2009 Mazda Tribute
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Steering
Steering leads by volume: 19 of 35 complaints (54%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Brakes include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 202 in 2008 to 35 in 2009.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2009 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,950–3,300 | 1,950–3,100 | 1,950–3,100 | 1,950–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–32 | 20–32 | 20–32 | 20–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–34 / 22–30 | 17–34 / 24–31 | 18–34 / 23–31 | 18–34 / 23–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 278–468 | 278–444 | 278–444 | 278–444 | |
| Complaints filed | 202 | 35 | 39 | 7 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2009 Mazda Tribute have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2009 Mazda Tribute?
Steering: 19 of 35 NHTSA complaints (54%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Mazda Tribute get?
EPA rates it 20–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Mazda Tribute?
EPA estimates $1,950–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 22 mpg | 28 mpg | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 386 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 34 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 278 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 29 mpg | 27 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 317 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING · Campaign 15E045000 · Jun 3, 2015
Defect: 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. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Consequence: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · Campaign 14V282000 · May 29, 2014
Defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.