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2005 Mazda Tribute body problems

126 complaints (33% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 125,262. 3 crashes reported.

owner complaints
126
of this car's complaints
33%
typical mileage
125,262
crashes
3
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Body
    107
  • Frame and members: underbody shields
    5
  • Frame and members
    5
  • Body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut
    1
  • Body: hatchback/liftgate
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Mazda Tribute body problems in other years

20002001200220032004200520062008200920102011

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2005 Mazda Tribute owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jul 21, 2024 · Body, Suspension · MD

Passenger rear shock mount toatly rusted through. A big hole!

Filed Apr 23, 2023 · Body · WV

The rear wheel well was completely rusted out while the other side is fine. The shock broke loose causing the vehicle to drop down. I have a 17 year old that is not an experienced driver and this could have resulted in her getting seriously hurt. From what I read they recalled the vehicle to to 2004 and I don’t understand why they did not recall this one. They should have and this is a serious safety issue. Does someone have to die before they see that this needs to be fixed?

Filed Jan 4, 2022 · Body · IN

owned since day one, bought brand new, religiously maintained, perfect shape other than completely rusted wheel house back left passenger side. Shock went through rusted area all the way to trunk. Mazda recalled models 2003 to 2004 for this problem yet so many 2005 Mazda Tribute owners are having exact problem especially when manufactured in 2004! This is serious and I had my granddaughter with me when this happened and yet Mazda wants to do nothing about it when it’s a serious hazard and ongoing problem with the 2005’s. It is always the back passenger side with this problem! I have no money to purchase a car and now my lifeline to support my family is broke!

Filed May 9, 2021 · Body, Suspension · MA

As a problem with many other mazda trubutes, the wheel well is rusted through and the strut is no longer held in place, yet protruding into the interior of the car. This has been an issue that required a recall for other mazda tributes, but not the 2005 version. According to many forums, this is a problem with many other 05 tributes.

Filed Apr 20, 2021 · Body · 180,000 miles · WI

Right rear shock tower rusted out and shock broke through and into the passenger compartment. Sever rust on right side of front sub frame as well. I came across this performing general maintenance.

Filed Feb 5, 2021 · Body, Suspension · 180,000 miles · MO · crash

Right rear frame has rusted out enough to cause brake and shock issues causing a perfectly good vehicle to become unsafe and dangerous for my family and others. The shock and brake line broke and the vehicle slid to a stop.

Filed Jul 13, 2020 · Body · 30 miles · NJ

Bought car for my son. Noticed a bamging noise in rear right back some of car. Looked at wheel well, completely rusted through, a big hole. Other under body rust. The 2000-2004 cars were recalled for this exact same problem. They continued to apply defect. Am afraid the shock absorber will fall off.many, many complaints about the exact same thing. Mazda should recall this vehicle, it is a dangerous defect they never fixed after recall. This is my son's first car, worried about his safety.

Filed Apr 27, 2020 · Body, Suspension · 175,000 miles · IL

The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out such that the suspension is now protruding into the interior of the vehicle. This was discovered when regular rattling from the area progressed into loud bangs with each bump. The mechanic who discovered stated that the rust was abnormal, even for the geographic area, and that none of the other wheel wells exhibited any signs of rusting. He stated it was no longer safe to drive the vehicle and that this condition was most likely the result of some sort of manufacturing defect (as opposed to regular and expected oxidation).

Filed Mar 10, 2020 · Body · 106 miles · AA

My 2005 mazda tribute has been taken very good care of since it was bought new. The car has been rust proofed several times, serviced regularly and always washed and waxed several times, and beyond, since ownership. That being said, my 2005 vehicle looks quite immaculate for its age, except for the ever-increasing severe rust issue on the right rear right wheel well, which I havw tried to fix, and keep up on, but has now rusted right through, and caused the shock to protrude into the interior of the vehicle. Now my mechanic claims he cannot service my vehicle for anything else (even though the service issues I need to address are important and critical to the use of my vehicle. I am now in a predicament, since the cost to repair this damage is very high, so high, it exceeds the current value of the vehicle, and I am enraged that mazda has not taken accountability for this clear factory defect. I say a clear factory defect, since this exact issue was addressed, and recalled, in the same vehicle for years 2001-2004, but not for 2005. In addition, I have met several other owners of the same vehicle who have/are experiencing the exact same issue, regardless of how well they have maintained their vehcile. Moreover, I can find the exact same issue for this vehicle on endless websites online, hundreds, more accurately, thousands of times! For mazda to still not have recalled this issue is unfair, ridiculous and very wrong to loyal mazda customers. I am now stuck with a vehicle I cannot drive due to a repair I cannot afford, but a repair that I should not be responsible for all the time, money, maintenance and care ive put into the ownership of my car. In addition, this issue is a huge safety concern and could easily cause harm to a person driving this vehicle, a passenger, or even an innocent pedestrian when popping through the floor, or at any other stage of wearing.

Filed Jan 17, 2020 · Body · 97,000 miles · NE

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the passenger's side rear wheel well. The vehicle was taken to woodhouse mazda located at 6603 l st, omaha, ne 68117, (402) 592-1000, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that rear sub frame was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 97,000.

Questions about the 2005 Mazda Tribute body

Does the 2005 Mazda Tribute have body problems?

Owners have filed 126 complaints about the body of the 2005 Mazda Tribute, 33% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2005 Mazda Tribute body problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 125,262 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Mazda Tribute body?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Mazda Tribute have the most body problems?

The Mazda Tribute model years with the most body complaints are 2005 (126 complaints), 2001 (45 complaints) and 2004 (45 complaints).

Other 2005 Mazda Tribute problems

Suspension 137Acceleration 85Brakes 25Engine 25Transmission 24Wheels 22Fuel system 20Electrical 19Airbags 11Driver assistance 4Seat belts 4Seats 4Lights 3Steering 2Tires 2Visibility 2

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