My brakes went out with no warning, or light on dashboard. I had the master cylinder changed and all brakes bled. The brakes went out 2months later,so changed the master cylinder again. 1 month after the brakes went out again. So I called Mazda service department and the gentleman told me to try and change the brake booster. So I changed the brake booster and master cylinder. 6 days later my brakes went out again, mazda told me they having issues with older model mazda tribute brakes going out. I have to get a rebuilt master cylinder for my car. My brakes have gone out on me 4 times and I almost wrecked each time. This is ridiculous I am scared to drive my car now and I have to keep paying a mechanic to do the repair and it's not working.
Mazda Tribute brake failure problems
57 of the 2,102 owner complaints about the Mazda Tribute describe brake failure, most of them for the 2001 model year.
- owner complaints
- 57
- worst model year
- 2001
- typical mileage
- 70,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Stalling 11ABS 9Power steering loss 8Fire or smoke 2Sudden acceleration 1Steering lock-up 1Loss of power 1
What owners say
The contact owned a 2002 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, a pop noise was heard, the vehicle had unintended acceleration; the engine revved and sped up to 80 - 90 mph, inadvertently, and the brakes failed to engage after the contact had depressed with both feet on the brake pedal. The contact made a turn into a park and the vehicle slid, then crashed into a tree. There was smoke coming from under the hood and the contact turned off the vehicle before exiting and walking until she got assistance from a bystander, who called the police. A police report was filed. The contact did not receive medical attention at the scene but later went to the emergency room for injuries sustained with six broken ribs. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.
Right front brake hose ruptured when pulling into a parking spot (parking lot), resulting in full loss of brakes. Inspection revealed excessive wear of both front brake hoses (from line to caliper), particularly in the region around the crimped metal fittings.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 mazda tribute. While approaching a stop sign at 35 MPH, the brakes failed when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the contact crashed the vehicle into a tree. The contact sustained injuries to the abdomen and had trouble breathing due to a cracked spleen. Medical attention was required. The insurance company deemed the vehicle as destroyed. The vehicle was towed and a police report was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.
The undercarriage of this vehicle is rusted as per the complaints, only year not recalled and should have been. But unrelated to that. Driving daughters 2005 mazda tribute and brakes went all the way to the floor not allowing me to stop the car. I had to pull the emergency brake to stop the car. It was a torn brake hose that was spewing out fluid that immediately drained and left the vehicle undrivable. Had towed to shop to repair brakes, leak ruined calipers, replace front lines to accept new hoses, etc. $877 to fix. If 18 year old daughter had taken car back to college, 6 hours on interstate, could've been catastrophic!
At various times between august 2015 and november 2015, my brakes did not respond properly. At about 3-week intervals, my brake pedal would go farther down toward the floorboard than it usually takes for me to stop. This usually happened at low speeds (5mph to 40mph), usually when I am approaching a stoplight or stop sign. After all of these instances, whenever I parked my car and started a new trip, the brakes would go back to normal. However, on 11/10/15, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor when I tried to stop at 15-20mph. This was on a busy city street, and I had to drive up on the median to avoid hitting the car in front of me. I took it to sears and was told there was no problem with the brakes; however, they bled the brake line, changed the brake fluid. Then, I took it to the mazda dealer and was told there was no problem with the brakes, but that the fluid needed to be changed. When I took it to carmax, they told me it was the master cylinder, and they replaced it along with the front ABS tone rings. On 11/25/15, two days after getting my car back from the carmax mechanics, the brake pedal was again feeling like it was going farther down than necessary, and then it went to the floor again. That time, I was approaching a stop sign in a residential neighborhood, so it was at a low speed. The car is now back at carmax, and they have called to say that they cannot find any problem. The scariest things about this (besides the obvious fear that my car will cause an accident) are: 1) the random nature of these brake problems; 2) the fact that the brake pedal goes back to normal after one of these events; 3) mechanics were not spotting a problem with my brakes; and 4) when a problem was specified and supposedly fixed, the brakes still went out.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda tribute. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the brakes failed and the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was merged over to side of the road. The contact was aware that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v157000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 202,654.
Had just returned from driving on freeway, pulled into gas station, needed to move for another vehicle when brakes failed and pedal went down to floor. Rolled car into snow bank to avoid accident. Noticed fluid leaking around front tires. Had to fill brake fluid reservoir and drove car across street to mechanic. Both front brake hoses were split near base of connector and very stiff. Both were replaced along with 1 caliper for $300. Mechanic stated he never saw both hoses go at once and was surprised they split at only 100,000 miles. Per the internet, many ford escapes and mazdas have been experiencing this problem. We could have been killed if we had still been driving on the freeway. I'm sure ford and mazda are both aware of this on going problem and have chosen not to remedy it. Have owned many different cars throughout the years and have never had to replace a brake hose. I hope they don't wait for someone to die before they decide to do anything about it. On top of the fact I did not have $300 to spare for a repair which I feel was avoidable on their behalf.
2001 & 2005 mazda tribute. Consumer writes in regards to both vehicles had complete brake failures. *smd the brake hose was replaced in both vehicles. The mechanic stated the failures were due to a design flaw.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda tribute. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the accelerator and brakes failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised to the contact that the throttle cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
- What is wrong
- Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 mazda tribute vehicles manufactured from april 20, 2000, through july 19, 2002. The brake master cylinder reservoir cap can leak brake fluid. If brake fluid leaks, it could come in contact with the antilock brake system (ABS) module wiring harness connector.
- Risk
- Corrosion may develop in the electrical connector leading melting, smoking or possible fire.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modify the ABS electrical system, free of charge. Until the repair has been performed, vehicle owners should park their vehicles outside. The safety recall began on june 22, 2012. Owners may contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500, option 6.
Recall number 12V016000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector may have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short.
- Risk
- An electrical short might cause an ABS malfunction that would illuminate the ABS warning light, and in some cases, the module may overheat resulting in burning odor, smoke, and/or fire. This condition could occur either when the vehicle ignition switch is in the off position or while the vehicle is being operated.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate. The dealer will also inspect the connector on the ABS module and replace it if it is found to be corroded or damaged. The recall began on may 9, 2007. Owners may contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500.
Recall number 07V157000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mazda Tribute brake failure
Which Mazda Tribute years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2001 (21 complaints), 2002 (14 complaints) and 2003 (8 complaints).
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