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2006 Mazda Tribute Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2006 Mazda Tribute has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Accelerator pedal sticking or slow to respond.” Mazda's Skyactiv engines use unusually high compression ratios (13:1 to 16:1) and require strict adherence to oil intervals — extending oil life on a Skyactiv engine accelerates carbon buildup on intake valves. Mazda's published Schedule 1 (severe) covers most US driving conditions.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2006 Mazda Tribute.

Reported to NHTSA

Accelerator pedal sticking or slow to respond

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

53 NHTSA complaints · 2006-04 → 2019-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE. EVEN AFTER DRIVING, WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10850377
“GAS PEDAL ON 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE STICKS. SOMETIMES YOU PRESS AND NOTHING HAPPENS AND THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THIS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10322418
“2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE. RUNS FINE DURING WARM WEATHER. AT THE SLIGHTEST OUTBREAK OF COLD WEATHER, ACCELERATOR DOES NOT DEPRESS, UNABLE TO GET ANY POWER FROM THE ENGINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10433578

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear wheel well and subframe corrosion

SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

16 NHTSA complaints · 2014-05 → 2020-06

“2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE ,RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED AWAY,LEAVING SHOCK FLOATING AND BANGING AROUND IN WHEEL WELL FIRST NOTICED IN JUNE 2015”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11241502
“HEAR A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ON MY MAZDA TRIBUTE WHEN DRIVING APPROX 30 MILES AN HOUR ON SMOOTH ROAD. TOOK IT TO GET THE SHOCK CHECKED AND WAS SHOWN BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK WAS HANGING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10985922
“THERE WAS CONSTANT KNOCKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK THE SUV TO DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS "THE RIGHT REAR STRUT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. THERE IS HEAVY RUST AND THIS IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION TO TRY THE CAR"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10648717

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission and torque converter failure

POWER TRAIN

11 NHTSA complaints · 2011-03 → 2014-08

“2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE S - ERROR CODE P0741 TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID NEEDS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, APPEARS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10536609
“I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT, AND STARTED TO HIT THE GAS, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO WORK FOR ABOUT 200 FEET, AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10425945
“DRIVING VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AS I ACCELERATED UP SMALL HILL, TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. RPMS SPIKED TO 5000 THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD INTO NEXT GEAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10629612

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition coil and engine control module failure

ENGINE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2006-02 → 2020-11

“WE PURCHASED A USED 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH ABOUT 83,000 MILES ON IT FROM A CAR DEALER. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE FAILED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11374918
“I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN TOWN AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS MAKING POPCORN. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10542100
“MY MAZDA TRIBUTE V 6, 3.0 ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY SON'S HOUSE, THAN TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I WAS TOLD WHAT HAD OCCURRED. MY COILS HAD BLOWN OUT AND DAMAGED MY (PCM)COMPUTER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10747206

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2012-11 → 2019-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10485105
“"TAKATA RECALL" I HAD AN AIRBAG FAILURE AFTER HITTING A DEER AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HWY. THE CHARGE IN THE AIRBAG WENT OFF BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11130399
“TAKATA RECALL OUR CAR WAS IN A COLLISION IN 2011 AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WONDERED WHY AS WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11019958

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake line failure and pedal travel to floor

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

7 NHTSA complaints · 2008-07 → 2018-07

“PULLING UP TO PLACE MY ORDER IN A DRIVE THROUGH WITH THE CAR GOING IDLE SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED I HEARD THE FRONT BRAKE LINE BLOW CAUSING MY CAR TO LOSE ABILITY TO STOP. UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE LINE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10577011
“BRAKE FAILURE, BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. HAPPENED OUT OF NO WERE. BRAKE PADS AND DRUMS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10362155
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10273542

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door lock actuator and remote entry failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-09 → 2023-06

“DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE FIRMLY CLOSED. WARNING ALARM (DING) COMES ON RANDOMLY ALONG WITH INTERIOR DOME LIGHT AND WON'T SHUT OFF. ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED BUT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND CONSTANTLY DRAINING THE BATTERY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10950360
“THIS INVOLVES MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THAT CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED BY MY REMOTE..IT ALL STARTED AFTER GETTING A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED..ALL THE OTHER DOORS ON MY SUV OPEN AND LOCK WITH THE REMOTE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11109964
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10664451

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2 (highway-only): 7,500 miles. Turbo engines: 5,000 miles regardless of schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles; every 5,000 on AWD models, where the front-biased coupling wears tires unevenly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Skyactiv-G direct injection is sensitive to airflow restriction — inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Replace ATF every 60,000 miles severe / 100,000 normal. Use Mazda FZ ATF — substitutes cause harsh 1-2 shifts and torque converter shudder.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs every 60,000 miles on Skyactiv-G 2.0L and 2.5L; 45,000 miles on the 2.5L Turbo.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

FL-22 Long-Life Coolant

Every 60,000 mi

Mazda FL-22 (yellow): first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000. Do not substitute — silicate-free formula prevents water pump damage on Skyactiv engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. On most models it sits behind the glove box.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

38 crashes 1990–2024

How the 38 occupant deaths break down

29

driver deaths

9

passenger deaths

38

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2006 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

9

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2006 Mazda Tribute reflects Mazda's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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