Used 2002 Mazda Tribute Consumer Reviews
Used Tribute for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
best car ive ever owned
moparman15, 08/15/2011
2002 Mazda Tribute DX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
43 of 43 people found this review helpful
got it in 2002 brand new, drive it everyday since now 100k miles...NOT ONE PROBLEM! the only thing thats been replaced is the battery. This thing can fly never expected it to be so fast. The steering is a little too tight but over all best car ive ever owned.
Reliable and good looking
apglaser, 01/02/2011
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
We bought our Tribute LX used with 106,000 miles on it and haven't had any problems at all! We are now at 125,000, and took it on a road trip from CA to UT. This past week was very rainy and my husband went crashing through all the deep puddles and the #3 spark plug got wet, causing a misfire. However, after a day or so it dried up and ran normal again. It has plenty on room in the backseat for 2 carseats, with more than enough cargo space for our double-stroller. I love my "Mazzy" and would recommend it to anyone.
2002 Mazda Tribute for sale near you
Showing 3 of 6 listings
Loyal Long-Term Friend
H. B. Laidlaw, 03/28/2010
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
Purchased new as my wife's commuter and weekend driver. Living in Maine with grandchildren in Vermont, we learned quickly that it is terrific in the snow. Problem areas: front suspension work needed at 45,000 and new front axles due to rusted tone rings (part of ABS system) at 55,000. The torque converter stutters occasionally when downshifting, but otherwise the engine/drive train work seamlessly and after 8 years it still drives like new.
I'll cry when I have to part with thy Tribute!
Manny Cannatella, 05/19/2017
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
Bought this SUV new 15 years ago and never regretted it. The V6 engine is super powerful and still runs smoothly. Roomy cabin space -very comfortable. This SUV has been everywhere with great performance. Never had to replace any of the major parts - just the battery now and then. It's is still going strong after reaching the 300,000 mile mark.
Mazda Tribute at its finest
E. ELLISON, 09/09/2015
2002 Mazda Tribute DX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
30 of 33 people found this review helpful
I had my Mazda Tribute Lx V6 2002 for 14 years. I do my own maintenance on it. I change my motor oil every 5000 miles. I use a high capacity oil and gas filter and I use synthetic or high mileage 5w-20. I change my belts and replace my spark plugs. I replace the manifold gaskets. I like my cars because I bring the 24v V6 200Hp to bear against peole who underestimate its power. Every 6 to 8 years, the alternator goes out. I just replace it and go on with it. The truth is that all cars have issues. Some issues are caused by the owner's igorance of components of the car and mechanics not tightening components.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The Mean Machine
Nyame Lavan, 02/03/2016
updated 08/09/2016
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
22 of 24 people found this review helpful
I absolutely love my 2002 Mazda Tribute! It is a good reliable car and is fun to drive. I've taken it through some pretty bad roads..and even off the roads! and it has always handled great, what an aggressive machine! :)
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
A Nice Car That Comes With A Ford Repair Schedule
Seth A., 05/22/2017
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
So, My opinion on the Mazda Tribute is, it was designed to be a good car, Tributes have lots of potential, but the car falls flat with its constant repair schedule since it is a Ford vehicle. The goods about the car were, It was very comfortable (Supportive seats, good driving position, perfect height, just the perfect size), Has a fantastic radio, good ergonomics (placement of controls is perfect), lots of front row storage solutions (Large glove box, Extra large center console *almost as big as lots of large trucks* and there is lots of storage room in the area below the stereo and in the doors, you will never run out of storage), Back seats are roomy, And the cargo area is very spacious (tall, wide, and with the seats down there is enough room to move a full sized couch or a tall bookshelf, or both!), Towing capability is a hefty 3,500 if you have the tow package (Enough to tow a small trailer or help tow people in other vehicles out of trouble), Very stylish with nice lines, Has a reliable engine, and has very nimble and fun driving characteristics, you feel as if you are driving a car that was designed for sportiness. Now for the bad things. The Transmissions are horrible in these vehicles, when they work they hard shift constantly, They buck like a horse, the gearing ratios are horrible (lots of dead-no power zones), they definitely leave a lot to desire. And most of the time these transmissions give out within 100k miles (usually cost around 3-4k to replace or rebuild including labor), but you really cant blame the transmission, The CD4E 4-speed transmission was originally designed as a transmission for small front wheel drive cars mostly with 4 cylinders, e.g. the Mazda 626, Ford Probe, Ford Mondeo, and others, but Ford with their brilliant ideas thought it was a smart idea to stick these transmissions into a heavy trio of cars with 4 wheel drive and 6 cylinders (The Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner), Smart thinking, huh? Next, They tend to kill catalytic converters because their spark plugs prematurely wear out (on the 3.0 Duratech engine), they usually wear out in about 25-35k miles, and if you drive with those spark plugs for more than