Problems with 2005 Mazda Tribute SUSPENSION

Inner wheel well rusted cracked leaving shock tower unattached. mazda has issued a recall for this problem on 2001-04 models. the problem persists on the 2005 models as well but there is no recall.

Similar to others, started hearing a knocking/rattling in the right rear. upon inspection the right rear wheel well is rusted out, and the knocking continues to get worse. similar to the recall by mazda for 2001 - 2004 models. car will be unsafe to drive and should be addressed by mazda.

My 2005 mazda tribute awd s is rusted out in the right rear wheelhouse along with the shock tower. not drivable and sitting stationary. why recalls only up to 2004 models? very disappointed. doesn't make sense as there are many complaints on this issue. i have a car not drivable and no money for a new one. retired with a fixed income. help!!??

As others have stated the 2005 mazda tribute has a serious factory/manufacturing defect that mazda has blatantly ignoring. while driving in the city limits the vehicle began making a loud thumping noise coming from the passenger rear. upon inspection found that there was beyond major rust making the vehicle unsafe. the vehicle currently has 123,817 miles. the rest of the vehicle is in very good condition. the passenger side rear wheel well and shock mount are completely rusted out. it is unsafe to drive and mazda needs to address this issue immediately. maybe they prefer to see someone killed or seriously injured by the kind of accident this failure could cause. a vehicle in otherwise good condition with this mileage should not relegate the vehicle to the junk yard or leave the owner with a $2000- $3000 repair.

There is excessive corrosion of the rear structure of my mazda. the noise from the passenger rear became a thunking and today i found the top portion of the strut had rusted and broke off. upon further inspection it was found that the entire rear has excessive rusting to the structure. i found that this problem resulted in a recall of the same vehicle 2001-2004. upon further inspection the mechanic stated he could not put the vehicle on a lift due to the extensive corrosion of the frame. i contacted mazda customer service and they stated that although there was a recall for corrosion it did not include my vin. the rear strut being broken and the bracket that holds it in place are no longer attached.

A noise in the left rear developed and the rear shock broke off. upon inspection it was determined that excessive corrosion on the entire frame from behind the front seat area back rendered the vehicle unsafe to drive. i contacted mazda corp and was tld that yes there were known cases of excessive corrosion on that er as well as ford escapes due to defective metal used in manufacturing. i was told it was not my fault as i could not have prevented it. that there was nothing they could do as the vehicle was out of warrantee. the mazda dealer who inspected the vehicle stated it was ne of the worst cases they had seen and not to drive it. i was forced to trade it in at a great loss because i need a vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. while driving 40 mph, the rear passenger side tire felt like it was flat. the contact had to steer the vehicle in excess to keep it in position. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 115,000.

As research has shown the 2001 - 2004 tributes have recalls on the subframe of the vehicle, my 2005 has the same problem on the subframe and is so rusted out that it is ready to break apart. i believe this is the same part as the earlier models and my vin has been left out of the recall, i would really be great full if we can have this matter resolved before it becomes a tragic matter while driving the vehicle. thank you very much for your time. i remain. my vehicle will be going into the dealer tomorrow morning for a different recall matter at bay shore mazda in long island n.y. if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Start hearing loud noise thumbing sound in the right side of the back end by the shocks as we were driving. it started getting louder and more consisted. took to ford dealer they looked at it said it would cost about $3,000+ to fix. then we find out that the 2001-04 had a recall on them for the same issue, but they overlooked the 05 this is not right. ford should take responsibility for this because i am sure they new that they should of recalled these trucks as well. look how many just on here have the same issue. ford said they just had several in that they just fixed. obviously there is a problem. when we first took it to get look at cause we were not sure what the noise was they told us we need to get it fixed the shock could possibly come through the floor board if not.

With no previous visible indication, rust ate away at the right rear wheel well around the shock mount. we noticed a loud squeaking one day from the back and, upon inspection, noticed teh sever rust damage. the metal had corroded behind the undercoating. the shock mount is no longer attached and the vehicle is not safe to drive. inspection does not show excessive rust anywhere else on the body.

