Problems · by component

2005 Mazda Tribute vehicle speed control problems

87 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Mazda Tribute cite vehicle speed control, 23% of all 383 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
87
23% of all complaints
Crashes
3
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
“VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY; TRIED APPLYING THE BRAKE, TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, PRESSING THE DECELERATE BUTTON, NOTHING WORKED. I HAD TO APPLY A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UNCONTROLLABLY. I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE. THE THROTTLE CABLE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO HAD ROTATED UP TO ABOUT A 30-DEGREE ANGLE AND HAD THE THROTTLE HELD OPEN. I ROTATED THE CABLE BACK DOWN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION AND THE THROTTLE SNAPPED FREE. I WILL NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO OVER 80 MPH WHILE I WAS TRYING TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11327222
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING, THE LIFTGATE FLEW OPEN AND SEVERAL GROCERY ITEMS FELL ONTO THE STREET. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CLOSED THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2019Structure, Vehicle speed controlODI 11287149
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, ACCELERATED AT A RAPID PACE, AND THEN DECELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,940.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11090158
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ADJUST THE SPEED CABLE IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE ENGINE SIZE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,621.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2017Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11041946
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). WHILE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW VEHICLE, A DEALER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2017Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10980307
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,848.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2016Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 10861432

Showing 6 of 87 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2005 Tribute problem areas