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Mazda Tribute Transmission Problems

144 messages,  Last post on Mar 09, 2013 at 10:26 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda Tribute, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 12 of 16

#103 of 144 2006 Mazda Tribute, MAJOR transmission problems by camapi

Apr 26, 2011 (8:10 pm)

I bought a used 2006 Mazda Tribute in June 2010. The first problem I noticed was on a trip in October. After driving on the interstate for about 100 miles, I pulled over to let my niece drive. Before I could put the car in park, it died. I could restart it fine, but when I put it into gear, it would die again. I had NO IDEA what it might be, and had to be towed 100 miles back home. While home, I had the battery replaced because a Valvoline oil place told me it needed it, but that still didn't solve the problem. I had learned how to gun the motor after throwing it in gear and basically get where I needed to go--once I got going, especially at a good speed, there were no problems at all, so I resumed my 400+ mile trip that I'd started the day before. The dying problem still happened sometimes, but not always. I was told it sound like I'd gotten a bad batch of gas, so I used a gas treatment. Then I had it looked at by a guy who's serviced Mazda's for 25 years, and it never acted up for him. I drove it the 400 miles home with no problems. In December 2010, the transmission completely failed. It was in the shop for 3 weeks and caused me to miss out on some of my Christmas travels because of hassles between the company that holds my Vehicle Service Contract, the dealership, and the rental place. I ended up paying over $200 as my part of the repair plus around $200 extra for the part of the rental that was not covered by my service contract. Earlier this month, guess what? The transmission went out again!!! I was on Spring Break, more than 400 miles from home. I was unable to get home on time, missed 4 days of work, and had to cover some of the costs again for the repair fiasco. Again, it took 3 weeks to get my car back! I am VERY unsatisfied with the Mazda transmissions and with my Vehicle Service Contract provider! It has been a HUGE mess!

#104 of 144 Re: 2003 Tribute - What does my future hold? [esyouvee] by cjad

May 02, 2011 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: esyouvee (Apr 24, 2010 8:18 am)
Here's a warning friend, get rid of it! I also have a '03 Tribute AWD and I'm on my 3rd. tranny with 64,000 miles on it! Second was under warranty, but I paid White Bear Mazda $3,000.00 to install the third tranny! It was only about a thousand miles over the warranty...4 yr. That's how Ford/Mazda make their money, by putting in cheap transmissions. It even has an oil cooler, but they still go out because they're cheap! I only haul leaves twice a year on a light trailer...that's all I have ever pulled with this vehicle. I have one more year on the third tranny warranty & I won't be buying another Mazda! I wanted to give this vehicle to my daughter, but I don't want her to take the chance the 3rd. transmission will go out. Lately, a couple times it has shifted weird like the 2nd. one did! When the dealership puts in a new transmission (whether under warranty or not) it's not new...it's rebuilt! That's probably why my 2nd. one went out so fast! New ones will cost more than $3,000.00.

#105 of 144 Re: Tribute Tranny [tribute08] by cjad

May 02, 2011 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: tribute08 (Dec 03, 2010 9:00 am)
I have an '03 Mazda Tribute with 64,000 miles and am on the third tranny! People get rid of your Tribute's and never buy another! Mine is starting to act up again! Honda CRV will be my next vehicle because of the snow in Mn. I also have a Mazda 6 ('04) with very many problems when it was new! It now has 16,000 miles on it after 6-1/2 yrs. Main seal was leaking when we had only 600 miles on it! Pwr. steering pump also leaked and was replaced, but is leaking again after the warranty expired! Too many problems to explain. I don't have confidence in Mazda or Ford because that's what you're buying if you buy Mazda...the engine (V6) that is!

#107 of 144 Re: 2008 Mazda [koutalis] by cjad

May 02, 2011 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: koutalis (Apr 06, 2010 10:20 am)
I know your pain, I have a '03 with 64,000 miles and am on my 3rd. transmission. Tributes are junk!

