With no previous visible indication, rust ate away at the right rear wheel well around the shock mount. We noticed a loud squeaking one day from the back and, upon inspection, noticed teh sever rust damage. The metal had corroded behind the undercoating. The shock mount is no longer attached and the vehicle is not safe to drive. Inspection does not show excessive rust anywhere else on the body.
2005 Mazda Tribute body complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 126, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The passenger side rear strut upper mount rusted and broke away from the body after 11 years and 126, 500 miles. The mazda was purchased new in june 2005; and routine and as needed maintenance and repair was performed by the same mazda dealer. I noticed rust in the passenger rear side wheel well in 2014 and began asking the mazda dealer about it. During all mazda full circle suspension checks performed by the mazda dealer, the suspension was marked or checked "ok" "green", and then in jan 2016- the strut mount rusted out of the body and the dealer said the car was unsafe to drive. I believe this was way too early for the car to rust out. I also question the integrity of mazda's full circle inspection and the mazda dealer. Had the mazda dealer been candid and told me about the rust problem with this model and year rather than year after year continuing to suggest other maintenance and repair service, most likely I would have traded or sold this mazda before it rusted out. Based on this experience, I will not purchase another mazda.
Rear inner wheel well shock mount is completely rusted through on passenger side of vehicle. Shock completely rusted away from frame on passenger side with drivers side condition soon to follow. Problem noted 04/27/15 at 95,000. Miles. Photos taken of issue. Problem occurred while driving 35 MPH on residential street. Heard noise in rear of vehicle followed by bouncing in the rear end.
Takata recall mazda tribute 2005 complete body underneath was rusted luckily I found a welder who installed a new bottom also had a brake job= $880.64 at 66,216 miles - had to replace 6 spark pugs 6 ignition coils and 1 intake plenum gasket set spent 1,204.25 also 800.00for a new bottom to be welded to the bottom of the car as the bottom was rusted at a cost of 800.00 concerned that the corrosion issue should not have occurred because the car is under 100,000 miles is this car a lemon
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. While driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger shock mount was corroded and the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
I have had this SUV since new and have taken very good care of it. We do not drive it in winter as we have another car in fla. But still like thousands of other tributes, escapes and mariners the right rear shock mount has rusted out along with inter finder wheel well!. Which has left us with a very unsafe vehicle.
The right rear wheel well has a large hole going through to the lift gate area of the vehicle. It's all rusted out.
The right rear strut tower has rusted causing the bracket to come loose from the body of the vehicle. I called a body shop to see if they could fix this and they knew the type of vehicle I have just based on the problem as it is so pervasive. In researching this it appears there is a defect in these mazda and ford escape models as it is a common finding.
I heard a loud thump coming from the rear of my vehicle. I asked my husband to look at it when I got home and found the rear passenger fender well rusted out around the shock mount. This car is not safe to drive in this condition and is only ten years old.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. While driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger side. In addition, the vehicle jerked to the right. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear shock absorber was rusted and that the vehicle was irreparable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. While driving, the contact noticed a loud abnormal rattling noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the rear passenger side wheel well was extremely corroded. The rear passenger shock also detached from the vehicle . The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. While the vehicle was at the dealer for a routine repair, the technician diagnosed that the rear passenger side wheel housing and strut were corroded. As a result, the vehicle was deemed irreparable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.
