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Mazda TributeModel year report

2010 Mazda Tribute Problems

Compared with other Mazda Tribute years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
39filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
57,634miles, 30 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Mazda Tribute (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 2010 Mazda Tribute. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 13 complaints (33% of the total), followed by steering (11) and engine (7). 30 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 57,634 miles. Of all complaints, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 139 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Steering complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 18 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Mazda Tribute model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Electronic stability control (1), Other or unknown (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle lurched forward even though I was applying the brake on the highway. Transmission is slipping in drive and the vehicle lurches forward with the brake applied moving from park or reverse to drive. I'm worried about driving the vehicle as the lurching occurs frequently when coming to a stop. I only own one vehicle and have to drive to work.”

NHTSA complaint #10456769, filed 2012-04, 22,232 miles

Steering: “Was driving on large blvd thru town at approx. 45+ mpg, the car all of a sudden quit accelerating, the wrench light came on, all power to car was essentially loss and it began convulsing abruptly as a I maneuvered it off the road to a safe stopping spot. I called aaa and had it towed to dealer. Dealer had the car for 3 days, could never find anything or get it to reproduce what I experienced, so I was charged the $120 diagnostic fee without it being fixed and sent home with my fingers crossed. The car behaved for awhile, but then it started doing it again on and off over the next 6 months. …”

NHTSA complaint #10593298, filed 2014-05, 58,269 miles

Engine: “First occurrence was while backing out of a parking spot and put the vehicle into drive. I accelerated and the car hesitated, chugged, the wrench light on dash illuminated with very slow forward momentum. Turned vehicle off and back on with no problem until the end of the parking row when I stopped for traffic, it chugged and wouldn't accelerate, wrench indicator on again. Turned vehicle off and coasted to a parking spot. Restarted a few minutes later with no problems for almost a week. …”

NHTSA complaint #10593196, filed 2014-05, 48,684 miles

Fuel system: “2010 Mazda Tribute with 57k on it just died while doing 80 down the freeway, had to get it towed. It simply shutoff. I think its the fuel pump but I am not really sure. Plugged it into a scanner and no codes. It started up after the tow. The googles says this is common in the Tribute/ ford escapes. Not safe at all.”

NHTSA complaint #11092585, filed 2018-05, 57,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

43% of the 30 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 37,000 and 75,000 miles.

13%0–103%10–2527%25–5030%50–757%75–10017%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (30 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 57,634 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2011201392016201820202025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Mazda Tribute. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Tribute · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 20.4% risk
Tribute Hybrid · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 20.4% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Mazda Tribute version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Tribute 4WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202623$2,900
Tribute FWD2.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual222824$2,800
Tribute FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic212823$2,900
Tribute 4WD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic182320$3,350
Tribute FWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic192521$3,200
Tribute Hybrid 2WD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT343132$2,100
Tribute Hybrid 4WD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT302729$2,300

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2010 Mazda Tribute → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 139 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 139 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda Tribute

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20117103,0000323—Not enough data
20103957,6342—2350 · TypicalFalling
20093585,2001—2331 · FewerFalling
200820282,0004—22100 · MoreFalling
200613075,5002—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2005377101,0003—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2004157100,0005—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200319974,6766—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200238468,5577—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200156368,53813—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2000548,0000———Not enough data

All Mazda Tribute model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Mazda Tribute have?

NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 2010 Mazda Tribute as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Mazda Tribute is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 13 complaints (33% of the total), followed by steering with 11.

Has the 2010 Mazda Tribute been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Mazda Tribute get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Mazda Tribute (Tribute FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 21 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Mazda Tribute reported?

Among the 30 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 57,634 miles and the middle half falls between 37,000 and 75,000 miles; 43% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.