2003 Mazda Tribute reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2003 Mazda Tribute — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 266
- 5 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 30 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 22 reported crashes · 20 injuries · 11 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,015
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mazda median
+70
median 196 across 81 Mazda records
Vs 2001-2005
+14
median 252 complaints in 794 records
Top component share
11%
Air Bags: 30 complaints
What owners report fails — 2003 Mazda Tribute
- AIR BAGS 30
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 23
- STRUCTURE:BODY 18
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12
2 recalls on record for the 2003 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 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 Mazda Tribute reliable?
NHTSA has 266 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Mazda Tribute and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (30 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Mazda Tribute units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mazda Tribute?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (30), vehicle speed control (23), structure:body (18), engine and engine cooling (16). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2003 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.