The undercarriage of this vehicle is rusted as per the complaints, only year not recalled and should have been. but unrelated to that. driving daughters 2005 mazda tribute and brakes went all the way to the floor not allowing me to stop the car. i had to pull the emergency brake to stop the car. it was a torn brake hose that was spewing out fluid that immediately drained and left the vehicle undrivable. had towed to shop to repair brakes, leak ruined calipers, replace front lines to accept new hoses, etc. $877 to fix. if 18 year old daughter had taken car back to college, 6 hours on interstate, could've been catastrophic!

the passenger side rear strut upper mount rusted and broke away from the body after 11 years and 126, 500 miles. the mazda was purchased new in june 2005; and routine and as needed maintenance and repair was performed by the same mazda dealer. i noticed rust in the passenger rear side wheel well in 2014 and began asking the mazda dealer about it. during all mazda full circle suspension checks performed by the mazda dealer, the suspension was marked or checked "ok" "green", and then in jan 2016- the strut mount rusted out of the body and the dealer said the car was unsafe to drive. i believe this was way too early for the car to rust out. i also question the integrity of mazda's full circle inspection and the mazda dealer. had the mazda dealer been candid and told me about the rust problem with this model and year rather than year after year continuing to suggest other maintenance and repair service, most likely i would have traded or sold this mazda before it rusted out. based on this experience, i will not purchase another mazda.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. while driving 30 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger shock mount was corroded and the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

While driving, my passenger and i noticed a strange noise coming from the rear passenger wheel well. after inspecting it, we discovered that the entire wheel well was rusted out and that the suspension system was disconnected. hence, the entire area is being cut out and rebuilt. after speaking with a representative from mazda, my vehicle is out of any consideration of assistance from mazda because of the age and mileage on the vehicle.

The right rear wheel well has a large hole going through to the lift gate area of the vehicle. it's all rusted out.

I heard a loud thump coming from the rear of my vehicle. i asked my husband to look at it when i got home and found the rear passenger fender well rusted out around the shock mount. this car is not safe to drive in this condition and is only ten years old.

Upon bringing my 2005 mazda tribute into the mazda service center for unrelated repairs and maintenance, i was informed that the right rear wheel well was heavily rusted and the shock would soon break through the rust and disengage from the vehicle. i contacted mazda corporation to initiate a complaint and investigation. after the customer complaint department investigated the issue (contacting the diagnosing mazda service center), i was informed mazda corporation would not repair my vehicle because this issue was not under a recall, the vehicle warrantee expired, and mazda was unaware of any similar additional consumer complaints. this tribute has 109.000 miles and based on the dealers service center assessment is in immaculate condition: always garage parked, no other rust exists (including the undercarriage) on the vehicle, all maintenance for the past 10 years has been completed by the mazda dealership service center, and this vehicle never incurred body damage (no accidents). as original owners of this vehicle, we initially purchased the corrosion protection and exterior paint sealant (the rustproofing material is still visible within the wheel well). we have been very responsible and loyal mazda original vehicle owners, although after investigating this issue i have discovered hundreds of identical complaints which obviously relates to a manufacturers defect causing a significant safety hazard for unsuspecting drivers of this vehicle. i am appalled that mazda and the nhtsa have not investigated and recalled this vehicle to inform the public of this dangerous defect. it is time to take action and responsibility to reduce the safety hazard for all owners and drivers, especially since mazdas own investigation concluded they were unaware of other complaints. obviously this was not the truth but instead a cover up response to avoid culpability.

While replacing the brakes on my 2005 mazda tribute, i discovered the right rear wheel well compromised by excessive rust. after researching online, this appears to be a major quality defect in the manufacturing of this vehicle and similar ford and mercury models (escape and mariner). i recently purchased this car, but only now noticed the rust. several people are calling for ford to issue a recall/repair for these vehicles for this issue. i agree with them.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda tribute. while the vehicle was at the dealer for a routine repair, the technician diagnosed that the rear passenger side wheel housing and strut were corroded. as a result, the vehicle was deemed irreparable. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 87,000. *cn

While turning into a business the lower control arm mount came apart at the subframe. there appears to be substancial rust in the area.

I have had this suv since new and have taken very good care of it. we do not drive it in winter as we have another car in fla. but still like thousands of other tributes, escapes and mariners the right rear shock mount has rusted out along with inter finder wheel well!. which has left us with a very unsafe vehicle.

I was on the freeway when i heard a loud thud the wheel well rotted out so bad that broke the shock on the rear back passenger side. this caused me to swerve and almost had an accident.. you recall the 2001 and 2004 models for the same issue why not add the 2005 because there is been hundreds and hundreds of complaints about this.

When i took my tribute in to get my annual inspection sticker the mechanic told me there was considerable rust underneath my vehicle he said it would not support the shocks in researching this vehicle i found there were 332 complaints and 53 was for the same problem i have i think mazda should recall my vehicle or pay to have it repaired or i think all of us should file a class action law suit against mazda or ford because they own mazda

The rear right wheel well has been completely rusted out to the point that the suspension broke through into the interior of the car. the left rear and both front wheel wells look to be in perfect condition which seems abnormal for just one wheel well to be affected by extreme rust and corrosion. we bought this mazda tribute less then a year ago from the dan wolf chevrolet dealership in naperville illinois, with it "passing inspection". since then my family and i have treated this car with extraordinary care by regular maintenance and overall cleanliness. the my family of five (three children) have used this vehicle everyday to drive to work and school not knowing the danger it apposed on us and other drivers on the road. when researching this particular problem we noticed that this very dangerous and unsafe incident has happened to owners of the 2005 mazda tribute across the u.s. (http://www.carcomplaints.com/mazda/tribute/2005/body_paint/wheel_well_completely_rusted_out.shtml) the dealership nor mazda have been any help to solve this problem. i believe that a recall for this car should be made to avoid any harm or threat to families and drivers on the road.

2005 mazda tribute, rear wheel well completely rusted. while driving my wife hit a bump in the road, she then tells me there is a rattle. so i drive it the next day. the rattle was very easy to hear. upon inspection the rear passenger wheel well had disintegrated and was almost completely gone, and the rattle was the strut that had come undone hitting the cargo compartment. just had tires and brakes replaced and they inspected the vehicle as well only 2 months prior with no mention of any other problems. now it is unsafe to drive. no help from mazda, insurance, or the super warranty that covers everything bumper to bumper(or suppose to). come to find out while doing some research, this seems to be a problem for mazda. the 01-04 tribute has a recall for the same thing except calling for the front driver wheel well. when you take it in they replace all four. it also seems that the 05 model year has just as many problems with this as well. both of us work and have to be able to get there as well as getting the children to multiple places. we bought this vehicle thinking that it was going to be a good and safe way to get where we need to go. turns out it was just a matter of time with this issue. we are lucky that it was the back i guess and not the front as she had the kids with her while on the highway and if the front would have come loose at hway speed it could have been a different outcome. i hope this does not happen to anyone else. 2 estimates to repair both are $5-7000. can't pay to fix, and can't trade it in as it is worthless right now. this is a problem that the nhtsa and mazda needs to address. it is not only monetary but a safety issue as well. we work hard for what we have and feel like we just got robbed of our money. the dealers and mazda got theirs though.

Turning into a parking lot on 17 june 2015, my 2005 mazda tribute suddenly gave a loud thump, a tire screech, and stopped. the car would not move under its own power, as the right front wheel was pointed in a different direction than the left one, and it was clear the drive shaft had been pulled out of the transaxle, as the wheel was too far out and almost back against the wheel well. upon inspection at a repair shop, it was clear the right front subframe had rusted through, causing the lower arm to detach from the chassis. research indicated that this problem had been the subject of a recall of previous model years. it seems that the rust-through problem with this assembly is still a problem. this is going cost a lot to fix. not happy. updated 09/03/15*lj

My mazda 2005, has totally rusted out on the passenger back wheel well. the suspension is affected as well. the repairs are going to be very costly and i found out that the 01-04 models have done the same and there was a recall for the same exact issue. mazda needs to extend the recall to include the 05 model as well. i am also filing a report with mazda.

Passenger side rear wheel well completely rusted out causing strut to push through into interior trim. a minimum $1,000 repair estimate.

Passenger back wheel carriage is completely rusted out. suspension is exposed along with shocks. made loud noises while driving over bumps - i had no idea that my entire wheel carriage was completed rusted. this will cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to fix. worst car i have had. will never ever purchase another mazda. i am amazed and disgusted that mazda has not recalled these cars. what a disgrace to owners of these cars.

I own a 2005 mazda tribute with 80,000 miles, new tires, new brakes, new spark plugs and pistons (installed in april ) cost=1200.00 took my car in for an inspection in may and my mechanic told me there was considerable rust on the right wheel well and may not support the struts he advised me not to drive it and i took it to a body shop and they said d1500.+ not including labor and they could not guarantee they could gt rid of the rust, not involved in an accident-my car runs good but i afraid to drive it. 75 retired and this is my only mode of transportation and i cannot afford another car. i noticed on line mazda has recalled a lot of cars for this same problem-do they nor undercoat cars anymore.

Rear inner wheel well shock mount is completely rusted through on passenger side of vehicle. shock completely rusted away from frame on passenger side with drivers side condition soon to follow. problem noted 04/27/15 at 95,000. miles. photos taken of issue. problem occurred while driving 35 mph on residential street. heard noise in rear of vehicle followed by bouncing in the rear end.

Excessive, localized rust has developed in the right, rear wheel well, resulting in the shock being loose and making a loud banging sound when going over even small bumps. the left side and the rest of the car does not have this problem indicating a localized manufacturing/engineering defect. *tr

Rear suspension support on passenger side rusted and broke off from frame while driving. *tr

The car began making a loud banging noise from the right rear. upon inspection by our mechanic it was diagnosed as a complete rusting through of the right rear well, causing the shock to no longer be attached to the frame. the shock was actually visible from the inside rear of the car. we were told the car was no longer safe to drive. mazda was unwilling to do anything about the failure, in spite of my finding numerous other complaints related to the same failure on blogs. a frame shop had to install a new inner wheel house panel. cost of the repair was $2000.

After hearing rattling from the rear passenger-side when going over potholes, i took my car in for shock/struts. i was told that the noise was not my shocks, but that the wheel well was rusted out. the shocks were ok, but there was nothing to attach them to. i was further told by the mechanic that he had never seen corrosion this bad on a 10yr old car with 50,000 miles. advice was to find a body shop to fabricate a part. i've read that this is occurring with lots of mazda tributes and ford escape in different years. so why isn't mazda/ford making these repairs. this is a defect. i should have gotten a honda: something i trust. *tr

Left rear shock absorber mount separated from the vehicle frame during normal driving (slow speed - 25mph) due to what appears to be a faulty design. all connecting bolts, washers and nuts are intact and secure in the shock absorber and mount area. this has resulted in a serious safety issue when driving the vehicle and it was fortuitous that the driver was not operating in highway or more intense conditions when the vehicle failed. i have contacted mazda north america and have received a service report from the local mazda dealer in charlotte, nc. (information available if needed). while the vehicle is 10 years old, a failure of this type is unusual and rare but identified from multiple sources as corrosion issues that ford / maza have on the 03 to 05 models which should result in a recall and remedy by the manufacturer. having researched this issue it's clearly a manufacture flaw in the design of this model, not just because as an owner i have an issue to deal with, but as a consumer with knowledge of the unusual nature of this failure. *tr

The right back side by the tired the chassis is all rust it and the shock is loose i can move it with my hands and the left side is about to get like the other side. *tr

The entire rear passenger wheel well has rusted away and the shock is completely detached from the frame on our tribute. this is obviously not normal wear and tear as the vehicle is only 10 years old and it is only happening on the rear passenger. it is going to cost me a lot to fix and will definitely be the last mazda i buy (unless by chance mazda sees how this is a major problem with tributes/escapes and makes it right). *tr

The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out. suspension is now protruding into the interior of the vehicle. the extent of the rust is abnormal, even for the geographic area. it is no longer safe to drive the vehicle. condition is result of manufacturing defect. contacted mazda usa to ask when they will be scheduling recall based on huge number of complaints re: same issue and they stated that the issue is due to improper washing of the car and sent paragraph on how to wash a car. useless.

I purchased my 2005 mazda tribute brand new from martin mazda, located in newark, de. my vehicle has never been in an accident and i just drive it back and forth to work. in january i started hearing a loud noise in the rear of my vehicle which started to get louder and louder. it sounded like something in the rear of the vehicle was bouncing/rattling around. on february 10, 2015 i took my car to nucar mazda in new castle who has serviced my vehicle since 2005. [xxx] , mazda service advisor informed me that the right rear subframe and wheelwell had rusted away and that it was unsafe for me to drive. the brake line had started to rust, as well. the shock attached t the vehicle had rusted away, as well. he explained that the rear could collapse. i contacted mazda headquarters and they said that due to the way that delaware salts their roads is why this rust occurred only on the right side. a family member suggested that i get an estimate from a body shop. northeast body shop was able to repair all of the parts that had rusted out at a cost of $2,710.00. [xxx] , owner stated that this rusting out was due to the undercoating was not covering the parts that rusted out. he provided me with the entire piece that had to be replaced and you can clearly see what the problem is. i feel that mazda should take some responsibility for this defect on my vehicle. i believed in mazda and i am very upset that i was driving an unsafe vehicle for this period of time. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The upper rear shock absorber mount came apart due to rust, the shock absorber came loose and was hitting against the wheel well or tire. repairs were made at a cost of 4600. the other rear shock absorber mount on the driver side did not show any signs of rust. updated 09/29/15*jb... updated 09/30/15*bf

Driving cross country and heard a loud thump in rt rear wheel well. after that every bump no matter how small the thump became more pronounced. stopped to check things out, rt rear wheel well completely rusted through exposing suspension and corrosion on attachment to frame. able to drive home safely, had dealership check it over and cost of repair to frame damage over cost of vehicle. dealership reports ongoing issue with rt rear wheel well on 2005 year. way to early for this much corrosion. *tr

My 2005 mazda tribute has rusted out in the right rear wheelhouse around the shock mount.called the dealership and was told it is a known issue that they have no fix for and to take it to a welding/fab shop.the mazda tribute only has 71000 miles on it so it is not due to any excessive driving. *tr

The right rear wheel well completely rusted out and left the shock attached to absolutely nothing.

Just want to add my tribute to the list of 2005 escape, tribute, and mariner right rear wheel well / upper shock mount rusting to failure. *tr

The sub frame and axles completely rusted through and the lower control arms and everything supported came loose. it all needs to be replaced at a cost of thousands of dollars. this is the same issue i have been reading about on the same vehicle years 2001 - 2004 as well as many ford escapes. they have been recalled so why would newer units with the same problem not have been recalled. for a newer car to have the same problem would make this issue be even worse then the manufacturer is reporting. every dealer and every junk yard tells me the same thing, this is not isolated to the 2001 - 2004 model years. i have no option but to fix the manufacturers defect and hope that they admit more vehicles need to be recalled. they should fix the problem and pay for the parts and labor to repair their problem which they knowingly passed onto the consumer. i will do whatever it takes to inform as many people as possible to never buy a mazda or ford vehicle until they prove that they actually care about the consumer, recall these vehicles and pay for their defective product. they are putting people in a dangerous situation and they know it! another problem has been the engine. i have had problems with faulty ignition coils and sensors and the rusting of the rear wheel wells, which were rusted thru and had to be welded back together since they separated from the back of the car and i had a loud rattle and shake. thank goodness this was recognized by the repair shop as they found it before it caused an accident. what is a owner to do? *tr

Right rear wheelhouse has completely rusted out at 146,000 miles, and the strut is disconnected from the frame. mazda has denied any responsibility for this issue and offered no assistance despite the fact that there are hundreds of complaints of this very issue on the nhtsa website, and despite the fact that the 2001-2004 tributes were recalled and repaired for corrosion issues. the mechanic and collision repair center said they have never seen rust this bad in the same area of makes of vehicles. the collision repair center also stated that this is a $4,000-$6,000 repair that the owner should not be stuck with as it is a manufacture defect. they manufactured the 2005 ford escape frame in the same plant and they share the same problem. this occurred while i was traveling down the highway at 70mph and the shock broke free right behind my sons carseat, the shock was touching the inner plastic . luckily i pulled over to find out what the noise was. mazda seems to have no concern for their customers safety. customer beware.... and if you have a child at least put them on the drivers side for some safety. lets all hope mazda will stand up for their defective product........ *tr

Right rear wheelhouse has rust and corrosion at 102,000 miles, and the strut mounting is completely rusted away from the frame making the car undrivable. the mazda dealership will not fix as it affects the frame and they do not want the liability. there are many complaints of this very issue on the nhtsa website and others for the 2005. in addition, mazda issued a recall in 2014 for the 2001-2004 tributes. *tr

Entire right (passenger) rear wheel well rusted away, including the shock mount. *tr

The passenger side rear wheel well strut mount is only hanging on by a small amount of steel. you can see the interior trim plastic on 3 sides of the upper strut mount bracket. pieces of rusted steel peel away with 2 fingers. there is no upper strut support and the top threading of the strut is hitting the plastic interior piece in the trunk area. this is a serious safety concern; if the lower strut mount is loose, then there is a potential for further damage to the area and potential the upper bracket gets into the tire. my family's safety is my #1 priority. after researching the problem, i cannot understand why this is not a recall. both the 2005 mazda tribute and the 2005 ford escape have a high volume of this defect. basing my experience as a quality engineer in a sheet steel fabrication facility, this type of defect can be related to either poor material quality or choice of materials, poor engineering practices, poor manufacturing processes, and/or poor protection of the wheel well area (more durable coatings). either way, based on my engineering knowledge and opinion, this defect repair should be covered by the manufacturer. i have had older vehicles that never seen this type of defect. i will never purchase a similar type of vehicle by this manufacturer again due to the nature of this problem and the no recall condition of this problem. apparently the manufacturer is turning a blind eye to quality and safety related issues on the tribute and escape. i do understand that this is an older vehicle, but some quality issues do not show up until years later and the manufacturer is still responsible for these types of safety concerns the public is obviously having with these vehicles. *tr