2008 Mazda Tribute Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2008 Mazda Tribute, and owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2008 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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Floor shift (power train) and gear position indication (prndl) (power train)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Tribute vehicles manufactured February 9, 2007 to April 22, 2008. The affected vehicles have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission and if necessary tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30,…
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Hybrid propulsion system
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 10, 2006, to May 23, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail, resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer…
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Electric power assist system (steering)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor…
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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…
202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Mazda Tribute have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 93,569 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 40 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and inoperable, with the maintenance warning light illuminated.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 19, 2026 · Steering
“The contact owned a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH and attempting to make a turn, another vehicle unexpectedly T-boned the vehicle, impacting the pas”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 17, 2026 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 Mazda Tribute (Tribute 4WD, Tribute FWD, Tribute Hybrid 2WD, Tribute Hybrid 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–32 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–34 / 22–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios); 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 2008 Mazda Tribute
How do I know if my 2008 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2008 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 12V357000).
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.