Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact heard a loud noise coming from the rear driver side wheel. The contact discovered that the shock absorber was exposed due to the rear wheel well rusting away. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
2005 Mazda Tribute body complaints
Page 5 of 5: complaints 101 to 126 of 126, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Entire right (passenger) rear wheel well rusted away, including the shock mount.
The framework underneath and around the vehicle's rear passenger tire has rotted away, and the shock has penetrated the wheel well. The entire rear of the vehicle "rattles" loudly because of this. It appears that this deficiency was fixed, temporarily, before the sale of the vehicle was pursued.
Right rear wheelhouse has rust and corrosion at 128,000 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 this very issue. The mechanic and collision repair center said they have never seen rust this bad in a vehicle housed and driven in the southeast where there is little to no snow/salted roads, and no history of flood damage.
Right after purchasing the car I heard noise underneath, from the front to the back and after purchasing is when the dealer said it was in an accident. I had already purchased the car and paid 9,000 dollars for it a year and a half ago and now I can no longer drive it because of safety. I went to the manufacturer who has estimated the total cost of repair including parts is $20,000 and commented that the vehicle was in a flood and not safe to drive. The chassis/frame around the back right strut is almost gone due to rust and the other side is going as well. There is rust under all parts of the vehicle. I don't know why the dealer was allowed to sale me the car.
The right rear wheel housing area rusted so bad that the top of shock bracket rusted away and shock started banging against floor. Took it to my mazda dealer and service manager said it was not right that this should happen. He knows that I garage and take car of my vehicles.he gave me the number to call mazda for help. Mazda said they would not help! I can't drive this vehicle because it is dangerous and unsafe. Because of family medical issues I can't afford to have it fixed and I will not trade it off to an unsuspecting buyer. Don't know what I will do. Looked on internet and found many of the same problems with the tribute and ford escape (both, which I been told by car dealers' service personal, are the same vehicle). You would think a auto company would stand behind their product. I'm no longer proud of the fact that I have owned about 10 mazda vehicles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the passenger side rear wheel weld was rusted and as a result, the struts fractured from the frame. The dealer was notified of the problem. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
The right rear wheel well is completely rusted out causing there to be no connection between the body and the rear shocks. Left rear wheel well is starting to rust. No other rust on the car other than the wheel wells. Estimate from the shop is over $4000. Only 9 years old and 125,000 miles on vehicle.
While driving home, the rear wheel on the passenger side on my 2005 mazda tribute started to knock and bang. Once I arrived home, upon further investigation I noticed that the rear wheel well was severely rusted and rotted. I also noticed that and the shock mount was fully rusted away from the body. Further research showed me that this seems to be a common problem with the 2005 ford escape and mazda tribute frames.
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made a loud clanking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who noticed the right rear shock was rusted around the wheel well. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 09/09/14*lj updated 9/10/2014
The car is rusted through like so many others in the rear passenger wheel well. The suspension is twisting and poking through. I did not know there was a problem until I heard a knocking noise.
I am the current owner of this vehicle I. Bought it through north shore bank off lease... I take good care of the car and have it maintained regularly . Recently the rear passenger area has been making a loud banging noise, I thought it may be a broken shock or something to that affect. I took it into goodyear in racine wi. Come to find the whole wheel well is rotted out on the passenger side.. The mechanic said he could not fix it and take it to racine auto body also in racine, wi. They also said they have never seen anything like that happen to a car or SUV ever before. He said it has to be due to a bad factory process or some flaw that had been when the car was manufactured. They want $1600.00 to fix the area and I don't feel I should have to fix the flaw from the mazda manufacturer. I feel it isn't safe to drive on the highway without more damage being added. I really would appreciate some sort of help or replacement of the factory flaw. The car is in fairly decent shape and at this point I can not afford a new car.. I don't know if there had been any other similar issues on any of your other vehicles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the front passenger side wheel broke off of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the cross member frame was completely covered with rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 06/25/14 *bf updated 07/1/2014 *js updated 8/11/14*cn the front cross member under the engine that suspension was attached to rusted away and broke causing the right front wheel to move into the right front inner fender, breaking the axle shaft which caused loss of steering. Updated 09/23/14
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the passenger's side rear wheel well and shocks were corroded due to corrosion, which also became fractured. The vehicle could not be driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for further inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage were 121,000.
My mazda tributes right rear wheel well rusted completely off, leaving my strut hanging. There is no metal left to be connected to the suspension/shocks. The rest of the vehicle body including all other wheel wells are fine. The car is well maintained and garage parked. Contacted mazda USA and a local dealership but mazda refused to participate on any repair.
The right rear panel is rusting out and made the shock broke lose from the body and I had to take the rear underneath panel off and remove the shock. This has happen to two other tributes that in my area that I know of.
Failed strut mount - heard a rattle noise in the vehicle - this noise increased over the next few days. Looking outside the vehicle I did not see anything loose or able to cause problem. Checked inside right rear storage and found large hole to see tire. Removing the interior panel revealed the entire wheel well had rusted out leaving the strut hanging by about 2-3 inches of metal. This was banging around causing the noise. If this had fully failed during driving, it may have caused catastrophic failure of the tire leading to major accident with injury. I have stopped driving it until there is a suitable fix.
The right rear wheel well is completely rotted out. The shock mount is about to break away. I fear the shock could fall against the tire and cause a blowout or carbon monoxide could be entering the vehicle. I just found the problem and am now worried about my families safety. We have owned the tribute since new.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal thumping heard from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side wheel house panel and inner panel assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 91,000.
Pulled away from house to leave for work and at about 30 MPH I heard the worst sound. It came from the rear right side of the car. It was worse over bumps, stopping etc. Took it to an auto mechanic who drove it first and brought me back to show me a rusted out wheel well with interior exposed. All remaining three wheel wells were perfect, fine he stated. I started by calling mazda who is sending me to a dealership to have it inspected. The dealership will then pass that info on. It is outside the warranty period and I the representative told me this would not be covered. It was bought brand new in 2005 and we are the original owners. No accidents or mishaps to that area of the car. We know this will cost a bundle and read so many complaints online about the ford escape 2005 having the exact same problem. It said the two are "mechanical siblings." I wrote down websites I visited with complaint/question forums and the quotes for repairing are astronomical for a error made on the manufacturers end. This is a safety issue when you have the potential for the shocks to go through the rear of the car right behind my sons car seat. *tr the consumer was informed, the frame was cracked, due to a rusted out wheel well. Updated 06/10/14 updated 08/03/15. *jb updated 09/21/15.*jb updated 09/28/15.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the latch for the rear hatch failed. The window glass for the rear hatch also separated, striking the contact on the head. The contact sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was advised that the left hinge bolt was corroded from the inside out, causing the latch to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 857,047. ...updated 07-24-13 *bf the consumer stated she was loading some items in the vehicle. She had just reached in and placed more items in the vehicle, and as she pulled her head out, the left latch that held the glass in place failed. The glass which was very heavy, fell away from the latch and was stopped from falling out when it struck her on the top of her head. The consumer received a large bump on her head, that took almost a week to go down and about two weeks before the tenderness subsided. The dealer replaced both latches, due to one of them being rusted/
I was fully stopped at a stop sign on 8/31. I gently stepped on the gas pedal to make a right hand turn onto a busy street and my 05 mazda tribute took off at an uncontrollable rate of speed and I remember my vehicle jumping the curve, running threw a 4' sago palm (on the grass) and traveling approximately 35' - 45') before my brakes stopped the vehicle. The front end was severely damaged, passenger side rear wheel well hanging and damage to underside (I think, due to the palm). Driver's side airbag caused a few burns on my hand and arm. My vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road and no other vehicles were involved. Had I not stopped in time, there would have been other vehicles involved and more injuries or even death. Several police vehicles came and an accident report was filed.
I purchased a 2005 mazda tribute new from a dealership in elgin, il. When the vehicle was approximately 2 years old, the rear lift gate began to rust, resulting in the paint peeling and flaking off. This has continued to get worse and has occurred in multiple areas on the rear lift gate. Though I located multiple reports of this same problem on the internet, there has been no recalls. One report stated there was a technical issue with the paint by ford (where the vehicles are manufactured) used causing this problem, but ford has not corrected the problem or issued a recall.
When the brakes of the consumer's 2005 mazda tribute were applied the vehicle pulled to the left or right. *nm there was a rattle on the right side, the drivers mirror vibrated, the temperature sensor in the auto dimming mirror registered incorrectly, the wiper did not have complete contact with the window and there was a rust spot on the inside lip of the moon roof. *sc
Problems with vehicle violently swerving from side to side. *mr *sc the consumer stated the vehicle became so unstable had to immediately slow down and change lanes to avoid a roll over.
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