Tires began making extremely loud road noise above 30 MPH. I was told at the time that the tires were "cupped" probably the result of defective tires. I had the mazda 2003 tribute serviced at the local dealership, "jay mazda" in columbus, ga and the tires were replaced at approximately 84978 miles on the vehicle on 04-22-11. Around approx 112000 miles on the vehicle I began experiencing the same road noise I had experienced earlier on 04-22-2011. I began hearing the loud road noise again. I again had my mazda 2003 tribute serviced at "jay mazda" in columbus, ga on 08-31-2013 at approximately 114190 miles where I had my oil changed, brakes replaced , & spoke with the mazda tech about the extremely loud road noise I was again experiencing since I purchased the tires on the vehicle from jay mazda on 04-22-2011 for the same trouble. Upon picking up my vehicle the technician told me that my tires were again "cupped" and that was what was causing the loud vehicle noise and they were "cupped" due to me not having my tires rotated at the proper interval. I told the technician that I never experienced the noise until sometime after having the tires rotated the 1st time. The technician said he found no problems with the vehicles suspension that "lack" of rotation was the only cause. I believe that there is a problem with the rear suspension that causes the rear tires on mazda 2003 tributes to "cup" & that rotation of the tires only worsens the problem. I believe this because the mazda technician told me that if I had my tires rotated now that the noise would only get "worse".
2003 Mazda Tribute suspension complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 14 of 14, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a humming noise was heard from under the front of the vehicle for two months. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who replaced the front bearings.
I own an 2003 es 4x4; during my last two scheduled maintenance inspections I noticed the rear shocks started leaking. They have been replaced twice and are getting ready to be replaced again. We don't go off road with this vehicle so the only thing I could think is that the factory motorcraft parts are defective or not properly matched to this vehicle. If you see an oily residue on your shocks they need to be replaced due to leakage.
Consumer states that while driving vehicle over a metal bridge vehicle would move left to right. Dealer notified.
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