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

2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE FREEWAY AND SHE HEARD A LOUD THUD. SHE PULLED OVER BUT DID NOT SEE ANY APPARENT DAMAGE. SHE DROVE HOME AND THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER. WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME I LOOKED AT THE TRIBUTE. THE ENTIRE SHOCK BODY WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME. THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLE WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. IT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE RUST ANYWHERE ELSE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR IN FOR MOST NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND TIRES AND THEY NEVER MENTIONED ANY CONCERNED WITH THIS BECOMING DETACHED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUES. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT HURT. RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUES SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TRIBUTE AND ESCAPE VEHICLES. IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE RIGHT REAR SECTION. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? *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 REVERSING, HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL HOUSING WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

PULLED AWAY FROM HOUSE TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND AT ABOUT 30 MPH I HEARD THE WORST SOUND. IT CAME FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. IT WAS WORSE OVER BUMPS, STOPPING ETC. TOOK IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO DROVE IT FIRST AND BROUGHT ME BACK TO SHOW ME A RUSTED OUT WHEEL WELL WITH INTERIOR EXPOSED. ALL REMAINING THREE WHEEL WELLS WERE PERFECT, FINE HE STATED. I STARTED BY CALLING MAZDA WHO IS SENDING ME TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL THEN PASS THAT INFO ON. IT IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND I THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2005 AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. NO ACCIDENTS OR MISHAPS TO THAT AREA OF THE CAR. WE KNOW THIS WILL COST A BUNDLE AND READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE FORD ESCAPE 2005 HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT SAID THE TWO ARE "MECHANICAL SIBLINGS." I WROTE DOWN WEBSITES I VISITED WITH COMPLAINT/QUESTION FORUMS AND THE QUOTES FOR REPAIRING ARE ASTRONOMICAL FOR A ERROR MADE ON THE MANUFACTURERS END. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SHOCKS TO GO THROUGH THE REAR OF THE CAR RIGHT BEHIND MY SONS CAR SEAT. *TR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE FRAME WAS CRACKED, DUE TO A RUSTED OUT WHEEL WELL. UPDATED 06/10/14 UPDATED 08/03/15. *JB UPDATED 09/21/15.*JB UPDATED 09/28/15. *JB