2005 mazda tribute, rear wheel well completely rusted. While driving my wife hit a bump in the road, she then tells me there is a rattle. So I drive it the next day. The rattle was very easy to hear. Upon inspection the rear passenger wheel well had disintegrated and was almost completely gone, and the rattle was the strut that had come undone hitting the cargo compartment. Just had tires and brakes replaced and they inspected the vehicle as well only 2 months prior with no mention of any other problems. Now it is unsafe to drive. No help from mazda, insurance, or the super warranty that covers everything bumper to bumper(or suppose to). Come to find out while doing some research, this seems to be a problem for mazda. The 01-04 tribute has a recall for the same thing except calling for the front driver wheel well. When you take it in they replace all four. It also seems that the 05 model year has just as many problems with this as well. Both of us work and have to be able to get there as well as getting the children to multiple places. We bought this vehicle thinking that it was going to be a good and safe way to get where we need to go. Turns out it was just a matter of time with this issue. We are lucky that it was the back I guess and not the front as she had the kids with her while on the highway and if the front would have come loose at hway speed it could have been a different outcome. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. 2 estimates to repair both are $5-7000. Can't pay to fix, and can't trade it in as it is worthless right now. This is a problem that the federal safety agency and mazda needs to address. It is not only monetary but a safety issue as well. We work hard for what we have and feel like we just got robbed of our money. The dealers and mazda got theirs though.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda tribute. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle independently veered to the right and crashed into a curb. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the sub frame was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v174000 (structure) and could not be repaired under the recall a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 92,000.
The rear right wheel well has been completely rusted out to the point that the suspension broke through into the interior of the car. The left rear and both front wheel wells look to be in perfect condition which seems abnormal for just one wheel well to be affected by extreme rust and corrosion. We bought this mazda tribute less then a year ago from the dan wolf chevrolet dealership in naperville illinois, with it "passing inspection". Since then my family and I have treated this car with extraordinary care by regular maintenance and overall cleanliness. The my family of five (three children) have used this vehicle everyday to drive to work and school not knowing the danger it apposed on us and other drivers on the road. When researching this particular problem we noticed that this very dangerous and unsafe incident has happened to owners of the 2005 mazda tribute across the u.s. (http://www.carcomplaints.com/mazda/tribute/2005/body_paint/wheel_well_completely_rusted_out.shtml) the dealership nor mazda have been any help to solve this problem. I believe that a recall for this car should be made to avoid any harm or threat to families and drivers on the road.
The upper rear shock absorber mount came apart due to rust, the shock absorber came loose and was hitting against the wheel well or tire. Repairs were made at a cost of 4600. The other rear shock absorber mount on the driver side did not show any signs of rust. Updated 09/29/15*jb... Updated 09/30/15
Rusted on left side rear wheel will not pass inspection new tires, brakes spark plugs and pistons rides like a dream but the rust will not support the shocks needs to be recalled by mazda an inferior ford body
I own a 2005 mazda tribute with 80,000 miles, new tires, new brakes, new spark plugs and pistons (installed in april ) cost=1200.00 took my car in for an inspection in may and my mechanic told me there was considerable rust on the right wheel well and may not support the struts he advised me not to drive it and I took it to a body shop and they said d1500.+ not including labor and they could not guarantee they could gt rid of the rust, not involved in an accident-my car runs good but I afraid to drive it. 75 retired and this is my only mode of transportation and I cannot afford another car. I noticed on line mazda has recalled a lot of cars for this same problem-do they nor undercoat cars anymore.
The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out. Suspension is now protruding into the interior of the vehicle. The extent of the rust is abnormal, even for the geographic area. It is no longer safe to drive the vehicle. Condition is result of manufacturing defect. Contacted mazda USA to ask when they will be scheduling recall based on huge number of complaints re: same issue and they stated that the issue is due to improper washing of the car and sent paragraph on how to wash a car. Useless.
Was driving and heard a loud thud in the backseat passenger wheel well. I drove less than a mile home and saw that the wheel well had disintegrated completely above the tire forcing the shock into the body of the car.
Went to get my annual inspection and was told that my right rear shock tower is rusted out.
Excessive, localized rust has developed in the right, rear wheel well, resulting in the shock being loose and making a loud banging sound when going over even small bumps. The left side and the rest of the car does not have this problem indicating a localized manufacturing/engineering defect.
The entire rear passenger wheel well has rusted away and the shock is completely detached from the frame on our tribute. This is obviously not normal wear and tear as the vehicle is only 10 years old and it is only happening on the rear passenger. It is going to cost me a lot to fix and will definitely be the last mazda I buy (unless by chance mazda sees how this is a major problem with tributes/escapes and makes it right).
