VehicleVerdict

2003 Mazda Tribute engine problems

The 2003 Mazda Tribute has 29 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

29

Engine complaints

11%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Tribute engine complaints by model year176 complaints2000: 3 complaints2001: 176 complaints2002: 133 complaints2003: 29 complaints2004: 23 complaints2005: 25 complaints2006: 21 complaints2008: 9 complaints2009: 3 complaints2010: 7 complaints
Tribute engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

WIFE DROVE 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE TO ARBY'S (I WAS MEETING HER THERE), GOT OUT OF CAR AND WALKED UP TO THE ENTRANCE. AS SHE GOT TO ARBY'S DOOR, SOMEONE OUTSIDE MENTIONED TO HER THAT HER CAR WAS SMOKING. SHE CAME INSIDE TO GET ME AND AS I CAME OUT A LOT OF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 30, 2007 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2003 Mazda Tribute have?

NHTSA has 29 complaints about the 2003 Mazda Tribute engine — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.