a couple miles after the check engine light started flashing, congratulations, you've successfully messed up your catalytic converters. (about 600 dollars to replace both) If you see that check engine light start flashing, take my advice, immediately pull over and call a tow truck so you don't mess your catalytic converters up. If you do mess them up your catalytic converters, you will know because you will feel a large decrease in power, your car will struggle to shift cause it cant get enough speed, interstate driving will be very stressful because you will be holding up cars, and in my case your engine will frequently overheat because it is revving so hard and not shifting. These cars have weak alternators as well, they die prematurely, the A/C compressors seize about every 50k miles, the fog lights like to break, hood trim falls off often, sunroof rails like to snap, oxygen sensors go out pretty quickly, the airbag system likes to fail every once in a while so you have to un-connect the connectors under the seats and put some oil in them for the airbags to work again (something involving corrosion causes this), the knobs on the radio break off, door fabric or leather peals off cause the glue dries up, rear glass hinges break off. In conclusion, the Mazda tribute is a beautiful car, fun to drive, and very comfortable, But being a ford under its pretty exterior and interior, these cars were not made to withstand thousands of trouble free miles like other fully Japanese vehicles, you will experience lots of american car problems within the miles, they are very high maintenance vehicles. don't get me wrong, these are lovable cars, I loved mine a lot, they have lots of personality, even with the problems it had, but after the transmission gave out for a 3rd time in its whole 205k mile life, i decided it had served me well and it was time for it to go away. So if you have your heart set on one of these, know it isn't as bad as some other ford products, but realize you definitely will not be driving a super reliable vehicle, expect to have your car in the shop often (unless you are mechanically inclined), and expect to be on the side of the road sometimes waiting for someone to rescue you, lastly expect to be spending money frequently on the car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Mine was rolled and I walked away!
Heather Jones, 12/05/2008
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I loved my Mazda, I had it for 6 months, it was rolled in an accident and we all were in one piece! We walked away the Mazda wasn't drivable but it was also in one piece. They are very well made cars and I would definitely recommend one to someone I care about! I just need a new one!
2002 Mazda Tribute ES
Andrew, 03/06/2010
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I've owned this SUV for almost 8 years. It has been a reliable car. Some people even confuse it some times with an older Lexus RX300. Not sure what they are thinking, but I'll take the positive impression.
crap car
jhouse123179, 07/22/2004
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
this vehicle has been nothing but trouble. I've had to replace the following: Engine, Coolant Reservoir, Headlights, Tie Rods, Control Arms, Rear Wiper Motor, Windshield needed re- sealed, Rear hatch window needed adjusted so it wouldn't leak, Rear hatch Door Needed adjusted didn't close properly, Sun Roof Doesn't open properly...switch sticks, Transmission doesn't shift properly, brakes wear very fast even the rotor's. It's only been 2 years and this is what I get! Am I supposed to assume the Air Bags will work if I ever needed them? I've only driven it 61 000 km's it's got 19000 km's left on manufacturer's warranty the hole car has almost been replaced.
HORRIBLE!!
avalencia, 10/11/2012
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
12 of 16 people found this review helpful
My first car and I HATE it. Literally one thing after another kept breaking down and has had 2 recalls from Mazda since I have had it. I drove it about 20 times if even that because it was always in the shop. The last thing that went bad was the head gaskets and I need to sell the truck as is because to fix it, it was $1600. If you don't want to go broke, do NOT buy this p.o.s.
I've had 4 Tributes
02 Bute!, 10/23/2019
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I'm currently driving a 2002 ES with 163,000 miles and its runs and drives like new. Hey its 17 years old and still performing great! I've seen a lot of bad reviews on here, but the truth is, if you take care of the "bute", it will take care of you. I've replaced brakes, a control arm, and sway bar links, but thats it. Easy to work on (if not too rusty). Great vehicle to have during the dark cold and snowy Minnesota Winters! Can find older inexpensive ones everywhere. Cheap to insure! Very safe vehicles for new drivers! The only main concern is the front brake lines popping. Check regularly for cracking.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
6 Years Later
Carl, 09/14/2008
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Mazda Navajo Owner for 10 years - best vehicle ever; purchased Tribute and was satisfied with vehicle until the warranty ran out. Immediately thereafter, vehicle falling apart. Computer failed and stranded me 300 miles from home; cruise control not working, instrument panel not working,airbag sensor faulty, many electrical problems; power door locks failed and replaced; power window switches failed/replaced; fluid leaks that mechanics cannot locate, brake dust is horrible on wheels. Every week a new problem develops on this vehicle. Very disappointed -- the Mazda Tribute fails in comparison to my previous Navajo which went 150,000 miles no problems. The Tribute fell apart at 70,000 miles.
