MYRModel Year Report

2002 Mazda Tribute

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Mazda Tribute
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Mazda Tribute Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2002 highlighted. 2000: 5 complaints 2000 2001: 563 complaints 2002: 384 complaints 2002 2003: 199 complaints 2004: 157 complaints 2004 2005: 377 complaints 2006: 130 complaints 2006 2007: 4 complaints 2008: 202 complaints 2008 2009: 35 complaints 2010: 39 complaints 2010 2011: 7 complaints 2011
2002: 384 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20005
2001563
2002384
2003199
2004157
2005377
2006130
20074
2008202
200935
201039
20117

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 33%

33% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 126 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

I PULLED ONTO A DIRT ROAD BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND WHEN I STOPPED I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS LIKE A SMALL FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I GOT SCARED CALLED MY MOTHER AND 2 SECONDS LATER THE WHOLE FRONT OF...

NHTSA ODI report, 20120524

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES, AND POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING.THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. ON 4TH TIME HAD AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES.CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020829

ON NOVEMBER 2 DRIVING 40MPH WITH NO WARNING MY ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I LOST POWER TO MY STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER APPLYING ALL MY WEIGHT TO THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI report, 20011108

Also filed under SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and STEERING

SERVICE BRAKES 23%

23% of complaints: service brakes — 87 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120809

My car has had a abs engine code for a year that I have spent a lot of money trying to get it off because, I can’t renew my tag because it failed emissions vehicle safety test .

NHTSA ODI report, 20231013

Also filed under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%

11% of complaints: electrical system — 44 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing ignition and fuses and circuit breakers.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%

10% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 38 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cables and cruise control.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

CAR WAS IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO BACK UP AND HIT A METAL FENCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020826

AIR BAGS 10%

10% of complaints: air bags — 37 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE OWNER'S VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20190916

DRIVER OF VEHICLE 1 RAN RED LIGHT AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 40-45 MPH AND HIT PASSENGER DOOR OF VEHICLE 2 CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE 2 AND TOTALLY FRONT END OF VEHICLE 1. WE OWN VEHICLE 2.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030407

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 20011207 — PE (closed 20020910)

ENGINE STALLING

▮ 2002 — complaint volume: 384
I 20020910 — EA (closed 20040415)

ENGINE STALLING

R 20040503 — power train

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Campaign 04V175000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050128 — vehicle speed control

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.

Campaign 04V583000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050331 — latches/locks/linkages

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-

Campaign 04V605000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20061030 — PE (closed 20070417)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

R 20070402 — service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD

Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

Campaign 07E023000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070509 — service brakes, hydraulic

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CON

Campaign 07V157000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20090414 — DP (closed 20090415)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

I 20090415 — RQ (closed 20100115)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

I 20100114 — EA (closed 20120229)

Engine Compartment Fire

R 20120622 — service brakes, hydraulic

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 2000, THROUGH JULY 19, 2002. THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID. IF BRAKE

Remedy: MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP AND MODIFY THE ABS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FREE OF CHARGE. UNTIL THE REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED, VEHICLE

Campaign 12V016000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20120717 — DP (closed 20120717)

Cruise Control Cable

I 20120717 — PE (closed 20130221)

Stuck Throttle

R 20120913 — engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed contro

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012

Campaign 12V357000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140529 — structure

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,...

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.

Campaign 14V174000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150520 — suspension

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury...

Remedy: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Campaign 15E045000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2002 Mazda Tribute — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (126 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (87 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (44 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 04V175000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V583000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V605000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E023000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V157000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V016000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V357000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V174000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15E045000 (suspension) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2009 ▲ 2010 ▲ 2006

WORST YEARS

■ 2001 ■ 2005 ● 2008

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2002 Mazda Tribute reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Mazda Tribute is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mazda Tribute?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2002 Mazda Tribute have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.