Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Video highlights of this vehicle

This month, our popular mini-ute was recruited for commuter duty by Road Test Editor Erin Riches. Erin is another of those "progressive" types who likes to complain about the increased pollution and the casual dismissal of fuel economy associated with SUVs, but is then all too happy to get behind the wheel of one to get through freeway traffic (aided by a superb view of the road). While some SUVs might have enough disadvantages to deter solitary pavement commuters from using them this way, the Tribute's swift V6 and surprisingly refined road manners tend to encourage people like Erin.

However, she soon found that the Tribute was not the best commuter vehicle. She had many of the same complaints as last month's driver Phil Reed — overly touchy throttle response, lousy fuel economy if you dig into the engine's power supply and, consequently, poor fuel range (Erin drives approximately 300 miles per week, and by Thursday, it was already time to visit a gas station), as well as a few more.

Our road test editor always listens to CDs while she drives, and so she was happy to load up the Tribute's CD changer. Unfortunately, the Tribute's relatively tall, boxy shape, droning Duratec V6 and apparently sparing amount of sound insulation make the cabin noisy on the freeway, so much so that music doesn't come through the speakers with the clarity that Erin was accustomed to in long-term vehicles like the Ford Focus ZX3 and the Toyota Celica. As such, the listening experience wasn't very enjoyable — and since this is an important part of her day, this would certainly deter her from purchasing a Tribute of her own.

More disturbing was the fuel odor that came through the cabin vents on occasion. Sometimes while the Mazda was still in "park" after she had started the engine, Erin would take a couple of extra seconds to fasten her seatbelt or adjust the climate controls — it was then that she noticed that it smelled like someone had spilled gasoline inside the cabin. Concerned about its carcinogenic additives, she would frantically power down the windows in an effort to drink in some "fresh" air.

Senior Editor Christian Wardlaw noted this problem several months ago, but recent drivers weren't bothered by it. Erin decided that the odor was annoying enough to merit attention, so she made an appointment for the following week at Santa Monica Mazda. Remembering the "fuel odor" recall campaign, she searched the recalls database on the NHTSA site. She didn't think our long-term Tribute was included in this campaign since its build date was after Sept. 2000, but decided to print out the recall anyway to show to the service advisor. In case you haven't heard all about it, this recall (ID number: 00V277002) covers Tributes (and Escapes) built between April and September of 2000, whose fuel line connector O-ring seals were damaged when the line was connected to the fuel filter during assembly.

In addition, Road Test Editor John DiPietro showed Erin a technical service bulletin (more about TSBs here) that covered a different repair for ostensibly the same symptom. Bulletin number 0100101 on the NHTSA site reads: "Some vehicles may exhibit a fuel odor coming from the vents inside the vehicle. This condition produces only a fuel odor and does not involve visible fuel. This may be caused by the lower intake manifold silicone gaskets. Modified fluorocarbon gaskets are available to resolve this concern." This TSB seemed to fit the problem exactly, and Erin was hopeful that Santa Monica Mazda would be willing to make the repair.

At the dealership, she explained to Sal Barajas, our service advisor, that she had noticed the problem on an intermittent basis and showed him her print-outs. Sal didn't think our sport-ute qualified for the recall, either, and asked if he could run the VIN. While she waited, by his desk in the large service bay, Erin was overwhelmed by a strong gasoline smell — it was as if a large amount of fuel had spilled or leaked somewhere in the room. She doubted that any of the technicians would be able detect the odor in the Tribute, which was mild by comparison. But she waited anyway.

Sal returned and confirmed that our long-termer wasn't covered by the recall. He wasn't familiar with the TSB, but took the print-out and agreed to keep the Tribute for the afternoon. He called Erin late in the day and told her that the technician had not been able to duplicate the odor. When our editor asked the inevitable, "Isn't there anything else you can do?" he agreed to keep it overnight so that the technician could test it with the engine was cold. The next afternoon, though, Sal called to say that the results were still negative. Erin offered a futile "Couldn't you just switch the gaskets anyway?" but he said that he would have to charge her for the repair and that he wouldn't have any idea how much it would cost. At that point, Erin backed off and took the Tribute back to the office.

Since her visit to the dealership, the Tribute's fuel odor has persisted. Further, Erin noted that a common complaint for 2000 and 2001 Ford Tauruses and Mercury Sables equipped with the Duratec V6 (just like the Tribute) is a cabin fuel odor caused by bad gaskets on the intake manifold. So, indeed, everyone who notices it in the Tribute is perfectly sane — at least in this regard. We just need to find a dealership that can verify the concern.

It wasn't a completely unpleasant month for Erin. After spending a couple of hours in a new Saturn Vue, she realized that in spite of the warranty issues that have troubled our Tribute since birth, its driving characteristics are much superior to those of most competing mini-utes.

Yet our road test editor is still convinced that the Tribute isn't a vehicle she would like to own. "Repair issues notwithstanding, this is more vehicle than I want," she wrote. "After purchasing groceries for myself and my boyfriend, it was easy to load them all into the cargo bay. But they also would have fit into a compact sedan, coupe or hatchback with no problem. And when I consider that I spent a lot of time alone in the Tribute, I see no reason to sacrifice the heightened performance and economy of driving a car. Of course, if I thought I looked great driving the Tribute, that would be another matter — as it is, I'm just another young woman driving an SUV. No thanks."

Current Odometer: 29,681
Best Fuel Economy: 20.6 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.4 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 18.3 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Fuel odor emanates from the cabin vents at start-up.