Problems · by component

2002 Mazda Tribute power train problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Mazda Tribute cite power train, 9% of all 385 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
35
9% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission was shifting erratically and made an abnormal rumbling sound. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond and was jerking upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact who is an independent mechanic had replaced the transmission speed sensor, the transmission shift position sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, the shift solenoid block, the transmission fluid, the transmission clutch solenoid, and the wheel speed sensor; however, the failure persisted. The contact used an OBD scanner and retrieved DTC codes indicating that the ABS wiring was overheating. The contact later became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V016000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer bypassed the ABS module. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH to the residence after the repair, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the recall repair did not involve bypassing the ABS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2023Service brakes, hydraulic, Power train, EngineODI 11556495
“The contact owned a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, a pop noise was heard, the vehicle had unintended acceleration; the engine revved and sped up to 80 - 90 mph, inadvertently, and the brakes failed to engage after the contact had depressed with both feet on the brake pedal. The contact made a turn into a park and the vehicle slid, then crashed into a tree. There was smoke coming from under the hood and the contact turned off the vehicle before exiting and walking until she got assistance from a bystander, who called the police. A police report was filed. The contact did not receive medical attention at the scene but later went to the emergency room for injuries sustained with six broken ribs. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2021Power trainCrash reportedODI 11433315
“HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS, COME APRIL 2015. 8 MONTHS OF THOSE 2 YEARS IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY BROKE DOWN.WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN I FELT THE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND DECREASE IN ACCELERATION WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY HOME. I HAD TO GET OFF ON THE NEAREST EXIT WITH MY 1YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK, AND THERE WAS A STOP LIGHT FROM THE OFF RAMP TO THE ROAD, IT WAS RED WHEN I GOT OFF SO OF COURSE I HAD TO STOP. WELL THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IT JERKED LIKE THE GEARS WERE TRYING TO SHIFT BUT COULD NOT. I HAD TO GET OFF IN REVERSE AND WAIT 4 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. WE WERE 128 MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT, STILL UNFORTUNATELY STILL PAYING ON IT. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS MADE IN APRIL OF 2004 FOR THIS MODEL CAR. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF MINE FALLS UNDER THAT RECALL AND I'M I ELIGIBLE EVEN THOUGH I AM THE SECOND OWNER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2015Power trainODI 10692662
“2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCIDENT SHE HAD IN 2004 DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, SHE HIT A POLE IN HER DRIVEWAY. THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, FOG LIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WERE DAMAGED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, REGARDING RAPID ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2012Power train, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10480261
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2012Power trainODI 10471752
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND CONTINUED TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE SAME FAILURE REOCCURRED FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V175000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE TCM, PCM). THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2010Power trainODI 10354604

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: control module (tcm

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 DURATEC ENGINES , DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.

Power trainReported Apr 9, 2004NHTSA 04V175000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.