Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
The latter usually causes some noise because what was the inside of a tire is now the outside. Depending on the suspension, tires will "seat" in different ways. When you move them to the other side of the vehicle they need to be re-seated. This ususally puts the side of the tire with less wear on the outside and causes more noise.
I wish I had some graphics to explain this better so hopefully you caught my drift.
On August 22, 2004, I was driving my 2001 Mazda Tribute with 57,000 miles on it. All of a sudden, the engine started making some loud and strange noises. I found out from the dealership a few days later that the engine needed to be replaced. I gave the dealership copies of the maintenance records proving the vehicle was serviced in full compliance with Mazda’s maintenance schedule. The dealership then said they would discuss the issue with the regional manager. On Monday, August 30, I found out that the regional manager asked the dealership to look into the problem in more detail (did they not look as hard into the problem before telling me I needed a new engine?) On September 1, I found out that they still did not know the exact problem and what caused it. The regional manager did offer to cover the cost of the engine if I covered the cost of labor. At this point the dealership had my car for a week and a half, and my choices were slim on what to do. I need a car so I agreed to pay the labor.
An engine should last more than 57,000 miles when the vehicle is properly maintained. My expectation for a Mazda vehicle was that the engine should last at least 120,000 miles. I did not even get half of that. If the dealership had come back and identified the problem and said it was caused by my actions, I would understand. However, nobody knows what happened and what caused it and as I mentioned, I was in full compliance with Mazda’s maintenance schedule and drove the vehicle in a manner consistent with the recommendations in the owner’s manual.
The vehicle also has a past history of components that needed to be replaced prematurely. At 41,800 miles, the brake power booster failed and at 46,500 miles, the ignition switch failed. These are failures that should not have happened at those mileages, I was just lucky that they were covered under warranty. This history leads me to question the durability of the Mazda Tribute.
To top the whole experience off, the repair on my vehicle was not completed when promised and again I was not offered a rental car or any discount for my inconvenience. The dealership put the blame on the shipping carrier that Mazda uses. When I picked my Tribute up (three days late) I was only able to drive it 2 miles before the engine warning light came on and I had to turn around and take it back. The dealer determined a wire on a sensor came loose. A week later the catalytic converter went when I was driving down the freeway. The vehicle just stopped accelerating. They took a week to repair it- again the dealership blamed the shipping carrier for not delivering the parts on time. A picked my Tribute up again and this time the air conditioner stopped working – I now have to take it back to the dealership again for a repair as a side effect to the engine replacement.
I requested from the dealership the opportunity to speak to the Mazda rep and was told they cannot give out his phone number, so I requested he call me. The dealership never made this happen. I’ve also sent a letter to The Mazda Corporation and they too have ignored me.
with a hard surface over it, then carpet for the '05's. I looked at a friend's '05 Tribute last night and sure enough it's there and looks like if you took it out you could make a dog's bed with it. There are probably more subtle insulation improvements, because his definitely rides quieter even with the OEM Conti's.
I changed my serpentine drive belt last night, and if you do yourself you'll need small hands to work around the tight spots, but it can be done.
Also a 16" - 18" 3/8" ratchet which would serve as breaker bar to fit in the tensioner pulley,
to torque the pully and rotate or walk the old belt off. Be sure and follow the belt-route diagram to fit the new belt on properly. Took about 20-minutes total with 2-guys trying to figure out the bets method. Replacement procedure says to take left-front wheel off and and fender-well liner out to access the belt. That may be the way to go, but would've eaten-up another 20-minutes or so. Also fixed (I hope) and resealed the right-front light housing which had moisture/water standing in it. Had to partially dissemble the front fender (held on by plastic/metal clips) to get the housing out to work on it. Dried it out and re-sealed with a automotive silicone sealer. This was about a 1-1/2 hr. process total because it's a pain taking out all the plastic connectors for the fender liner and putting everything back in place.
6-years ownership and traded for a Nissan.
I bought the '01 Ford Escape V6 based on early reports of how much better a job Ford was doing on quality, etc.. Probably would not do it again
after more-thought. The vehicle was not proven,
and some of the recall-issues and early production problems had not been solved yet.
However for me the vehicle with 59.7 miles has been good and pretty dependable. I do expect to start replacement of some components before too long, but hopefully not the same issues that you face with complete engine replacement, etc..
