6.5% of complaints about the 2009 Mazda Tribute came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2009 vehicle — around the middle of the 212 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 9.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (19 complaints), typically at 10.8 yr or about 109,000 miles.
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
THE POWERING STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THERE WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING; AND WE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CLUNKS AND GOES OUT. THIS IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION. *TR
I CAN BE SITTING AT THE LIGHT MY POWER STEERING WOULD GET TIGHT I WOULD HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO LOOSE IT UP AGAIN IT KEPT ON DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT JUST STOP WORKING WHILE I'M DRIVING IT COST ME AROUND 1700 TO GET IT FIX AT BROWN&WOOD MAZDA DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V282000 (STEERING), BUT THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT NEED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.