cars again.
My husband & I just bought a 2001 Mazda Tribute with 58,000 miles and thought we were getting a reliable vehicle. The very next day, we had to take it to the shop, because the engine oil started leaking. Turns out to be a minor problem, but now we're told there's a "clunk" in the transmission. (I haven't noticed any problems as I've been driving it, though.) We have an appointment next week to take it back to the shop to fix the oil leak and check the transmission. Am very concerned about this transmission issue after reading all of these comments! We had no idea that Mazda was such a poor quality vehicle. Am considering selling this one already and going back to Toyota.
I've got the 2002 V6 Tribute. Bought it with 41k miles on it and it's probably around 69k now. No problems with the engine though after reading here I'm definitely getting the transmission flushed.
The radio face has been goofed since a month after I bought it. We press on it and eventually can see what time it is.
The sun roof switch apparently is a regular problem for others as well as us. Went through the carwash and forgot the switch had been wonky the last time we opened and closed the sun roof. Turns out the seal hadn't closed all the way.
Not as big a pain as losing the transmission though.
After reading this forum I'm going looking to see what I can get for it before the transmission goes out.
Anyone that is considering selling their car "before the transmission goes", DO IT! Don't wait another day.
My other comment would be "ditto". I have managed to get 125000miles out of this car. But, I too have most of the same issues as everyone else, except the airbag deployment. We had started to look for a new car, but we are too late. Transmission just went, well almost, now it is a manual shift? ARGH. No more Fords or Mazdas.
After owning nothing but Toyota's and getting them over 200k, I purchased a 2001 Mazda Tribute LX V6. As we know its really a Ford Escape, and although I actually have 174,000 miles on it and still running strong, here is my list of Failures:
Rear wiper doesn't work...
Cruise control broken...
Inside driver door latch...broken..
Rear hatch glass hinge broken..
Constantly up shifting around 40 mph.
Sunroof switch intermittently working.
Spark plugs have individual coils.. Cost of a new plug $95. So if you wanted to just change plugs/wires, it would cost over $600.
DO I stop now???
Solution....Going to buy a Toyota Tacoma when this finally dies...
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