Mazda Tribute Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Tribute should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2001 Mazda Tribute has the most documented problems with a problem score of 89 — driven by 9 recalls, 60 complaints.

Q: What is the best year Tribute to buy?

The 2007 Mazda Tribute is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 3, meaning 1 recall and 0 complaints on record.

Q: Which Tribute has the fewest problems?

The 2007, 2005, 2009 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Mazda Tribute model year (2001–2011) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Mazda Tribute Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2001

9 recalls · 60 complaints

1 reported injury

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Problem score: 89

#2 WORST

2002

4 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 12

#3 WORST

2003

4 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 12

Best Mazda Tribute Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2007

1 recall · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 3

#2 BEST

2005

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 6

#3 BEST

2009

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 6

Found the right year? Verify that specific Tribute with a free VIN report.

Mazda Tribute — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2011	0	0	—	—	0	Excellent
2010	2	0	—	—	6	Excellent
2009	2	0	—	—	6	Excellent
2008	4	0	—	—	12	Good
2007	1	0	—	—	3	Excellent
2006	3	0	—	—	9	Good
2005	2	0	—	—	6	Excellent
2004	3	0	—	—	9	Good
2003	4	0	—	—	12	Good
2002	4	0	—	—	12	Good
2001	9	60	1	—	89	Avoid

All 11 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Mazda Tribute Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Tribute models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Tribute should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2001 Mazda Tribute if possible. It has 9 recalls, 60 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 89 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Tribute to buy?+

The 2007 Mazda Tribute is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 3. It has only 1 recall and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Tribute has the fewest problems?+

The 2007, 2005, 2009 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Mazda Tribute Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Mazda Tribute.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Mazda Tribute.

Check a Specific Mazda Tribute VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →