2002 Mazda Tribute steering problems

Filed Dec 16, 2022 · Acceleration, Steering · OR

My vehicle took off and accelerated without me depressing the gas pedal and it was very scary and hard to get stopped I was doing almost 80 mph. It had a safety recall for the throttle cable for this but you show no open recalls yet Mazda does and told me if recalls we're taken care of they would show up on the car fax which they do not my vehicle is a 2002 but this doesn't mean it was ever fixed has several other issues also the front lower control arm which is also on a recall and does not show on the car fax the entire front end on the passenger side sounds like it's really loose and could break and my tire come loose as others have reported when filing same complaint. This has happened more than once to me. I call it now a death trap I need help to get this safe to drive thank you.

Filed Mar 1, 2022 · Steering · 95,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel felt as if it was detached from the steering column. Additionally, there was a grinding noise coming from the passenger’s side front wheel well. The contact did not notice any warning lights. The contact was able to drive the vehicle safely back to his residence. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V174000 (Structure) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Filed May 21, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 82,000 miles · OH

Driving the vehicle down a city street the steering became extremely loose. Upon inspection we found that the front subframe had rusted/broken and the lower control arm had separated from it. After a search we discovered that this issue is covered under the 7514d recall. A VIN search confirmed that this was an open recall on this vehicle. We towed the vehicle to the nearest mazda dealer to have the recall completed. After about 1 week, the service advisor called and told me that mazda was refusing to repair the vehicle. I called mazda customer service to get an explanation and was told that the recall only involves installing a "reinforcement" bracket, not replacing the subframe. I informed them that I have copies of both the owner letter and the entire recall procedure which both clearly state that if the lower control arm has become separated due to corrosion the subframe must be replaced at no cost to the owner. They tried to tell me that "corrosion" does not mean "rust" and there is nothing more they could do for me. The vehicle is still at the dealership, mazda of wooster in wooster, ohio.

Filed Sep 16, 2015 · Acceleration, Steering · NJ

Hard to turn in sounds like my lower control arm is about to come off.

Filed Sep 26, 2014 · Steering · 77,000 miles · PA

Was parking car, and something snapped. Front wheels are now pointing in different directions, and the car is not drivable. Luckily this happened at low speed, and the only damage is to the car.

Filed May 26, 2007 · Steering · MS

2002 mazda tribute. We bought this car new in feb. Of 2002 for my wife to drive with our children. After several months my wife told me that the steering wheel felt loose. I drove the car to our local dealer and they found the retaining bolt loose. They said that it must not have been tightened correctly from the factory, and said that there were no problems they could see. In march 2007 my wife called again with the same problem. We took the car back to the dealer and again they found the retaining bolt loose. I talked with the service manager about this and she could not offer any advise so shr referred me to there master tec. He assured me that there were no problems and that he personally worked on the car. He explained that the bolt was loose and he tightened it to spec. And I should not have and problems. Now it is may 2007 and the steering wheel is loose again. What should I do?

Filed Feb 13, 2006 · Brakes, Steering · 70,400 miles · IL

My mechanic found these problems for me when I took the vehicle in for oil change, so fortunately, there was no accident. Here is a description of the problems as described to me: 1) failure of master brake cylinder. It was spewing brake fluid. This would have LED to full failure of the brake system. Both the master cylinder and right front half-shaft were replaced. 2) right front knuckle holding wheel to axle was unsafe. There was a fracture of the metal holding the pinch bolt that is used to fasten the wheel to the lower ball joint. A rupture of this fracture would have caused the wheel to break away from the ball joint. My mechanic felt like this was most likely caused by the factory tightening the pinch bolt too much when assembled. The knuckle was replaced. It was also mentioned to me that a similar master brake cylinder problem was reported on a ford escape which is essentially the same vehicle as my mazda tribute.

Filed Mar 23, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 27,095 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

The federal safety agency recall 04v583000 on the accelerator cable. Approximately two years after having the accelerator cable replaced the problem recurred. While driving 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. The driver applied the brake pedal and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The driver was not able to maintain control of the vehicle and collided into a light pole. This caused the driver to sustain minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. *jb the battery was inoperative due to a broken cable and a frayed main belt had come off and the steering was impaired. *sc

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 24,000 miles · NJ

Within months of buying the SUV we had it back to crystal auto mall, green brook, nj the problem...the steering wheel came loose, it would shift around as you drove down the road! This was a quick repair. Starting on sept 18,2002 we took it in to the dealer for the oil pressure light coming on, they replaced the oil sender unit, total $69.52, which was covered by warranty. On oct 14 back for the same problem, they kept it until oct 17, replacing all kinds of parts, oil pump, oil gasket for a total of $924.65, again covered by warranty. My husband was driving it home from this round of repairs and the same problem lit itself up again! He was almost home appox.30 miles from the dealer, he called on his cell phone said he was coming right back, this time they had it from oct 18 to oct 31, 2002. What a surprise when I heard they replaced the entire motor for a total of $4,511.17, again under warranty. Strange thing was that they would not extend the warranty on the new motor beyond the original guarantee for the truck. Now you tell me is this right? That's not the end of it, on june 21, 2003, we brought it in for a noise coming from the front end they kept it over the weekend until june 23 and told us it needs breaks and rotors and wheel alignment which of course is not under warranty!!! Only 24000 miles on this SUV and nothing but headaches

Filed Apr 21, 2003 · Steering · 1,395 miles · AZ

On four different times the vehicles power steering leaked fluid from engine which caused loss of control. The dealer has repaired the vehicle four times but now the vehicle is on it's fifth. *nlm