I never discount anything happening though.
From what I've heard-seen the '05 Escape and Tribute are quantum leaps ahead of the '01-04; it's just too bad that it took Ford/Mazda four (4) years to get some stuff worked out. Good luck with your current or future vehicles.
Anyway, just recently I've noticed a very noisy problem with the steering wheel on my 2002 Tribute with 39,000 miles, but only when turning it to the right. No problem at all for turning to the left. If there's a problem with the power steering pump, wouldn't it make a noise no matter which way I turn the wheel?
The noise is kind of a whine... not sure how better to describe it right now. I've got an appointment with the dealer in a couple days but I'm just trying to speculate what the problem could be. Thanks so much!
I noticed you think your getting bad fuel economy. I noticed your from Canada as am I. So you actually are getting just a little less than what I get now. I have an 02 Tribute V6 and I get about 360 to 390 City km per tank. So don't expect it to get any better.
I'm considering test-driving a 2005 Tribute and am a bit discouraged by the accounts of engine stalling while highway-driving.
Has this problem occurred in manual transmission vehicles, or only the automatics?
Kaye
The tribute is a solid vehicle, I have an 05 Trib GT and it is a great vehicle.
Come back and let us know what you think.. and buy...
I also learned that it would cost me $1650 or so (per year) to insure the Forester, which was surprising considering it's such a safe vehicle. Haven't yet learned whether the Tribute will be similar.
To save $$$ on the purchase, gas, and insurance I may end up with a Scion xB...although it felt like my old Toyota Tercel.... not a very impressive test drive with manual transmission - difficult shifting.
Any opinions about Forester vs. Tribute? Are they about equal in gas mileage? Lots of questions here...
I drive the car around town and it runs fine. I stop and go into the store and come out 10 minutes later and start the car. It will start but dies and will not keep running. If I let the car sit for 3-15 minutes it will start right up and does not act up again for a month or so. The dealership cannot find anything wrong because they cannot reproduce the problem and Mazda said keep bringing it in. It does not stall while I am driving and does not do it when the engine is cold in the morning. If you have had this problem please give me any information on how to get it fixed. I loved my car until this started happening in January.
I am also having a lot of trouble with the front end of my car. Last month they had to replace the engine mounts and now the tie rod is shot. Since I'm 500 miles over warranty, Ford is giving me the cold shoulder and telling me they won't fix it. I spoke to my independent mechanic and he told me this is an engineering problem with these cars. I called the dealer back and spoke to the service manager who didn't disagree but still told me that there's nothing he could do. Has anyone else had this problem???? My car is only 2 and a half years old and has never been off road! Just driven around the suburbs of NY.
Thank you.
Believe it or not.. go to MSN and look under their reliability data.. the 01/02 Escape rates pretty high. I too think you just got a lemon. It really bums me out when a car company will not at least try to keep a customer or what could be a future customer. Good luck...
I recently bought a used '01 Tribute DX 4 cylinder with a 5 speed manual. Since we got our first batch of snow today, I was wondering if anybody has found a way to have the the 4WD indicator light come on whenever the 4WD has been activated due to the front wheels slipping? Right now, the only time the 4WD indicator comes on is when you hit the 4WD LOCK button on the dashboard. For curiosity, I'd like to know when the 4WD is active and when it is not.
freddy
In older Escapes the 4WD light comes on when the switch is turned to the "ON" position because the axles are, for all intents and purposes, locked together. As a result of this "locking" you can experience binding/crabbing of the driveline on dry pavement. I'm sure Ford put that idiot light there to make extra sure you know it's on and not to drive on dry roadway.
The only time you'll see that light when the switch is in the "Auto" position is if there is a problem with the 4WD system. So you see, it's not a good thing to see that light in "Auto" mode anyway.
The best thing to do in that situation is to call Ford and complain and/or try another dealer.
"CRV is having engine fire issues, along with having its share of recalls, Toyota same.."
What do you mean, "Toyota same?"
Sounds like you are implying that Toyotas and Fords are on a par, quality-wise.
But that doesn't wash.
It's just more of your wishful thinking, scape.
Thank you again. Still love my tribute and have owned is since 2000!
jzm