Worst 2002 Mazda Tribute Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Airbags
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Mazda Tribute.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 68 | 1 | — | 23,220 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 33 | — | 2 | 20,144 mi | |
| Airbags | 32 | 4 | — | 85,294 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 31 | 1 | 8 | 94,438 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 26 | 7 | 1 | 104,856 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 24 | 1 | 5 | 79,514 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 21 | — | 4 | 69,160 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 18 | — | — | 95,941 mi | |
| Brakes | 18 | — | 2 | 146,677 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 15 | — | — | 46,493 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 11 | — | — | 39,132 mi | |
| Body Structure | 10 | — | — | 145,212 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 10 | — | — | 106,685 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 8 | — | — | 48,028 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 8 | — | — | 97,700 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 7 | — | 2 | 52,343 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | 1 | — | 52,524 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 7 | 2 | — | 50,274 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 6 | — | 2 | 93,830 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 6 | 2 | — | 128,801 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 6 | — | — | 27,697 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | — | 78,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | — | — | 48,952 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 | — | — | 1,395 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 5 | — | — | 119,000 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Mazda Tribute. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Mazda Tribute
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~378,890 vehicles.
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, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
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 control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
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 FLUID LEAKS, IT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.
Other Mazda Tribute Years
2002 Mazda Tribute — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Mazda Tribute reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Mazda Tribute?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Mazda Tribute?
How safe is the 2002 Mazda Tribute?
Does the 2002 Mazda Tribute have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Mazda Tribute?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mazda Tribute reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Mazda Tribute
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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