I had a rattling noise that started coming from the right rear and sounded like something was bouncing around in the back compartment. It got worse fast. I was stunned to find not only the right wheel well, but both sides completely rusted through and the shocks were ready to break away from the mounts. Both my mechanic shop and a reputable body shop independently told me that this vehicle is not safe to drive. The body shop is hesitant to touch it. They said that they can try to fabricate and fix it, but the problem is when there is rust involved, where do they stop? I bought this vehicle less than a year ago, supposedly taken very good care of, as I do. I still owe thousands on it and I'm not happy! My 2002 escape didn't have rust problems ... The motor went out before it had rust!
Driving cross country and heard a loud thump in rt rear wheel well. After that every bump no matter how small the thump became more pronounced. Stopped to check things out, rt rear wheel well completely rusted through exposing suspension and corrosion on attachment to frame. Able to drive home safely, had dealership check it over and cost of repair to frame damage over cost of vehicle. Dealership reports ongoing issue with rt rear wheel well on 2005 year. Way to early for this much corrosion.
I just wanted to add to the long list of mazda tribute 2005 owners with the right rear wheelhouse problem due to rust and corrosion causing the strut to disconnect from the frame. My vehicle currently has 116k miles. The left rear and front wheel house areas are in great shape. Its astonishing with the multitude of mazda owners reporting this issue and the 100's of internet web sites documenting this issue that mazda hasn't taken ownership of this problem and released a fix. I've read the ford motor company did just so with the comparable 2005 escape line.
The sub frame and axles completely rusted through and the lower control arms and everything supported came loose. It all needs to be replaced at a cost of thousands of dollars. This is the same issue I have been reading about on the same vehicle years 2001 - 2004 as well as many ford escapes. They have been recalled so why would newer units with the same problem not have been recalled. For a newer car to have the same problem would make this issue be even worse then the manufacturer is reporting. Every dealer and every junk yard tells me the same thing, this is not isolated to the 2001 - 2004 model years. I have no option but to fix the manufacturers defect and hope that they admit more vehicles need to be recalled. They should fix the problem and pay for the parts and labor to repair their problem which they knowingly passed onto the consumer. I will do whatever it takes to inform as many people as possible to never buy a mazda or ford vehicle until they prove that they actually care about the consumer, recall these vehicles and pay for their defective product. They are putting people in a dangerous situation and they know it! Another problem has been the engine. I have had problems with faulty ignition coils and sensors and the rusting of the rear wheel wells, which were rusted thru and had to be welded back together since they separated from the back of the car and I had a loud rattle and shake. Thank goodness this was recognized by the repair shop as they found it before it caused an accident. What is a owner to do?
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle made a rattling sound. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the frame was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 177,000.
Right rear wheelhouse has completely rusted out at 146,000 miles, and the strut is disconnected from the frame. Mazda has denied any responsibility for this issue and offered no assistance despite the fact that there are hundreds of complaints of this very issue on the federal safety agency website, and despite the fact that the 2001-2004 tributes were recalled and repaired for corrosion issues. The mechanic and collision repair center said they have never seen rust this bad in the same area of makes of vehicles. The collision repair center also stated that this is a $4,000-$6,000 repair that the owner should not be stuck with as it is a manufacture defect. They manufactured the 2005 ford escape frame in the same plant and they share the same problem. This occurred while I was traveling down the highway at 70mph and the shock broke free right behind my sons carseat, the shock was touching the inner plastic . Luckily I pulled over to find out what the noise was. Mazda seems to have no concern for their customers safety. Customer beware.... And if you have a child at least put them on the drivers side for some safety. Lets all hope mazda will stand up for their defective product........
The vehicle was initially in the shop to repair shock tower on the right rear which was completed rusted out, that expense cost $1200, within the week, while driving 40mph, the check engine light came on, then the ABS light, then the car began to slow to a stop. The car felt like it was in neutral, there was no control of the car. I placed the car into park, I was along the side of the highway. The car was towed back to the shop and needed repair of fuel injection, engine computer, spark plugs and ignition coils. The total cost of repairs came to $1500 dollars. It was upsetting to deal with two major incidents in 1 week, especially expensive ones. The way the car came to a slow stop on a highway could have caused an accident as well.
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