The interior door handles on both sides (in the front) are inoperable. The only way out of the car is to open the window and open from the outside. If the event there was an electrical failure the driver and passenger would not be able to get out of the vehicle.
2001 Mazda Tribute locks complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 59 of 59, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Inside driver's door handle broke unexpectedly and under normal use. I am the original owner of this 2001 tribute. Had to repair at my expense...obviously a common problem and unacceptable.
The driver side door handle failed, I was trapped inside the car on the driver side. I had to lower the power window, reach outside of the car and open the door. I purchased a handle and paid to have the door handle replaced on 6/29/2005. The passenger side door handle failed , leaving the passenger trapped inside the car on the passenger side. Passengers had to lower the power window, reach outside the car and open the door. I purchased a handle and paid to have the door handle replaced on 3/13/2006. Recently, every time I crank my car a large cloud of gray smoke comes from the tailpipe. Today, 6/16/2006, I went to put the key into the ignition and the key would not go in. After several attempts the key went into the ignition but, the key would not turn. I was unable to start the car. With assistance from a local mechanic, after numerous attempts, the key went in, turned and the car started. It was suggested to me, do not make any stops on the way home that would require turning the car off. Once I arrived at home I turned the car off and attempted to start the car again. The key will go in but, after several attempts, the key will not turn to start the car. With the mazda being my only vehicle I feel this is a safety issue for my son and I. While driving the mazda the rear glass on the hatch opened. I pulled over to close the glass and it would not close and latch. With the help of a local mechanic he was able to close and engage the latch on the glass door. We avoid opening the rear glass but on accident the glass door was opened and it was the same scenario.
The portion of the interior door handle with triggers the latch suddenly broke off, making it extremely difficult to exit the vehicle. This has occurred on both the driver and passenger front doors over the last few months. Incident date recorded is the date of the second handle break. As a result of the failure, the vehicle is difficult to exit, requiring either a) rolling down the window and pulling on the exterior handle, or b) pushing extremely hard on one end of the lock, which will trigger the door to unlatch. While we have not experienced any negative consequences aside from inconvenience, in case of an emergency this could make the vehicle difficult to exit, especially if handle failure occurring suddenly to someone not expecting the non-functioning handle. The vehicle is currently under estimate for repairs. The old part remains on the vehicle and will be retained once repairs are completed.
Dt*: the contact stated the passenger side door lock broke. The door will not open from the inside or outside, either automatically or manually. The entry to the door is opened by the automatic opener or keypad. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and replacement of the door lock. Updated 5/2/2006 -
Dt*: the contact stated the inside door locks failed to lock the vehicle. The driver's side rear door lock was already replaced. The driver's door will not unlock, and it will also have to be replaced. The door locks operated from the outside, but not from the inside.
Dt: the contact stated two of the inside door handles have failed. This happened on the front driver's side and passenger's side doors. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and were repaired both times. *ak updated 11/29/2005 -
Interior driver door latch broken, can not exit using handle inside of door.
Approx. 6 months ago the outside driver's side door latch on my 2001 mazda tribute (80,000 miles) broke and I had to have it replaced at my expense. A month ago the passanger door outside latch broke and I also had to have it replaced at my expense. A week ago the inside driver's side door latch broke and I am faced with replacing it at my expense. In virginia all door latches must work in order to get the vehicle inspected, so this is clearly a safety issue and should be fixed by mazda.
Driver side interior door handle internal mechanism breaks and prevents exit of vehicle through driver door.
Dt: 2001 mazda tribute. Consumer states the doors will not open from the inside. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they did not try to do anything, they would not even look at vehicle. The doors were on child safety locks, and consumer thought that may have been the reason for doors locking. However, when she took the safety locks off it did not help. Consumer received a recall, and called the manufacturer. She was advised to take the vehicle to dennison mazda. There was no information on the recall at this time. She took the vehicle to dealer, and was told they had to order the parts and she was to come back that following tuesday. When she returned to dealer, she was told warranty expired and they would not do the work. The recall was on a sensor.
Occassionally, while my car is idle both parked but running or while I'm in traffic, the engine accelerates and the RPM gauge races. The engine will not stop racing unless I turn the car off. Also, driver car door does not open from the inside, service dealer says I need to replace entire lock including components not covered under map.
Driver side door would not open from the inside. *jb
Door handles in mazda 2001 tributes break easily after normal use. Apparently a "plastic part cracks" on the interior door handle assembly thereby not allowing the door to open at all. This is alarming due to the obvious concern for safety of any occupant of the vehicle if an emergency were to arise and proper medical attention could not be made or it would be delayed. The poor workmanship has been addressed to the manufacturer but they have refused to review the matter. Please investigate as I am concerned for the safety and well-being of my family. There was no accident, misuse or reason for the plastic part to break in my vehicle. My vehicle only has 25,000 miles on it.
Unable to open doors from inside of vehicle. After 90000 miles driver and passenger doors became inopperable within 2 days of each other. Driver's side could not be opened from inside or outside while passenger side door could be opened by rolling down the window and lifting up on outside handle. Shop determined that handle(chromed plastic) inside door mechanism(mazda part#ec01-58-330n)cracked. The handle has a 1/16th" raised catch that cracked off on both handles. The second incident happened just 10months later @109k once again both handles were involved but this time they were 1 week apart. The parts cost (as of 8/24/04) 52.29 + labor each. I have old parts. No children used these doors only 2 adults. This is a serious situation due to the inability to open the doors from the inside in the event of an emergency or the need to exit the vehicle quickly. You must first roll down the window & reach outside or if the vehicle is off you must restart to open electric windows if you have power at all, if not you are stuck inside and unable to exit.
2001 mazda tribute es v6...driver's side door handle broke under normal use. Plastic piece broke off of handle... Cannot open door from inside vehicle. A relative of ours had the same proplem with her 2001 tribute. Her door handle came off entirely under normal use.
I bought my tribute in february 2001 and in april 2004 the inside driver side door handle malfunctioned. When I attempted to open the door from the inside, the door handle would not work. I took my tribute to the dealership and paid to have this fixed. In july 2004 the same situation occurred to the front passenger side door. After two occurences, this is obviously a defect considering the vehicle is three years old. I am concerned about my family's safety in the tribute because you can not open the door from the inside.
Hood latch opens when there is a temperature change plus or minus 20 or more degrees or randomly.
Both front side doors are unable to close, dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
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