The right rear panel is rusting out and made the shock broke lose from the body and I had to take the rear underneath panel off and remove the shock. This has happen to two other Tributes that in my area that I know of.

- Aurora, WV, USA

Failed strut mount - heard a rattle noise in the vehicle - this noise increased over the next few days. Looking outside the vehicle I did not see anything loose or able to cause problem. Checked inside right rear storage and found large hole to see tire. Removing the interior panel revealed the entire wheel well had rusted out leaving the strut hanging by about 2-3 inches of metal. This was banging around causing the noise. If this had fully failed during driving, it may have caused catastrophic failure of the tire leading to major accident with injury. I have stopped driving it until there is a suitable fix.

- Warren, OH, USA

The right rear wheel well is completely rotted out. The shock mount is about to break away. I fear the shock could fall against the tire and cause a blowout or carbon monoxide could be entering the vehicle. I just found the problem and am now worried about my families safety. We have owned the Tribute since new.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, there was an abnormal thumping heard from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side wheel house panel and inner panel assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 91,000.

- Hasting , MI, USA

I was fully stopped at a stop sign on 8/31. I gently stepped on the gas pedal to make a right hand turn onto a busy street and my 05 Mazda Tribute took off at an uncontrollable rate of speed and I remember my vehicle jumping the curve, running threw a 4' sago palm (on the grass) and traveling approximately 35' - 45') before my brakes stopped the vehicle. The front end was severely damaged, passenger side rear wheel well hanging and damage to underside (I think, due to the palm). Driver's side airbag caused a few burns on my hand and arm. My vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road and no other vehicles were involved. Had I not stopped in time, there would have been other vehicles involved and more injuries or even death. Several police vehicles came and an accident report was filed.

- Galveston, TX, USA

I purchased a 2005 Mazda Tribute new from a dealership in elgin, il. When the vehicle was approximately 2 years old, the rear lift gate began to rust, resulting in the paint peeling and flaking off. This has continued to get worse and has occurred in multiple areas on the rear lift gate. Though I located multiple reports of this same problem on the internet, there has been no recalls. One report stated there was a technical issue with the paint by Ford (where the vehicles are manufactured) used causing this problem, but Ford has not corrected the problem or issued a recall.

- Hanover Park, IL, USA