Problems · by component

2003 Mazda Tribute vehicle speed control problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Mazda Tribute cite vehicle speed control, 17% of all 200 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
34
17% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My ABS keeps locking up and Ive almost wrecked multiple times. I changed brakes and rotors and still the problem is on-going. Its dangerous and Ive read others saying the same thing online.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2023Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11542450
“I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50MPH AND COMNG UP TO A STOP LIGHT, AS I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE FOR THE RED LIGHT GOING LEFT, MY TRIBUTE SUDDENLY STALLED.THE LIGHT THEN OF COURSE TURNED GREEN AND THIS WAS NOT GOOD, CAUSE ALL THE CARS COMING UP FROM BEHIND ME WERE NOW INTENDING TO NO SLOW DOWN AND BEGIN TO SPEED UP, TO CARRY ON THROUGH THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WHICH ALMOST CREATED A PILE UP, BEGINNING AT MY REAR BUMPER, OR ANOTHER SUDDEN COLLISION NEAR BY. LUCKILY ALL THE CARS HAD EITHER SWERVED AROUND MINE, OR MANAGED TO STOP BEHIND ME. I THEN PUT MINE IN PARK AND TRIED TO START IT, THE ENGINE STARTED BUT I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SO I SHUT IT OFF, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED STARTING IT, IT STARTED AND SHIFTED OUT OF PARK BUT WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE IN DRIVE. SO I TRIED IN ONE OF THE LOWER GEARS AND IT VERY SLOWLY, ABOUT 5 MPH BEGAN TO MOVE, GETTING ME OFF THE MAJOR ST AND ON TO A SIDE STREET. I THEN CHECKED REVERSE, WHICH WORKED JUST FINE AND ALLOWED ME TO PULL INTO A NEARBY STORE TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. I PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, TOO WAIT FOR IT TO BE TOWED HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO USE IT, BUT STILL NOTHING IN DRIVE, NO CHECK…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2020Power train, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11365995
“CAR STALLED WHEN SLOWING TO STOP IN LEFT TURNING LANE DOING AROUND 45MPH, APPROACHING THE LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND VEHICLES APPROACHING MINE FROM BEHIND. IT WOULD NO LONGER START IN PARK OR MOVE IN DRIVE, TO GET OUR OF THE WAY AND OFF THE STREET I HAD TO WAIT AND THE MOVE IT IN REVERSE. GOT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SITS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2020Power train, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11365999
“TAKATA RECALL, LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING IN PARK, GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS.DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STOPPED PULLING WITH TRAFFIC SPEED OF 65 MPH HAD TO MANEUVER OFF THE HIGHWAY. WOULDN'T PULL IN ANY GEAR, SHIFTER ONLY HAD ONE GEAR IT WOULD SIT IN WILL SLIDE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE 2. COST $224.00 TO TOW WHICH I HAD TO BORROW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2018Power train, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlODI 11114420
“AFTER FINISHING A ROAD TRIP, WE PARKED THE CAR AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO MOVE HIGHER AND HIGHER. WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE RPMS BEGAN TO DRASTICALLY RISE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT INTO PARK AND ONCE AGAIN THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO RISE. WE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11062909
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlODI 10617120

Showing 6 of 34 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

Vehicle speed control: cables

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Vehicle speed controlReported Dec 10, 2004NHTSA 04V583000
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.

Other 2003 Tribute problem areas