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ProblemsByVin File / 2006-MAZDA-TRIBUTE NHTSA data synced 4 days ago
2006 · Mazda

Mazda Tribute problems

135 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.4 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 Tribute?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

cruise control
39 reports · fails ~76,008 mi · avg $600
severe
powertrain
15 reports · fails ~112,489 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
fuel system
13 reports · fails ~77,957 mi · avg $1,200
severe
engine
12 reports · fails ~74,635 mi · avg $3,100
critical
suspension
12 reports · fails ~111,929 mi · avg $900
moderate
brakes
11 reports · fails ~82,606 mi · avg $450
critical
electrical
9 reports · fails ~90,571 mi · avg $850
moderate
airbags
5 reports · fails ~110,250 mi · avg $1,100
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2006 Tribute's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2006 Tribute?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 Tribute · visibility
2006 Mazda tribute, rear window exploded out on its own. Blow glass out 4 feet from vehicle. *tr
12/22/2009 · at 54,134 mi · NHTSA ODI #10296757.0
2006 Tribute · cruise control
It is been happening more frequently, the gas pedal sticks and cannot be pressed down. Occured several times including some times when I was driving. I have seen several complaints for the same issue. I'm worry about this, it could cause an accident. Something has to be done!!…
12/17/2013 · at 58,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10556383.0 · see cruise control pattern →
2006 Tribute · cruise control
My gas pedal gets stuck whether it is cold or warm. This has been happening since 2007. I was told that it was due to carbon buildup and that a fuel injection cleaning was needed. My throttle bottle was replaced also. For the past several months, my pedal has been sticking…
12/16/2009 · at 108,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10296096.0 · see cruise control pattern →
2006 Tribute · electrical
Today 12-15-14 I went to pick up my son at school it is cold outside so I left my car running with the heater on when I got out of the car the car locked on its own and I could not get back in. If someone had a baby in the car and got out and it locked you could not get in that…
12/15/2014 · at 123,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10664451.0 · see electrical pattern →
View all 135 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2006 Mazda Tribute? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 05V525000 November 17, 2005

On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease applied to the output shaft gear

After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear may cause the gear teeth to distort or fracture during operation resulting in the loss of wiper function. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on november 28, 2005. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

Common questions

Is the 2006 Mazda Tribute reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 135 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Mazda Tribute is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2006 Mazda Tribute?

The 2006 Mazda Tribute is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Cruise-control: 39 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 40,000–115,000 mi; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 Mazda Tribute?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is cruise control, with 39 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 76,008 miles. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 74,635 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Mazda Tribute has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Mazda Tribute?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 135 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Other model years
2010 Tribute2009 Tribute2008 Tribute2005 Tribute
Compare against
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Problem categories across the fleet
cruise control across all vehicles powertrain across all vehicles fuel system across all vehicles engine across all vehicles suspension across all vehicles brakes across all vehicles electrical across all vehicles airbags across all vehicles
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Mazda/Tribute. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Mazda. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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