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KLUNK
KLUNK

2009 Mazda Tribute

The Verdict

92 Smooth Ride

The 2009 Mazda Tribute has 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (23 complaints) and engine (5 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 92/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Mazda Tribute, consider the 2011 model year which has 60% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2011 has 60% fewer complaints

View the 2011 Mazda Tribute dashboard →

92

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2009 Mazda Tribute. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2001173509019661
200295686213628
20037632373618
2004976283813
200527126234320
20066110123715
200813510171524
2009232451
201013231110
201160332

By Category

Body
23
Engine
5
Electrical
4
Brakes
2
Transmission
1

By Severity

1
11
2
22
4
2

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

Lost of power steering hard to steer the steering wheel

30mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while parking, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The service warning light illuminated. The contact then heard a beeping sound. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

42mo ago
Transmission 2

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

46mo ago
Body 2

I pulled out of my driveway and my pporr steering did not work..parked vehicle. When I called the dealership I was told about recall on software for power steering control module (PSCM) but was told Mazda would not cover this that it was done in 2014 . I bought the vehicle used in 2019 ...never knew til now that it had a recall on it. What am I to do?

53mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed without warning. The contact used excessive force to drive the vehicle back to his residence. The next day, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where he was informed that he could not service the vehicle for a month; however, after cancellation, the mechanic was able to repair the vehicle. Prior to the repair, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V282000 (Steering). The contact made several attempts to reach the manufacturer however, the attempts were unsuccessful. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

54mo ago
Body 1

Mazda purchase date June 17, 2021 Mazda S-Plan Pin: S013221306 [XXX] quoted price by [XXX] for a recall part on backorder that can not be received with proof by text was $2530.00 [XXX]: Mazda Agent who provided S-plan Forced Financing and Shot-gun my credit I am [XXX] 21 years old my father bought me the Mazda cash for college from Bellas in Port Lavaca Texas Bellas lied about repairing the recall and closed it out. Its been 2 weeks and I still have no vehicle. My job fired me, my bills are due, I'm an independent 21 year old and without a car I have not been able to make money and walking in the cold bas made me sick now with a sever cold. I just need my car and they cannot fix the recall the lady [XXX] wanted to charge me 2530.00 for what exactly and this was not my fault. Everything worked on my car perfect until the steering sensor went out. Please help. I am also contacting the FTC and USA.gov to report illegal fees and consumer protection. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

54mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to exit the highway and noticed that the steering wheel was becoming more difficult to turn. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V282000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,141.

59mo ago
Electrical 1

POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. STARTED UP MY CAR AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS AT LOW SPEED. ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING UNIT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ATTEMPTED TO CALL MAZDA SERVICE LINE, SAYS RECALL SERVICE FOR EXACT ISSUE STATED WAS COMPLETED IN 2014 FOR RECALL # 7614E 'CLOSED'. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. ATTEMPTED TO CALL DEALER WHO PERFORMED SERVICE FOR ANSWERS. DEALER #42175, NO ANSWERS OR INFORMATION GIVEN.

76mo ago
Electrical 2

I JUST LOST MY STEERING NO ELECTRIC POWER TO STEER I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY BLOCK AND THEN NO STEERING WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE. ITS SUNDAY SO I WILL CALL MAZDA IN THE MORNING I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A CALL BACK FOR THIS PROBLEM SO I WILL CHECK THIS OUT WITH MAZDZ.

80mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED FROM SCOTT EVANS NISSAN (725 BANKHEAD HWY, CARROLLTON, GA 30117, 770-832-8222), THE POWER ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER ASSIST BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER ASSIST FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE, HE CONTACTED BEYER MAZDA (4015 VALLEY PIKE SUITE B, WINCHESTER, VA 22602, 540-931-9520) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED FLOW MAZDA OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (1289 STONY POINT RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, 434-296-4147) TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION THAT HE WAS GIVEN FROM THE PREVIOUS DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,767.

83mo ago
Engine 1

CAR WILL LOSE POWER DURING DRIVING. ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER, WHICH RESULTS IN A JERKING MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. PRESSING THE GAS DOES NOTHING. ENGINE REVS ACCORDING TO RPM DIAL, BUT CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. RPM DIAL WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW ENGINE REVVING WHILE IDLING (AFTER I PULL OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK). THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE - 8/22/19 AND AGAIN 8/27/19. DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON CAR ON 8/22/2019 LISTS NO ERROR CODES, FOR ME TO FIX ISSUE. VIDEO TAKEN, BUT STILL IMAGES WONT HELP.

83mo ago
Body 2

POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING, IT HAS GONE OUT AT 167,000 MILES

84mo ago
Body 2

PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST NO LONGER WORKED AND HAS NOT SINCE.

90mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITAL MAZDA (525 CROSSROADS BLVD, CARY, NC 27518, 919-372-4640) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED IN 2016. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,710.

91mo ago
Body 2

THE REAR HUTCH IS DEFECTED. WHEN PRESSING THE BUTTON THE HUTCH WILL NOT OPEN. THE ENTIRE PUMP HAS TO BE REPLACED TO OPEN THE REAR HUTCH OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFELY HAZARD IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND ONE NEED TO GET OUT. I HAD THE PUMP REPLACED AND LESS THAN 8 MONTHS THE PUMP WENT OUT AGAIN.

92mo ago
Engine 2

TAKATA RECALL: THE BRAKES FAIL WHEN DEPRESSED TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED WHEN NEEDING TO STOP INSTANTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MADE AN INSTANT STOP THE SUV DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AS IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND THEN SWERVE BEFORE MAKING A STOP ALMOST CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP ERROR BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REQUIRE A GAS CAP IT IS A CAP-LESS TANK. CAUSES GAS TO SEEP THROUGH.

92mo ago
Electrical 1

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SCANNED CODE B00A0, OCS MALFUNCTION. SAID I HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION AT ROUGHLY $3500.FOUND THAT THIS UNAFFORDABLY MANDATORY PROBLEM OCCURS IN MANY MAZDAS, AMONG OTHER VEHICLES. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THE BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD. MEANWHILE THE SYSTEM MAY NOT DEPLOYED WHEN CALLED UPON AND I AM UNABLE TO GET A SAFETY CHECK OR REGISTER THE CAR

100mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. PAUL MILLER MAZDA IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

101mo ago
Body 2

I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN TOWN WAITING AND THEN MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE, A BEEPING NOISE AND THEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT! I COULDN'T DRIVE!! THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! IT TOOK ME 20 MINUTES TO GET HOME WITH NO STEERING! I DID NOT FEEL SAFE!

102mo ago
Body 2

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH TPMS INDICATOR LIGHT ON TIRES WAS INFLATED AT 45, SET PRESSURE TO 32 LIGHT STILL ON. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED R/R CENSOR STILL HAVE THE INDICATOR SHOWING FAULT.

103mo ago

35 total

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