Short answer
Among Mazda Tribute model years through 2024, 2009 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2001 has the most (13). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mazda Tribute: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 10 (2001–2011)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 20
- Fewest recalls
- 2009 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2001 (13)
- Most recalled system
- Vehicle speed control (11)
Mazda Tribute Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 3 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Power train, Steering |
| 2006 | 2 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Visibility |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages, Seats, Vehicle speed control |
| 2004 | 5 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Latches/locks/linkages, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2003 | 6 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Latches/locks/linkages, Power train |
| 2002 | 7 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2001 | 13 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Equipment |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20112 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20084 recalls
- 20062 recalls
- 20053 recalls
- 20045 recalls
- 20036 recalls
- 20027 recalls
- 200113 recalls
Mazda Tribute: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mazda Tribute recalls are vehicle speed control (11), service brakes, hydraulic (6), latches/locks/linkages (5), steering (5) and power train (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 1 of these 10 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Mazda Tribute Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mazda Tribute?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2009 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Mazda Tribute model years have the most recalls?
2001 has the most, with 13 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Tribute", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy