Mazda Tribute

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 9.00 votes

Price Paid:  $33000.00 from Autocity Mazda

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 Mazda Tribute GT

Strengths:
Nice body styling, good towing capacity. Minimal road noise.

Weaknesses:
Crap parts, transmission replaced,unexplained annoying noises, terrible fuel economy, very loud in cold temperatures

Summary:
I owned a 1990 Toyota 4Runner for 3 years, and didn't have any major problems with it. However, it was getting quite rusty, so I decided to part with it and buy a new vehicle. I went with the 2008 Mazda Tribute, mostly because of it's styling and affordable price tag. BIG MISTAKE. First of all, the 33mpg that it's supposed to get turned out to be 16mpg, and even worse in the winter. I bought it in August of 2007, and by November I had to replace the battery because it wouldn't hold a charge and left me stranded twice. Then in December it started making a very high pitched whining noise. I took it to the dealership, they couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I just have to put up with the annoying noise. Then in February of 2008, approximately 7 months after I bought it, the reverse decided to quit working. I took it to the dealership again, and they thought a sensor just needed to be replaced. They replaced the sensor, and it still didn't work. Turns out the transmission needs to be replaced, on a 7 month old vehicle!
Fortunately this is all still covered under the factory warranty. When the warranty is up, this piece of junk is getting traded in for another Toyota. I guess I'm partly to blame since I didn't do that much research before buying the vehicle. I must add that the dealership where I bought it has been very acommidating and understanding.

Price Paid:  $17000.00 from compass motors

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 I sport

Strengths:
price, standard features...traction control...great sounding standard radio/cd...abs...more airbags than you can shake a stick at...

Weaknesses:
its metal...i know im gonna be pissed when its gets dented! (bring back the old plastic saturns dammit!)

Summary:
I bought it new about ten days ago...so far so good...I had a saturn that had become unreliable so I traded the sucker in on a new tribute. Im thrilled with it so far, great gas milage...smooth, quiet and turns on a dime...I try to buy american and bought the mazda version because the 08 escapes are just plain fugly! I got the basic model (lots of bang for the buck for sure) with the 5 speed manual...shifts smooth as a buttered monkeys ass!

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $32000.00 from West Coast Mazda - M

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 Tribute

Summary:
DON’T BUY MAZDA

I so angry, I don’t even feel like writing this post. But I’m writing it, hoping it helps someone else not make the same mistake I made. Which is purchasing a MAZDA!!!

I bought this brand new and two months later it was making a noise. Took it back to the dealership and they heard the noise and told me to leave the vehicle overnight. Next day the noise was gone and they said it must have been a bad batch of gas and asked me to put a better grade of gas. 8 months later, noise is back and the dealership and Mazda Canada is giving me the run around. I’m waiting to hear back from Mazda Canada and will post on all the web sites as to what happens.

Price Paid:  $36000.00 from Mazda Mornington

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 mazda tribute v 6 3 liter

Strengths:
Save body side airbags

Weaknesses:
slightly tire noisy when driven on rough road may needs different brand tires.

Summary:
We had a Jeep Cherokee and it was a smal vehicle for a 4 liter and gas gusler.
We now have a new mazda tribute and it drives very well and it is roomy and do's not uses as much gas as the jeep and we used to tow a caravan and it has lots of power to do it comfortably. And we found it a very relaxing verhicle to drive and it has a good comanding view of the road. We are very happy with it.

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.50 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $22000.00 from Tasca - Cranston, RI

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Mazda Tribute

Strengths:
It is a nice looking car with a good radio. I like the space and I think it handles well.

Weaknesses:
Rear window defroster really is terrible. Remote car starter has given me a problem from the get-go, but I am hoping that when I pick up my vehicle tomorrow, that will be fixed.

Summary:
Unfortunately, I did not do much research on Mazdas since I've only heard great things from people that I know who own one. My car is two months, one week old (TODAY) and I am now driving my FIFTH rental. Remote car starter is failing and even though the dealership insists that the rear window defroster is working at 100%, I am finding that I must pull over to the side of the road and wipe it clean to be able to see out of the back window -- real safe!!
When they installed the moonroof deflector, a 'reservoir' was blocked, allowing three hours of torrential downpours into the vehicle. That was 'fixed' but I entered the car again last week to find another leak, which the dealer is saying that cannot be found or fixed.
I am very frustrated and am more than depressed that I did not stick with another Nissan.

Similar Products Used:
1998 Nissan Altima