I PURCHASED MY MAZDA TRIBUTE NEW IN 2007. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN 2010 IN THE WINTER. FROM TIME TO TIME, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, USUALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, BUT SOMETIMES DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE PAST FEW WEEKS, MY SON HAS BEEN…

12/28/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10441529.0

2008 Tribute · fuel system

2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE, APPROX, 72,000 MILES. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS IN COLD WEATHER. WE LIVE IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA SO IT DOESN'T GET COLD OFTEN, BUT THE LAST FEW DAY'S WE'VE HAD LOWS IN THE 20'S AND THE GAS PEDAL HAS A STICKING ISSUE. IT'S HARD TO PRESS AND WHEN IT FINALLY DOES THE…

12/27/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10372471.0

2008 Tribute · powertrain

I TOOK MY 2008 TRIBUTE (PURCHASED IN JULY 2007) FOR SERVICE WHEN AT THE 50, 300 MILES. I REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT MY VEHICLE DOES A MILD OR HARD JERK WHEN COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A SMALL HOLE IN THE CONDENSER CAUSING THE VEHICLE…

12/27/2009 · NHTSA ODI #10297062.0

2008 Tribute · steering

Power steering failed all of a sudden without warning. Lost almost all control of steering. PSCM

12/24/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11498758.0

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Active recalls showing 3 of 3

critical NHTSA 12V357000 27/07/2012

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3

A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-5500, option #6.

severe NHTSA 15V677000 19/10/2015

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Tribute vehicles manufactured February 9, 2007 to April 22, 2008

If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission and if necessary tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8815J.

severe NHTSA 14V552000 10/09/2014

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 10, 2006, to May 23, 2008

If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7814I.

Common questions

Is the 2008 Mazda Tribute reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Mazda Tribute has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2008 Mazda Tribute?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 94 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. 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 2008 Mazda Tribute?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 202 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, 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 aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. 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.