2002 Mazda Tribute reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Mazda Tribute — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 502
- 10 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
- 68 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 24 reported crashes · 15 injuries · 29 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,035
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mazda median
+306
median 196 across 81 Mazda records
Vs 2000-2004
+249
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
20%
Engine And Engine Cooling: 101 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Mazda Tribute
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 68
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 33
- AIR BAGS 32
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 31
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 26
3 recalls on record for the 2002 Mazda Tribute
- NHTSA 14V174000 · 2014 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a cra
- NHTSA 12V016000 · 2012 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT CORROSION MAY DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING MELTING, SMOKING OR POSSIBLE FIRE.
- NHTSA 12V357000 · 2012 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could c
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Mazda Tribute
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Mazda Tribute units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mazda Tribute reliable?
NHTSA has 502 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Mazda Tribute and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (68 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Mazda Tribute units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mazda Tribute?
Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (68), engine and engine cooling:engine (33), air bags (32), service brakes, hydraulic (31). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Mazda Tribute?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.