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2008 Mazda TributeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 202 owner complaints about the 2008 Mazda Tribute, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-677 the manufacturer reports only 50% of affected cars repaired.

2008 Mazda Tribute
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Tribute median · #5 of 9 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 50%Owner complaints20213 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage102kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Mazda Tribute has problems

202 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
Steering941
Vehicle speed control531
Power train250
Electrical system150
Service brakes100
Engine70
Suspension50
Fuel system, gasoline51
Wheels41
15 other systems247

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

4 recalls

2008 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.

50%repaired · 2017 Q1

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 15V-677 · Oct 19, 2015 · 4 vehicles · 2 repaired

Risk. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

62%repaired · 2016 Q1

Hybrid propulsion system

Recall 14V-552 · Sep 10, 2014 · 423 vehicles · 262 repaired

Risk. If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

53%repaired · 2015 Q4

Steering: electric power assist system

Recall 14V-282 · May 29, 2014 · 33,000 vehicles · 17,584 repaired

Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, 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 →

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 steering problems start?

102kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 72 steering complaints. 44% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles32under 100k miles40100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2008 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

2008 Mazda Tribute safety ratings

2008 Mazda Tribute 4-DR. w/SAB (Later release) in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Tribute owners report

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

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and inoperable, with the maintenance warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The dealer was not contacted.…
Complaint 11725529 · Mar 19, 2026 · 274,300 miles
Unknown, Electric steering no longer works, ABS light, traction control light engine light air bag light and tool light are on the, brakes will be faulty at times mainly when ABS and traction control light turn on. There is Google fact that 2008 Mazda had recall for EPS, also faulty air bag and…
Complaint 11652901 · Apr 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving at low speeds and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle,…
Complaint 11545165 · Sep 18, 2023 · 125,000 miles

Own a 2008 Tribute?

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