#108 of 144 Re: Mazda trans in my 2002 by bachman

May 02, 2011 (2:36 pm)

Replying to: cjad (May 02, 2011 1:23 pm)
If I wasn't clear in my previous reporting of my experience, it is clear to me by a talented mechanic friend that many trans problems are design problems and rarely get re-designed for the fix. The only solution is aftermarket kits that actually come with details telling you why is sucked and how their products fix it or modify it telling you why it works! Add that and a good mechanic and all should be well. If you are stuck with a dealer or regular shop doing it with factory parts .. bury it with Osama. I got my one time fix for about $1500 paying a friend almost $700 for the labor. I will not get rid of that thing now and will run it per durability and longevity against anything new off the line in the Trib - Escape family.

#109 of 144 Re: 2003 Tribute - What does my future hold? [cjad] by wwest

May 04, 2011 (8:57 am)

Replying to: cjad (May 02, 2011 12:41 pm)
Ford and Mazda should be very well aware at this point that these "new" F/awd systems are putting too much stress on the drivetrain, rear clutch/diff'l/PTO/transaxle/torque converter.
 
Pull the F/awd clutch fuse except for times of need, TRUE times of need (KNOWN slippery roadbed), and the drive train life will be indefinite.

#110 of 144 2009 Mazda Tribute by eabbott

May 17, 2011 (7:16 am)

thinking about buying a 2009 mazda tribute what do you think i should buy it or not and why?
thanks

#111 of 144 Mazda Tribute 2005 problems by tadd380

May 30, 2011 (5:35 pm)

I own Mazda Tribute 2005 AWD. Just after 105,000 and over having it for five years I had transmission problems. I was able to drive with it like that for a few months, I just couldn’t do any fast accelerations without causing it to red line. It would only change gears if you took the foot of the pelt. I took it to a few local shops and they said it was a real common problem and that even though it was never officially acknowledged that ford and Mazda changed the transmission in 2008 or 2009. They said using a rebuild kit based off that fixs the problem so it will not happen again.
I did have it fix last June, didn’t fix the problem as it keep returning every few months. Turns out there was a bad washer from the rebuild so they took it all apart again and fixed it, It has worked fine ever since. So I had to have 2 rebuilds to fix the problem, lucky for me that the shop offered a warranty so the second rebuild was free to me minus the time I spent taking it in to get fixed. I looked at different websites and found it is common to have problems getting the transmission fixed.
To the person asking about getting a 2009 one, I really enjoy the tribute but wish I had better gas mileage; currently I am debated to invest more money in to getting new tires, more money on up keep or get a new car with better gas mileage. I am now thinking of keeping it and hope it last a few 2 more years without anything major happening to it. I would do a search of mazda tribute 2009 problems and see if anything major comes up as well.

#112 of 144 Re: Mazda Tribute 2005 problems [tadd380] by bachman

May 31, 2011 (12:00 am)

Replying to: tadd380 (May 30, 2011 5:35 pm)
I think once your transmission problem is fixed properly (sounds like it is) the gas milege factor is not typically a primary motivator for getting different wheels. If you get 18 - 24 mpg city / highway for the 3.0 six, that is in the range of normal in my opinion.
Unless you are looking for an excuse to get something else, I'd say do the math first. Going from 19 mpg to 35 mpg will save you around $30 a month considering 600 miles of driving or commute a month. That does not account for a loss of equity in getting out of the Trib (if that would be the case) or the cost and related finance for a different car and if newer, probable higher insurance rates. One of reasons for the Trib as my choice was the side air bags and the sense of safety with an SUV that sits a bit taller in the case of a crash or tee-bone hit. (Been there).
I think the typical 35 mpg car ( best case highway not apples to apples against the 18 -19 mpg city on the Trib) is not built as solid or safe for a crash rating either.
Just my .02 cents.
 
~brian

Messages Page 12 of 16

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