MYRModel Year Report

2003 Mazda Tribute

● Typical for this model
2003 Mazda Tribute
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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, 2003 highlighted. 2000: 5 complaints 2000 2001: 563 complaints 2002: 384 complaints 2002 2003: 199 complaints 2003 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
2003: 199 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20005
2001563
2002384
2003199
2004157
2005377
2006130
20074
2008202
200935
201039
20117

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 15%

15% of complaints: air bags — 30 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE TRAVELING IN FRONT CAME TO A DEAD STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR ENDED COLLSION. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20030819

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%

12% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 23 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE ENTERING PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF BUILDING, ACCELERATOR RACED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT CONCRETE POLE IN FRONT OF BUILDING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120718

STRUCTURE 9%

9% of complaints: structure — 18 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE I HEARD A FEW STRANGE SOUNDS. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A SOUND OF SOMETHING RUBBING THAT GOT FASTER AND FASTER AS I ACCELERATED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171101

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%

8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 16 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%

6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 12 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

MY 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE WAS RECALLED IN MAY 2007 FOR ABS VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL. I TOOK IT IN THAT SAME MONTH AND THE DEALER DETERMINED MODULE CONNECTOR DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120417

SAFETY TIMELINE

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

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

2003 Mazda Tribute — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (30 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (23 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for structure issues (18 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 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 ■ 2002 ■ 2005

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Mazda Tribute reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Mazda Tribute is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mazda Tribute?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 15% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Mazda Tribute have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.