The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became firm and failed to respond to driver input. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights started to flicker, and the vehicle stalled. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred; however, the steering wheel became loose and unresponsive to driver input. The contact stated that on another occasion the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel locked and could not be turned in either direction. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Mazda Tribute steering lock-up problems
17 of the 2,102 owner complaints about the Mazda Tribute describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2008 model year.
- owner complaints
- 17
- worst model year
- 2008
- typical mileage
- 83,000
By model year
- 20112
- 20091
- 20085
- 20031
- 20024
- 20014
Often reported together
Stalling 4Engine failure 3Power steering loss 2Tire blowout 1Pulling 1Loss of power 1Headlights 1Brake failure 1
What owners say
AutoZone said that the part is called steering angle sensor and is locking up my car I am not able to press the gas as it only accelerates the engine and nothing else and the steering wheel lock I usually have my car turn on in the middle of traffic the part number they gave me is SU14859
I bought the car used several years ago and in the past year have experienced the steering wheel all of a sudden appear to be locking up. I looked up the recall and found that this is a known issue with the Mazda Tribute vehicles. I checked with dealer and they agreed. I contact Mazda customer service on 3 different occasions in the last month and they have issued a case number but will not acknowledge that my vehicle is a covered VIN to be fixed. They said its not part of the recall. It is and I have asked them to look into it. When I drive and pull into a parking lot such as a Starbucks and have to make a turn off a main road the vehicle steering locks up and the recall is 7614E Mazda acknowledges that the recall is correct in which the power steering torque sensor fails but refuses to cover my specific Mazda Tribute which is 2011. This range is covered and they said they wont cover it. I need the federal safety agency to investigate this and contact Mazda to enforce it being covered under the recall. When this happens I am fearful that I will not be able to turn and hit a car, a person, or a building because it becomes so hard to turn. Only remedy is to shut car off and wait 20 minutes then turn back on. Sadly Mazda keeps tell me they wont cover it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v282000 (steering). The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
While attempting to get in left lane to turn my steering wheel locked causing me to lose control of my vehicle and collide with an on coming vehicle.
The steering wheel would become very difficult to steer. I would turn it off and on a few times and it would be fine, still shake but I could at least steer. Driving down interstate at 65-70 and the steering wheel locked up. Very scary!! Now I am scared to drive it anywhere other than work because it could happen again. Recall!!! This is a safety hazard! Unfortunately this is going to go on until somebody is seriously hurt or killed. Recalls are based on cost to repair vs cost of being sued. Right now it costs mazda more to repair all affected vehicles than it would to pay if they got sued because nobody has died. They are waiting for that. Sick sick sick!
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mazda tribute. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized sporadically while driving at low speeds and a loud noise emitted from under the hood. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that transmission fluid was leaking and the tie rod was fractured. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 162,000.
Steering wheel vibrated and shook when stopped and slowing down after starting car, steering froze, turned car off and on again, steering was fine steering became harder and harder as I drove- stopped using and took to auto shop no indicator lights came on mechanic found that electric power steering unit had failed- there is no power steering on my car now.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda tribute. The contact stated that while trying to complete a turn, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to turn. The contact shut off and restarted the vehicle as it began to function normally. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and was later taken to a private mechanic where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue. The failure and current mileage was 83,000. Updated 01/09/13*lj updated 1/11/2013
While driving the steering wheel locked up and engine shuts off. The dealer was notified. *ak this problem occurred intermittently and the dealer has not been able to correct the problem. *scc
Related recalls
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
- Risk
- If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7614E.
Recall number 14V282000 · Recall details
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles may have a mis-assembled or incorrectly manufactured nut that attaches the steering wheel assembly to the steering column. The nut could be upside down in the steering wheel assembly, which could overstress the steering column shaft when the nut is tightened. In addition, some of the nuts may have been cracked during manufacture resulting in the nut fracturing when it is tightened during vehicle assembly.
- Risk
- Either of these conditions can lead to the steering wheel becoming loose or separating from the steering column, resulting in loss of steering control.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel retention armature and, if necessary, the steering column to correct this condition.
Recall number 00V223002 · Recall details
Questions about the Mazda Tribute steering lock-up
Which Mazda Tribute years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2008 (5 complaints), 2001 (4 complaints) and 2002 (4 complaints).
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