Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Mazda Tribute steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 Mazda Tribute have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 114,141 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Tribute | 3 |
| 2008 Tribute | 94 |
| 2009 Tribute (this page) | 19 |
| 2010 Tribute | 11 |
| 2011 Tribute | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 19 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Mazda Tribute, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Mazda Tribute in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is determined to be tire balance, re-balance the tires using a Hunter GSP9700 or equivalent balance machine. If your dealer does not have a GSP9700 or equivalent balance machine, sublet the vehicle out for repair. To find the location of a GSP9700 near your dealer, visit Hunter?s web site at www.gsp9700.com and click on ?Locate a GSP9700 Road Force Balancer.?
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe the electronic power steering system failing suddenly and without warning, leaving them with no assist and a heavy steering wheel. Failure happens at highway speeds (40–70 MPH) and at standstill, forcing some owners to use excessive force to get the vehicle off the road. Intermittent failures are common—the system stops working, then works again after restart, then fails again. Steering wheel vibration, clunking, and warning light illumination precede some failures. A few owners report beeping sounds before the steering goes out.
This defect is tied to NHTSA recall campaign 14V282000 and Mazda recall #7614E for the power steering control module (PSCM) software update, performed in 2014. Despite the recall, owners report the failure recurring at 82,000 to 167,000 miles. Multiple dealers told owners the recall had already been completed on their vehicle and offered no further help. Mazda contact attempts mostly went unanswered. Several owners were either charged diagnostic fees or quoted $1,200–$1,700 for repairs, with Mazda refusing to cover work after 2014.
Same Mazda Tribute steering reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering assist failure — intermittent or complete loss
Electronic power steering assistance suddenly stops working, either intermittently or completely. Occurs while driving at highway speeds or at low speeds/standstill. Some owners report the system works again after restarting the vehicle; others report permanent failure.
When: 82,767 to 167,000 miles; some owners had recall performed before failure occurred
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist stops working without warning; Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn at low speeds; Power assist fails intermittently and resumes after restart; Loss of steering assist while driving 40–70 MPH, requiring excess force to control vehicle; Failure at standstill or while stationary
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic power steering system replacement or software update. Owners cite repair costs of $1,200 to $1,700 at dealers. One owner was quoted $2,530 for a recall part on backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V282000 (Steering); Mazda recall #7614E for power steering control module (PSCM) software update performed in 2014. Several owners report being told the recall had already been completed or that Mazda would not cover repairs performed after 2014. Dealers offered no further assistance; manufacturer did not respond to contact attempts.
Steering wheel stiffness and vibration
Steering wheel becomes hard to maneuver, vibrates, or clunks. Warning lights (service warning, tire pressure indicator) may illuminate. Beeping noises reported in some cases.
When: Occurs at various mileages; timing variable
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or maneuver; Steering wheel vibrates and clunks; Service warning light illuminated; Tire pressure warning indicator illuminated; Beeping noise heard before or during failure
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in most cases. Dealers diagnosed as electronic power steering system failure requiring replacement but did not proceed with repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software update allegedly completed in 2016 at one dealership. Owners reported being charged diagnostic fees and offered no warranty coverage.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
I just lost my steering no electric power to steer I was driving down my block and then no steering was able to get my car back to my house. Its sunday so I will call Mazda in the morning I understand there was a call back for this problem so I will check this out with mazdz.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mazda tribute. Upon purchasing the vehicle used from scott evans Nissan (725 bankhead hwy, carrollton, ga 30117, 770-832-8222), the power assist failed without warning. When the vehicle was restarted, the power assist began to work again. Upon purchasing the vehicle, the power assist failed intermittently without warning. When the contact first experienced the failure,…
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to exit the highway and noticed that the steering wheel was becoming more difficult to turn. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of…
Power steering is not working, it has gone out at 167,000 miles
I can be sitting at the light my power steering would get tight I would had to turn the car off to loose it up again it kept on doing the same thing over and over again until it just stop working while I'm driving it cost me around 1700 to get it fix at brown&wood Mazda dealer. *tr
The powering steering went out completely. There were several instances of this happening; and we parked the vehicle in february because the steering wheel vibrates, clunks and goes out. This is not a safe condition. *tr
Power steering does not work. Started up my car and I am unable to turn the wheels at low speed. Electrical power steering unit. No check engine light on. Unsafe to drive, attempted to call Mazda service line, says recall service for exact issue stated was completed in 2014 for recall # 7614e 'closed'. I did not own the vehicle at this time. Attempted to call dealer who performed service for…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mazda tribute. While the vehicle was stationary, the power steering failed. Paul miller Mazda in lexington, kentucky was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
I pulled out of my driveway and my pporr steering did not work..parked vehicle. When I called the dealership I was told about recall on software for power steering control module (PSCM) but was told Mazda would not cover this that it was done in 2014 . I bought the vehicle used in 2019 ...never knew til now that it had a recall on it. What am I to do?
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Mazda Tribute?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Mazda Tribute?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 85,200 and 143,500 miles, with the median around 114,141. A quarter of owners report trouble before 85,200; a quarter make it past 143,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Mazda/Tribute.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.