10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,428 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Mazda Tribute:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #55

Mar 192012

Tribute

  • 93,424 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the throttle would become stuck when the accelerator pedal was fully or partially fully depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the dealer refused to inspect the failure. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no recalls for the vehicle and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 93,424.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #54

Feb 152011

Tribute

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the accelerator pedal would not respond. The contact continued to apply pressure to the pedal but had no success. The manufacturer was made of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V357000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #53

Feb 252013

Tribute 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
The first time I had an issue with the gas pedal, I was backing out of a driveway and the pedal got stuck all the way down. My car wouldn't move. Since then, I've had 5 instances where I'm driving my car and let up on the gas pedal and it gets stuck. I have to stomp on the pedal multiple times for it to start working again. I'm always in traffic and have to turn on my hazard lights and pull off to the side if there is a shoulder available. This has also happened when merging onto the interstate when traffic is moving over 50 mph. This is very dangerous and I'm upset to find that many other owners have had this issue and we have to pay to get this fixed. It should be a recall.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #52

Feb 192013

Tribute 4-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
I have had problems with my gas pedal every since I got the car. The problem is that it will not accelerate its like it has something behind the gas pedal preventing it to go down. It has got worse over the years especially when it is cold outside it seems to stick worse. You can try to push it harder or even pull up on it and it doesn't budge. I had to pullover today because I couldn't get the pedal to work so I couldn't give it gas. I got it work and was driving down the road and it froze up again. I finally made it to my destination and when I left nothing was wrong with it. Got in it tonight after work and it is very cold outside and it was stuck again. Called Mazda earlier and said they was no recall on it. Got online afterwards and found numerous people with the same problem. I got it checked out before with Mazda while under warranty and they told me nothing was wrong with.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #51

Nov 302005

Tribute

  • 500 miles
The gas pedal will get stuck in the up position periodically. It happens more often during the cold seasons. I have had many close calls getting into an accident while making a right turn and on coming traffic is approaching during the time I am trying to accelerate to get on to the lane and my accelerator gets stuck and the car is still slowly moving. I will literally have to continuously stomp on the pedal to get it to go down and once it does it accelerates quickly causing the vehicle to forward. I have taken it in the dealer to see what the issue was and they told me it was due to the carbon build up on the butterfly causing it to get stuck but even after getting the flush out it continued to get stuck while I am driving. I have gone online to see if anyone else has had this issue and sure enough there was.

- Elk Grove , CA, USA

problem #50

Dec 172012

Tribute 6-cyl

  • 80,500 miles
When apply full or almost full pressure to the gas peddle the throttle sticks causing the car to speed forward and the brakes do not engage fully to stop the vehical. Thhis happened 3 times so far. I had use the emergency brake. I had the recall repair done this occured after it was done. They did something to the engine cover but later had it removed because I thought that was still it. But even without the engine on the car the throttle still sticks. Dealership says it does not know why I am having the problem.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #49

Nov 012007

Tribute 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
I have repeatedly had problems with the gas pedal sticking. Not in the "on" position but rather when I try to accelerate after stopping or deceleration it will stick and I can not push it down. It happens more when it is cold out. I am reading pages and pages on the internet of this happening with Mazda Tributes around my cars age. It seems potentially very dangerous. Also, since folks like myself have gotten it 'repaired' and it has recurred this does not seem like a worn part but rather a defect. Please help!

- Redwood City, CA, USA

problem #48

Dec 042012

Tribute

  • 102,548 miles
I have found that my gas pedal won't depress in cold weather. The first time this happened was a few weeks after I bought the car in 2009. The said it's cold and the car just needs to warm up. This problem has continued to happen year after year, but never for any length of time. However this morning, as I was driving to work the pedal would no longer depress as I was going down the road. Eventually I coasted to a red light and I frantically stepped on the pedal to no avail. I was able to turn on my hazard lights and somehow coast into a parking lot. I continued to let the car sit and warm up for another 10-12 minutes, when I was finally able to rev the engine. Believing that the problem was solved I backed out of my parking sort and again tried to drive forward, however the pedal still would not depress. After sitting another 10 minutes, I was finally able to press the pedal hard enough for it to depress. I ended up needing one of my co-workers to follow me to work in case it happened again; which is did after 3-4 more times on my 10 minute drive to work. Please look into this issue.

- Clemmons, NC, USA

problem #47

Dec 012012

Tribute 4-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
On December 1, 2012 while driving at 58mph around 345pm on the expressway, my foot was on the accelerator with steady pressure, the car began to slow down. I realized that the car was not maintaining speed. I tried to press down on the accelerator pedal but it did not move. I was able to pull to the side of the road. I then tried with all the force of my leg to press down on the accelerator but with no avail. I tried lifting the pedal with my foot several times and suddenly the pedal freed up. This was on a sunny day, temperature around 60. I have had this happen several times before on cold mornings on the way to work over the last few years but thought the car was cold and the car had not a chance to warm up. In 2010 I filed a complaint.no response. But this time I was truly afraid of getting in a bad car accident and injuring others.I have researched this vehicle and there does not appear to be any recalls for this model. On Monday I plan to contact Mazda for help before someone gets hurt. I urge you to look more into this make/model year.

- Ontario, NY, USA

problem #46

Dec 092009

Tribute

  • miles
The gas pedal wont depress in cold weather. Generally any temperature close to or below freezing. The first incident was shortly after I purchased the vehicle in 2009. I took it back to the Mazda dealer but they could not find anything wrong. Their remedy was to grease and lubricate the pedal assembly. This did not remedy the situation and the problem has been continuous every winter. I find that if I warm the car up sufficiently after the car has been parked for an extended period of time, the pedal does not stick. But this evening, November 17, 2012, it became stuck while I was driving and the car was warm. Luckily, I was able to pull into a parking lot and not get rear ended for suddenly slowing down and not being able to accelerate. Hoping for a recall very soon.

- Lindenwold, NJ, USA

problem #45

Aug 012012

Tribute

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute I. the contact stated that when trying to accelerate after a stop the accelerator pedal became difficult to depress. The dealer was contacted and they advised her that she would have to bring the vehicle in for diagnosis. The manufacturer was later contacted and they offered no assistance. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The current mileage was approximately 93,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Gordon, GA, USA

problem #44

Oct 292012

Tribute 4-cyl

  • 151,000 miles
When driving in cold weather, the accelerator will not press down. If you stop at a red light or slow down for traffic and try to accelerate, you can't press the accelerator down to get speed. It is stuck and won't press down. You have to keep pressing on it hard which results in the car taking off real fast and jerking everyone in it or causing traffic behind you to run into you because your vehicle will not accelerate. I've been reporting this problem since I've had this automobile in 2005. There are several hundred complaints on the internet with the same problem. I guess someone will have to be killed or seriously injured before something is done.

- Marksville, LA, USA

problem #43

Dec 012011

Tribute

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the throttle failed, causing the vehicle to abnormally accelerate. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by removing the keys from the ignition. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 12V357000 (vehicle speed control:cables). The failure mileage was 74,000.

- Bath, PA, USA

problem #42

Aug 102012

Tribute 6-cyl

  • miles
First let me please advise that there was no incident regarding my vehicle. I am writing to try to get information about a potential recurring problem that was first reported and recalled with the 2002 and the 2003 / recall 63202. I have a 2005 Mazda Tribute and was just advised by the service department of irwin Mazda in freehold New Jersey that my car will need to have the brake booster and the master cylinder replaced. I know my car is a 2005 and the recall pertained to the 2002 and 2003 models, but I feel that this is an issue that is recurring and is not being addressed. I contacted Mazda corporate and spoke to the supervisor Mr. Johhny garcia and I voiced my concerns, and I was dismissed by him stating that there was nothing he can or will do to escalate my concerns to a higher level of management at Mazda corporate. The number I called was 949-727-1990. I am not sure how this works but I am truly concerned with this issue. There might be more consumers like me out there that had this issue with their car and was dismissed also. Not only is this a safety concern, but the cost to replace this could be in the thousands. Can you please reach out to Mazda regarding my concerns, since [xxx] refused to help me escalate my call. Thank you so much for your help. [xxx] please advise on how you think I should proceed, or if you can look into this potential recurring problem with the brake booster and master cylinder. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Freehold, NJ, USA

problem #41

Oct 102007

Tribute 4WD 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal failed and remained in a depressed position when attempting to decelerate. The contact stopped the vehicle and upon restart, it functioned properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but they could not determine the failure because they could not duplicate the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. No assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 8/24/12 updated 09/04/12

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #40

Jul 182008

Tribute

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and noticed that the pedal had become stuck. The contact continued to depress the pedal until it released. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure and greased the accelerator pedal. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number: PE12019 (vehicle speed control:cruise control vehicle speed control:cables) that could have been related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #39

Jun 062006

Tribute

  • 30,000 miles
I have read over 200 complaints of Mazda Tribute 2005 gas pedal sticking and can not be depressed. I have had this problem on several occasions where I will stop at a light or stop sign and will try to depress my gas pedal and it will not move. I have almost been reared ended several times because of this. I have also issued a complaint to NHTSA before in regards to this.

- Marksville, , LA, USA

problem #38

Nov 262009

Tribute

  • miles
After reading other similar complaints, I felt compelled to address this issue with the gas pedal. It seems Mazda has been aware of this problem for many years, yet no recall. The gas pedal sticks in weather colder than 50 degrees. For an all-terrain vehicle (SUV) which is made to go off-road and in mountains, this is a pretty serious safety issue. When I conferred with my local Mazda dealer, they wanted to charge me $400 for parts and labor to "replace" a faulty mechanism. I feel I shouldn't have to pay for something which is inherent with these Tribute vehicles and for which Mazda is fully aware.

- Tustin, CA, USA

problem #37

May 202011

Tribute 4-cyl

  • 55,200 miles
Gas pedal sticks. Can't be pressed down.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #36

Nov 012005

Tribute

  • 25 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving approximately 55 mph the accelerator pedal became stuck causing the vehicle to decelerate. The contact activated his emergency lights and was able to stop the vehicle on the emergency lane. After restarting the vehicle, the accelerator pedal functioned normally. The contact stated the failure occurred intermittently during cold or rainy weather. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 25.

- Portland, OR, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »