Mazda ยท 2003
2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD
Official EPA fuel economy and NHTSA recall record, best combined figure 21 MPG.
The Mazda Tribute is a compact SUV made by Japanese automaker Mazda from 2000 to 2011. It was jointly developed with Ford Motor Company and based on the front-wheel drive Mazda 626 platform, which was in turn the basis for the similar Ford Escape on the CD2 platform. The Tribute was priced below the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner in Ford's CD2 SUV lineup.
Fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City | Highway | Combined | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Regular | 19 | 23 | 21 | 423 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Regular | 16 | 21 | 18 | 494 |
Safety recalls (NHTSA)
8 campaigns on record for this model year. Recall repairs are free at dealers; check your exact vehicle by VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virgin
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,
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 DURATEC ENGINES , DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.
CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Owner complaints (NHTSA)
266 complaints filed by owners for this model year (22 involving a crash, 11 a fire). Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed defects - browse them in full on nhtsa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fuel economy of a 2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD?
EPA figures for the 2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD reach 21 MPG combined depending on configuration; the table on this page lists every tested engine and transmission combination.
Are there recalls on the 2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD?
NHTSA lists 8 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD. Check your specific vehicle by VIN on the official NHTSA site, recalls are fixed free of charge by dealers.
What are common problems with the 2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD?
Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA for the 2003 Mazda Tribute 4WD, most often about: Vehicle Speed Control, Air Bags, Structure. Complaint counts reflect what owners report, not confirmed defects.
Sources: EPA fueleconomy.gov, the NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings databases (all US public data), refreshed monthly. Recall texts are quoted from the official record. Details on About & Data Sources.