2005 Mazda Tribute

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK WAS RUSTED AROUND THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 09/09/14*LJ UPDATED 9/10/2014 *JS

I AM THE CURRENT OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE I. BOUGHT IT THROUGH NORTH SHORE BANK OFF LEASE... I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND HAVE IT MAINTAINED REGULARLY . RECENTLY THE REAR PASSENGER AREA HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE, I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A BROKEN SHOCK OR SOMETHING TO THAT AFFECT. I TOOK IT INTO GOODYEAR IN RACINE WI. COME TO FIND THE WHOLE WHEEL WELL IS ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.. THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIX IT AND TAKE IT TO RACINE AUTO BODY ALSO IN RACINE, WI. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN TO A CAR OR SUV EVER BEFORE. HE SAID IT HAS TO BE DUE TO A BAD FACTORY PROCESS OR SOME FLAW THAT HAD BEEN WHEN THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THEY WANT $1600.00 TO FIX THE AREA AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE FLAW FROM THE MAZDA MANUFACTURER. I FEEL IT ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT MORE DAMAGE BEING ADDED. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE SOME SORT OF HELP OR REPLACEMENT OF THE FACTORY FLAW. THE CAR IS IN FAIRLY DECENT SHAPE AND AT THIS POINT I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR.. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES ON ANY OF YOUR OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BROKE OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER FRAME WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 06/25/14 *BF UPDATED 07/1/2014 *JS UPDATED 8/11/14*CN THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER UNDER THE ENGINE THAT SUSPENSION WAS ATTACHED TO RUSTED AWAY AND BROKE CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO MOVE INTO THE RIGHT FRONT INNER FENDER, BREAKING THE AXLE SHAFT WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. UPDATED 09/23/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AND SHOCKS WERE CORRODED DUE TO CORROSION, WHICH ALSO BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 121,000.

MY MAZDA TRIBUTES RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF, LEAVING MY STRUT HANGING. THERE IS NO METAL LEFT TO BE CONNECTED TO THE SUSPENSION/SHOCKS. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE BODY INCLUDING ALL OTHER WHEEL WELLS ARE FINE. THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND GARAGE PARKED. CONTACTED MAZDA USA AND A LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT MAZDA REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY REPAIR. *TR

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. *JS

TL* 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.