The 2010 Mazda Tribute has 39 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 11 complaints, typically surfacing around 44,249 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 Tribute?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average
3 recall campaigns on file
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.
Buying a used 2010 Mazda Tribute? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
powertrain — 11 owner reports
· tends to show around 44,249 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
steering — 11 owner reports
· tends to show around 89,204 mi · ~$700 to fix
engine — 3 owner reports
· tends to show around 73,500 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2010 Tribute· brakes
While driving at low speed (less than 50 mph) truck experienced brake loss. Was able to slow down and have no accident. Towed truck to mechanic and the next day brakes worked fine. Took truck to both AAA and to Mazda dealership for repair and no one can duplicate the issue. No…
I closed the rear liftgate and the rear glass shattered everywhere. Nothing was in the back and nothing touched the glass, it just shattered nigh spontaneously. It was 21 degrees outside at the time. The vehicle had the rear wiper motor mounted to the glass like in the similar…
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became very stiff and was difficult to turn in either direction. The contact drove the vehicle with manual steering to his destination. The contact stated that the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mazda tribute. While driving approximately 30 to 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact had to pull off the road and restart the vehicle. The dealer stated that the vehicle was performing normally. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.…
Had a problem with your 2010 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.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured March 3, 2009, to May 26, 2011
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety recall were mailed on December 23, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts are in stock. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0416J.
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7614E.
Common questions
Is the 2010 Mazda Tribute reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 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 2010 Mazda Tribute?
The 2010 Mazda Tribute is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2010 Mazda Tribute?
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 11 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 44,249 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2010 Mazda Tribute a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 39 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 44,249 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Mazda Tribute?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 11 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 44,249 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 44,249 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 2010 Mazda Tribute?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 39 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, 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.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 21 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Mazda/Tribute.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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