2001 Mazda Tribute: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Sep 22, 2013 · 140,000 miles · KY

Passenger side rear door will not open from inside or out this is a major problem we have 2 children.

Filed Oct 2, 2012 · Body · 95,847 miles · CA

The driver door handle suddenly stopped working, I thought maybe because it's now considered an old car, but then just recently the same thing happened to the passenger door. I thought, hmmmm maybe I should look this up on the internet. Bam!!! Many complaints of the same defect and no recall!! This is a safety issue. Someone could actually get killed from not being able to get out of their car. So, let's go through a scenario. I get in a car accident, the power does not work to open the windows, the car is on fire. I can't get out through driver door or passenger. So now, I am struggling to get to the back seat to open a door. But wait, that's if I don't catch on fire first. What is it going to take to get this to be a recall. Will it take someone actually getting killed. Because if it does, then all these angry people who had issues that you didn't listen too will totally be on your[xxx]! Do something about this! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 15, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · AZ

Keys come out of the ignition when my mazda tribute is not in park. I forgot today that the front rotors are real bad and need replaced and I only have 41140 miles on my 2001 tribute which I bought brand new from the mazda dealer in town. I have to replace the front door handle twice now since it would not open from the inside.

Filed May 24, 2011 · Body, Locks · 184,500 miles · CA

1. Normal use. 2. Broken door handles--within door. Front passenger can't open door from inside. 3. I am looking for a replacement part.

Filed Dec 9, 2010 · Locks · 38,000 miles · DC

The door latch on the drivers door won't open and I don't feel safe. If something happened and I had to get out, I would be in trouble. A friend recently taught me how to open the door by pushing the latch backwards. It has to be done by reaching across my body with my right hand and pushing the lock backwards (ex: like you're pinching something). There are too many complaints on this website concerning this same problem. Why hasn't there been a recall on this problem??? The only benefit for this is if someone steals my vehicle and can't get out, resulting in being caught.

Filed Sep 18, 2010 · Body, Locks · 188,500 miles · VA

The inside driver side door handle of my 2001 mazda tribute completely stopped functioning. This was sudden, without warning, and permanent. The only way to open the door at this point is to roll down the window and open the door using the outside door handle. Thus, the driver is essentially trapped inside the vehicle unless they can access the outside of the car or exit using another door. This seems to be a very prevalent problem with 2001 mazda tributes based on a brief internet search.

Filed Jul 19, 2010 · Body, Locks · NY

2001 mazda tribute driver's interior door handle broken. Can't get out of the car without putting the window down. Very bad safety concern if there is an accident.

Filed May 24, 2010 · Body, Locks · 62,000 miles · PA

We own a 2001 mazda tribute es v6 [xxx] . Since purchasing the vehicle in august 2001 there have been three incidences of the inside door handles becoming non-functional and creating a hazardous condition where the doors cannot be opened from the inside (someone must open from the outside or you need to open the window and reach out to use the exterior handle to open the door). This creates a dangerous condition should the car be involved in a fire or accident where the occupant must quickly exit the vehicle. The interior door handle places a great deal of shear force on a small plastic pin that connects the door lever to the latch/lock/actuator. The driver's side handle has broken twice since 2001 and the passenger side door handle broke this week. I looked at the drivers side and the handle is showing signs of fatigue (stress cracks) in the plastic pin, so I will need to replace that before it breaks during a potential emergency. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 14, 2010 · Body, Electrical · 79,000 miles · CA

Drivers side front door handle stopped working, window needs to be down in order to open door. If in an accident or fire driver will need assistance in exiting car. This is proven by all other complaints to be common with this vehicle and in hazardous situations potentially fatal unless government steps in and demands recall. Dealer wants $300.00+ to fix, have already spent $3000.00+ at dealer on computer failures and left side driver door window assembly failure.

Filed Apr 20, 2010 · Body · TX

2001 mazda tribute - both interior door handles broke off completely within 2 weeks of one another. In the event of an emergency there is no way to exit without rolling down the window and reaching to the exterior handles.

Filed Oct 5, 2009 · Locks · 82,600 miles · WA

Inoperative interior door handle on driver's door. Interior door handle will not open door. Had to roll down driver's window to open driver's door.

Filed Aug 18, 2009 · Body, Locks · 82 miles · TX

Driver's side door handle broke off in my hand while trying to exit the vehicle. Had to roll down the window and open the door from the outside. Plastic door handles should not be used on any vehicle. This is a major safety issue and should have been on one of the many tribute recall lists! The dealership wanted to charge double to replace the door handle and I had it repaired at a nationally known car repair shop for less than half of the cost the dealership quoted.