Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Mazda Tribute problems

Owners filed 35 complaints about the 2009 Mazda Tribute with NHTSA between Jun 2009 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is steering (19).

Complaints
35
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering19
  2. Power train3
  3. Electrical system3
  4. Engine3
  5. Fuel/propulsion system2
  6. Service brakes2
  7. Structure2
  8. Air bags2
  9. Vehicle speed control2
  10. Lane departure1
  11. Wheels1
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Visibility1
  14. Visibility/wiper1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20091
20103
20110
20123
20130
20143
20150
20163
20172
20186
20196
20201
20211
20224
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

19 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while parking, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The service warning light illuminated. The contact then heard a beeping sound. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2023SteeringODI 11500777

Power train

3 reports
“AutoZone said that the part is called steering angle sensor and is locking up my car I am not able to press the gas as it only accelerates the engine and nothing else and the steering wheel lock I usually have my car turn on in the middle of traffic the part number they gave me is SU14859”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2022Power train, Electrical systemODI 11486133

Electrical system

3 reports
“POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. STARTED UP MY CAR AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS AT LOW SPEED. ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING UNIT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ATTEMPTED TO CALL MAZDA SERVICE LINE, SAYS RECALL SERVICE FOR EXACT ISSUE STATED WAS COMPLETED IN 2014 FOR RECALL # 7614E 'CLOSED'. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. ATTEMPTED TO CALL DEALER WHO PERFORMED SERVICE FOR ANSWERS. DEALER #42175, NO ANSWERS OR INFORMATION GIVEN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2020Steering, Electrical systemODI 11319462

Engine

3 reports
“CAR WILL LOSE POWER DURING DRIVING. ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER, WHICH RESULTS IN A JERKING MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. PRESSING THE GAS DOES NOTHING. ENGINE REVS ACCORDING TO RPM DIAL, BUT CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. RPM DIAL WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW ENGINE REVVING WHILE IDLING (AFTER I PULL OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK). THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE - 8/22/19 AND AGAIN 8/27/19. DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON CAR ON 8/22/2019 LISTS NO ERROR CODES, FOR ME TO FIX ISSUE. VIDEO TAKEN, BUT STILL IMAGES WONT HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2019Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11251853

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“TAKATA RECALL: THE BRAKES FAIL WHEN DEPRESSED TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED WHEN NEEDING TO STOP INSTANTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MADE AN INSTANT STOP THE SUV DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AS IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND THEN SWERVE BEFORE MAKING A STOP ALMOST CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP ERROR BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REQUIRE A GAS CAP IT IS A CAP-LESS TANK. CAUSES GAS TO SEEP THROUGH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2018Service brakes, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11160560

Service brakes

2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ABDOMEN AND HAD TROUBLE BREATHING DUE TO A CRACKED SPLEEN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2016Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10837849
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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