Comments on: 2006 Mazda Tribute

By: Barb Cooper

Barb Cooper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:07:15 +0000

I had a 2002 Mazda Tribute (auto) which up until this month had given me little trouble. I was on my way to work and accelerated to catch a green light when the car surged very fast and revved loudly and when I applied the brakes nothing happened. I managed to get around the corner and applied the hand brake. The car slowed somewhat but then surged again. I was going about 60-70kms and put the car in neutral, and the engine was screaming so I put it back in drive, then in 2nd gear all to no avail. I finally put it in 1st up a hill and it surged again, before I slammed into a van stopped at traffic lights. Both our cars were written off and three other cars were involved, just to give you an indication how fast my car was going on impact. The police say when they saw the car there was some resistence in the brake, but when it was put on the tow truck the hand brake was burning. The insurer isnt interested in finding a cause, if the car is written off, Mazda, Australia was only interested in selling me a new mazda and the police said that it was up to me to find the cause, which I couldn’t afford. Does anyone know what may have caused this or has anyone had similar experiences. Would be grateful for some feedback, because I would hate this to happen to anyone else. Thanks, barb

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:25:46 +0000

DOUG-

What u say about the tribute is 100% CORRECT.

Over rated and over priced, Mazda Aus. agree

Its off the market as in dead.

Cheers

F-O

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:11:55 +0000

I have a 2005 Tribute auto V6. I changed from a Jackaroo when I thought a smaller car will be more economical to run.How wrong I was! Compared to the Jackaroo, I find the Tribute feels tinny (all Mazda cars seem to) and light and yet it gulps 15 l/100km round town. The best on long trips was 12l/100km. I complained to the Mazxda service manager but he tells me these figures are exactly what one would expect. I have to stop for fuel every 400km, which is very annoying. The sound insulation inside the car is poor. The road noise (of tyres rolling on the road surface) comes into the cabin unfiltered. I have to turn up the music (from a very ordinary sound system) in order to cover the road noise. Recently, I bought a 2007 Holden Captiva Diesel which feels much more solid and purposeful. It is about the same dimension as the Tibute but can sit 5 adults plus two teenagers. It does 11 L/100km around town and 8.7l/100km on the open road. When one compares the two cars over the same driving conditions, realises just how much quieter the Captiva was inside the cabin. One passenger commented that she can now hear the portable GPS! The sound system in the Captiva is also better as well. It has curtain air bags and 4 x disc brakes but cost exactly the same as the 2005 Tribute. You have to drive another car before you know how bad the Tribute is. I’ll never buy another Tribute again.

By: Dan U

Dan U — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:52:50 +0000

I owned two Tributes (2001 and 2004 versions) and I still find it by far the best SUV on the market for someone who wants to enjoy the SUV composure, space and off road capability but wants also to overtake like a sporty car and not like a Toyota Lancruiser 1960. Most of the competing SUVs have 4 cylinders / 2.4l engines (except the few very thirsty turbos) and for their weight they are totally underpowered. It is only over the last couple of years that Toyota, Subaru etc are releasing “updated” models with stronger engines. I cannot believe that there are professional reviewers which criticise Mazda because has given a minimum upgrade to the Tribute in 2006 and praise the competitors who basically in 2006…2007 are just catching up with the 2001 Tribute’s features (power and road car like feeling)! After driving many cars and SUVs as part of the car hunting process I am back to my car of 4 years ago : a Tribute V6 2004 and both myself and the wife are loving it! it is a good chance that I’ll change it in 2 years for the 2006 edition if the lower fuel consumption is confirmed. Mazda CX7 appears to me to emulate the Subaru Outback 3l, with a huge fuel consumption and smaller (and heavier) car, which cancels the advantage of its powerful turbo engine.

By: Leo Cotter

Leo Cotter — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:27:21 +0000

Sometimes when I turn the key the ingition turns over but then dies when I take my foot off the accelerator. When I lock and unlock the doors again, it turns over and keeps running. But not always. when I wait awhile then it will keep running. Why? What’s the deal. Please help.

Thanks,

Leo

By: Mazda CX-9 &raquo Australian Car Advice & News Blog

Mazda CX-9 &raquo Australian Car Advice & News Blog — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 22:50:14 +0000

[...] Mazda announced today that it will bring the Mazda CX-9, a three-row, seven-seat, crossover SUV, to its Australian line-up from early 2008. The CX-9 will boost Mazda’s SUV range to three distinct models with the 186 kilowatt V6-powered CX-9 joining the recently updated Tribute and the crossover CX-7. [...]

By: Tim Ogg

Tim Ogg — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 02:32:08 +0000

I picked up our new Luxury Tribute Sept 10 and have spent the last week putting it through its paces around Brisbane and beaches. The complaint of window rattles are unfounded and i find there is not much road noise at all. There is some wind noise from the sunroof if it not fully closed. Fuel while running in over the first 500km is 8.8km/l which i expect to improve as it loosens up. The ride is comfortable and driving visibility excellent. The leather seats are a tad hard yet i expect them to run in. I find the stereo sound tinny and a little dissapointing requiring an aftermarket upgrade.

By: alborz

alborz — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 22:07:14 +0000

Thanks OZ, I am about to post your comments inside the review for others to see incase they don’t read the comments.

By: Oz48

Oz48 — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:35:25 +0000

While the reviews we read about most cars generally advise usof the upgrades of the new models over the previous ones, they fall short of identifying the shortcomings of the vehicles such as with the window designs of the Mazda Tribute which allows them to rattle profusiously when they are in a down position. Before parting with your Hard Earned Dollars, if a quiet Cabin ambience is important to you you won’t get it with a Tribute if you like fresh air and Mazda don’t have a fix for this problem and no doubt others that I am yet to discover. The newly released upgrade has failed to address the shortcomings in the original design flaws and charecterisitics of the marque nothing is really changed other than cosmetically. You were warned. Oz.