Driver's door can no longer be opened from the inside. The interior handle no longer actuates the latch. One has to roll down the window and use the exterior handle. In the event of an emergency, this could be a safety issue - especially with electric windows. It is my understanding that this can only be fixed by replacing the interior handle unit where a plastic part has broken.
2002 Mazda Tribute locks complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 22 of 22, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2002 mazda tribute inner door handle broke. Very poor plastic design. Seems to be a common problem with these vehicles. Dealer wants over $100.00 for the cheap plastic replacement.
2002 tribute from the first week there have been problems. 1st the driver side interior door handle stopped working. Plastic piece that allows handle to open the door had broken. Repaired $$$ paid! 2nd the driver side electric windows stopped working. Motor had to be replaced. Repaired $$$ paid! *** we are now faced with the passenger side interior door handle not working, the master cylinder leaking brake fluid, an issue with the 5 and 6 spark plugs falling out for the 3rd time in 4 months, the battery cables staying corroded and slow to start, there is some sort of knocking in the front passenger wheel. I have replaced the rotors and had other similiar issues with this vehical that seem to be very common problems. I have spent the last 4 hours doing my research and see that there are complaints of this same nature on almost every web site. I don't know how long the average person will wait on an 'issue' to become a recall. I don't have the patience to unroll the window every time I want to exit the vehicle. Not to mention having to ask my passenger to let themselves out in the same manner. I am not going to pay another penny on fixing this vehicle. I have paid for so many maintenance issues that now that I think mazda should have fixed. When do these complaints become recall reality? What is my next option? I can't imagine how bad it would be to have my family in the car, the engine fouls out because of the spark plug issue, the brakes won't work because of the master cylinder leak, the battery cables corroded and preventing the windows being able to let down to out. I will contact my dealer tomorrow and work out the recalls I was not aware of, hopefully we can get our door locks fixed too!
Interior door handle on driver's side is broken. Have had to open the window to get out of the car, (open by exterior handle). Repair costs over $150.00 due to manual labor involved. Also, steering became very noisy with screeching on turning at slow speeds. The outer tie, tye (spelling?) rods had to be replaced because the one's on there could not be re-greased. Cost: $210.00.
2002 mazda tribute inner door handle broke. Very poor plastic design and from reading the internet a very common problem with these vehicles. Dealer wants over $100.00 for the cheap plastic replacement. Also had plastic radio knob crack dealers wants almost $20 for spare part.
Went to open the door and the handle had no type of tension on it the handle wound not open from the inside drivers position had to open from the outside.
The front drivers side door lock and latch system failed. The door will not open from outside the vehicle. The actuating rod broke away from the latch. Mazda seemed to have this same problem in the late 1980's with the 626 and 929; recalls were performed then. Problem is I can't seem to find parts available to fix it. I have gotten away with gluing it for the past year. Now there is nothing left to attached the actuating rod too. I have been on the internet and have noticed several other complaints of this happen on the same vehicle (2002 mazda tribute lx).
Interior door handle failure.
I have had numerous issues with all 4 doors that become suddenly broken. I have had both rear door locks replaced, and both front door locks replaced. Now the same issue has occurred once again on both front doors. There is obviously a defect with this model. Not only is this costly but extremely dangerous. My mechanic has no explanation for this problem, but it seems to stem from a small plastic componet in the lock panel. The parts cost $3.00 the labor is another story. After reading other peoples complaints on this issue I'm appalled there has been no recall on this.
Make : mazda model : tribute year : 2002 manufacturer : mazda north american operations the federal safety agency campaign id number : 04v605000 recall date : dec 22, 2004 component: latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock potential number of units affected : 49800 I contacted mazda about the recall stated above. My rear latch does not lock with the keyless remote as well as when I start the car. All other locks are functioning properly. Mazda searched in their database using my VIN number and replied with my vehicle not having the recall. My complaint is the rear latch of my vehicle is not functioning properly with a consequence if the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash. If my vehicle has all the symptoms described and potential dangers, mazda should replace defect. Please contact me with your advice.
2002 mazdatribute manual driver door handle ceased to work. Only way to open driver door from inside was to open power window and pull outside handle. Dealer said they'd had several like this. If a systemic problem, poses safety hazard. In event of emergency, if car is not running, windows cannot be opened. Driver could be trapped and unable to exit vehicle.
We have a 2002 mazda tribute ls. While on vacation the passenger side door became permanently locked. The door would not unlock using the remote keyless entry or manual button. This presented a serious safety hazard in the event one would need to use the door to exit the car following a crash, and also created an incredible nuisance for the passenger. We took the car to the dealer and after destroying the side panel, replacing the entire lock mechanism and charging us nearly $600 we can open the door again. This is obviously a defective part, but mazda nor the dealership was willling to assist in the repair of a problem that was in no way due to our negligence or mis-use. The car is extremely well cared for and driven only by myself and wife (mature adults). Subsequently, mazda issued a recall for the back hatch locking mechanism. We feel these locks are defective and that we should not have had to pay for the replacement of a defective part. At this point we have paid $600 and the door works again, but we are serioulsy considering getting rid of the vehicle as we don't trust that it won't happen again.
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