The best and worst Mazda Tribute years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Mazda Tributes old enough to judge (2005–2011), the 2006–2007 and 2011 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2008 and 2010 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2011 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2008 Mazda Tribute · 171.5 per 10,000 sold (2.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Electric power steering motor and module, typically around 129,000 miles; then stalling and no-start.
2010 Mazda Tribute · 107.2 per 10,000 sold (1.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Stalling and no-start, typically around 58,269 miles; then power steering pump, rack and lines.
Years with the fewest complaints
2006 Mazda Tribute · 39.6 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Stalling and no-start, typically around 79,188 miles.
2007 Mazda Tribute · 2.2 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Stalling and no-start.
2011 Mazda Tribute · 26.0 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Electric power steering motor and module, typically around 125,000 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Mazda Tribute year: 61.5 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Mazda Tribute?
Among Mazda Tributes old enough to judge (2005–2011), the 2008 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 171.5, about 2.8× a typical Mazda Tribute year. The 2010 also stands out.
What is the best year for the Mazda Tribute?
The 2007 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Mazda Tributes from 2005–2011: 2.2, against 61.5 for a typical year. The 2006 and 2011 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2008 Mazda Tribute?
The most-reported problem on the 2008 Mazda Tribute is electric power steering motor and module, typically around 129,000 miles.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.