2003 Mazda Tribute Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 5%of 199 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 112,345miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Mazda Tribute, 5% of the 199 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 112,345 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Every time it rains really hard or there's flooding in the streets the car starts showing the battery light like it is going to die on me and as a precaution I try to pull out of the street to any place and while turning the steering wheel the car looses power and the wheels won't turn. Driving no more than 5mph while slowing down from a normal 35mph without warning my engine shut off and I lost power to my steering wheel and brakes. I was able to get the car to off the road after applying all my weight to the brakes and steering wheel. I missed an oncoming car and a tree by an inch. …”
NHTSA complaint #10474091, filed 2012-09, 112,345 miles“Driving in green bay wi 2/17/2019 and went through a roundabout, felt something giving out in steering? Pulled into a parking lot near by and had no control over car? Found out there is a recall on the Mazda Tribute subframe which gets corroded with salt and rusts out? Mazda fixed this recall on this car 12/18/2015 and performed the subframe recall on this car. Now the parts gave out again and broke so the parts do not last like they think they do? People will probably die in this car, thinking these parts are made to last and they dont.? …”
NHTSA complaint #11181291, filed 2019-02, 160,000 miles“Right front wheel folded back and under vehicle. Was able to just get off roadway. Vehicle is now unusable as the front cross member has rusted away and allowed front suspension to collapse (including the engine and transmission).”
NHTSA complaint #10594144, filed 2014-05, 101,682 miles“The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the vehicle made abnormally loud sounds when started and while driving. The sounds began after the vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 14v174000 (structure: frame and members). The dealer stated that the exhaust bolts were not tightened and the front driver side tie rod end was loose. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,685.”
NHTSA complaint #10631498, filed 2014-09, 117,685 miles“The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Tribute. The vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 04v583000 (vehicle speed control), but the failure recurred. The contact experienced no failures with the vehicle prior to the recall repair. After the repair, the contact heard an intermittent squeaking sound coming from the steering wheel. In addition, the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn. The dealer was notified several times and stated that the coil spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired again and the manufacturer was notified. …”
NHTSA complaint #10607765, filed 2014-07, 5,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10251387Feb 12, 2024Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10208556Feb 23, 2022Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10186693Jan 21, 2021Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10153318Jan 23, 2019Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10154139Dec 11, 2018If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is determined to be tire balance, re-balance the tires using a Hunter GSP9700 or…
- 10142519May 8, 2018Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10185904Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3" even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10101062Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10090812Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10059471Nov 4, 2014Summary to be provided on a future date.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 | 71% |
| 2010 | 11 | 28% |
| 2009 | 19 | 54% |
| 2008 | 94 | 47% |
| 2006 | 3 | 2% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 3 | 2% |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% |
| 2002 | 15 | 4% |
| 2001 | 35 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mazda Tribute
35 complaintsVehicle speed control
34 complaintsBrakes
32 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsEquipment
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mazda Tribute
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology