Menu

2004 Mazda TributeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 157 owner complaints about the 2004 Mazda Tribute, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-174 the manufacturer reports only 20% of affected cars repaired.

2004 Mazda Tribute
51
CarFlaw IndexSolid year5% below the Tribute median · #6 of 9 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 20%Owner complaints15730 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage141kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 31, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Mazda Tribute has problems

157 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension491
Structure453
Vehicle speed control349
Air bags228
Engine and engine cooling172
Power train140
Wheels100
Service brakes, hydraulic90
Engine51
12 other systems203

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2004 Mazda Tribute recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

20%repaired · 2015 Q3

Structure: frame and members

Recall 14V-174 · Apr 4, 2014 · 109,000 vehicles · 21,851 repaired

Risk. A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 12V-357 · Jul 27, 2012 · 217,500 vehicles

Risk. A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Recall 07V-157 · Apr 10, 2007 · 95,300 vehicles

Risk. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Hatchback/liftgate: lock

Recall 04V-605 · Dec 23, 2004 · 49,800 vehicles

Risk. IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: cables

Recall 04V-583 · Dec 10, 2004 · 121,000 vehicles

Risk. AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.

Mileage at failure

When do suspension problems start?

141kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 43 suspension complaints. 19% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles8under 100k miles35100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other Tribute year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tribute median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Mazda Tribute safety ratings

2004 Mazda Tribute 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2004 Mazda Tribute side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Mazda Tribute, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREDP09003 · closed Apr 15, 2009
    No recall
  2. Cruise Control CableDP12005 · closed Jul 17, 2012
    No recall
  3. Engine Compartment FireEA10002 · closed Feb 29, 2012
    Led to recall 12V-005
  4. Stuck ThrottlePE12019 · closed Feb 21, 2013
    Led to recall 12V-353
  5. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRERQ09002 · closed Jan 15, 2010
    No recall
In owners' words

What Tribute owners report

Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

rear passenger side wheel well,shock tower mount,and sub frame.shock tower mount broke fell off hit the cement, chipped my rim and crushed my break lines i took it to lafountaine mazda and they have done an estimate for repairs and damage
Complaint 11488275 · Oct 6, 2022
DRIVING ONE DAY, THE CAR VEERED SUDDENLY INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE THERE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS CRACKED AND THE CAR'S FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THE CAR COULD NOT BE JACKED UP.
Complaint 11355270 · Sep 15, 2020 · 110,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL THUMPING NOISE. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK MOUNT WAS FRACTURED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT…
Complaint 11257292 · Sep 23, 2019 · 181,000 miles

Own a 2004 Tribute?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.