2002 Mazda Tribute Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 2002 Mazda Tribute, and owners have filed 384 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 2002 Mazda Tribute
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Frame and members (structure)
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,…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this…
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Cables (vehicle speed control) and engine and engine cooling
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…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact…
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module
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.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modify the ABS electrical system, free of charge. Until the repair has been performed, vehicle owners should park…
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector may have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate. The dealer will also inspect the connector on the ABS…
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Lock (latches/locks/linkages)
Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utility vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 206, 'door locks and door retention components.' the rear liftgate latching system does not meet…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
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Cables (vehicle speed control)
On certain sport utility vehicles, the accelerator cable may prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator cable. The recall began on january 28, 2005. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option #4.
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Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0l v6 duratec engines , during deceleration, the engine can stall.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the power control module (PCM) with the appropriate calibration. The recall began on may 3, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
384 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Mazda Tribute have filed 384 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash and 24 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,436 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 88 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 22, 2023 · Power train
“My car has had a abs engine code for a year that I have spent a lot of money trying to get it off because, I can’t renew my tag because it failed emissions vehicle safety test . So I was notified by m”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 13, 2023 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Mazda Tribute (Tribute 2WD, Tribute 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–20 / 22–25 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mazda Tribute model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mazda Tribute model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Mazda Tribute | 0 | 5 |
| 2001 Mazda Tribute | 13 | 563 |
| 2002 Mazda Tribute | 7 | 384 |
| 2003 Mazda Tribute | 6 | 199 |
| 2004 Mazda Tribute | 5 | 157 |
| 2005 Mazda Tribute | 3 | 377 |
| 2006 Mazda Tribute | 2 | 130 |
| 2007 Mazda Tribute | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 Mazda Tribute | 4 | 202 |
| 2009 Mazda Tribute | 1 | 35 |
| 2010 Mazda Tribute | 2 | 39 |
| 2011 Mazda Tribute | 0 | 7 |
Checking a specific 2002 Mazda Tribute
How do I know if my 2002 Mazda Tribute has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2002 Mazda Tribute; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mazda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V175000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mazda models
- 6263,130 complaints
- MAZDA32,987 complaints
- CX-52,451 complaints
- MAZDA62,234 complaints
- CX-91,438 complaints
- CX-71,132 complaints
- Protege1,076 complaints
- Mpv938 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.