Good choice for Small SUV
Carficionado, 09/14/2006
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Tribute is a nice ride. Was very reliable but there were some annoying build quality issues, like spaces in between the body panels and my A/C - heating went out at 30K! Absurd. Maybe a fan/blower issue. MPG is not good (14-16) if you drive aggressively but its hard not to because the V6 is great. Economic driving will see 21-22 mpg consistently. 4wd works great. Never got stuck & I took it through a few snow storms of 7"plus and this baby plowed right through. Ground clearance is great as I have been light off-roading and gone through severely washed out roads 8-10" of water. Safety is great as SUV is wrecked after someone knocked it into a concrete median on the highway, and walked away with scrapes/bruises.
Helloo Money Pit!
Threnners, 09/10/2009
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Sigh...In the past three years I have had to replace the dash odometer light, chrome hood piece, IAC Valve, Master brake cylinder, gearshift cable, the driver's side door handle, a fog light, and had to have work done on a misfiring cylinder. It creaks every time I make a left turn (bad sway bar links I'm told) and howls in the cold. The cloth is peeling off every interior door. One of the seats in the back won't go down (first time I tried!) I'm really let down because I really loved the Tribute (over the Escape) and REALLY wanted this car and to keep it 10 years but I don't think it's going to make it. When it does work though, it works very well.
Zoom-aoom-zoom--It's all true!!!
Souplady, 07/03/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Tribute in April 2001 and it was love at first sight and has been ever since. It is an almost perfect car/SUV. It is fun to drive, fun to look at and fun to own. Lots of people seem to notice my car when I am driving it. I did a tremendous amount of research on SUV's before buying this car and was very pleased that I was able to find one at a reasonable price. It has a lot of get up and go and yet lots of room for all your stuff. I have had my car over a year and except for oil changes, the car has not given me one bit of trouble, not one!! Go for it---zoom, zoom, zoom!!!
So far so good!
ccarlson, 01/07/2006
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Took some time getting used to after driving a car; felt tippy and had too many column levers, kept turning wiper blades on to put it in gear. I agree with some others that it needs a lighted key ignition, hard to locate in the dark even after 3 years. I had engine light come on first year and a couple recalls but all were fixed in a timely manner by the dealer. Seats were and still are hard as a rock, but holding up well. Love the front wheel drive, rarely need the 4WD. Has good visual all around. Tire & wind noise on the inside is loud. Had 6 disk CD player replaced once, has nice sound. If made a little wider and fixed above items, it would be the ultimate small SUV. Good vehicle!
Squeeks, rattles and no rolls
SPD, 02/18/2003
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is my first true cold winter with the Trib and it's developed some noisy squeeks and rattles. The most annoying is the center arm rest. Any small amount of pressure applied to it and it squeeks...this has to go. I've read all the possible problems with the Trib, but this is a new one. The next one is the back window; rattle, rattle and rattle. I realize that most "hatchbacks" develope rattles, but I don't want to hear them on my year old, 25k vehicle.
Oh, Gee, It stalled?
UnHappy3, 12/09/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Our Tribute was in the Dealer's shop for 63 days to repair the stalling problem. I was assured by Mazda H.Q. in Irvine, CA that the Tribute was fixed and there has not been any reoccurrences of Tributes that have had this repair done. Less than a month later my wife and child were again driving in the Tribute when it stalled exactly as it had done before the repair. In my opinion someone is going to die in one of these cars.
Don't get a flat tire
Ray Davis, 03/03/2017
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
The jack is useless. It won't lift the car high enough to get the tire off.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Coulda shoulda be a great SUV
LovettsHokie, 05/16/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Well, I love many things about this vehicle. Great styling, ride, handling, to name a few. But, I purchased the car on 12-30-2001 and have had to have the right front wheel bearing replaced and a completely new transmission. The bearing I thought was a fluke. But to have two major repairs in the first four months of owning a car? I have had great experiences with my service people, but they can not explain it. So I will. This car did not get all of the proper quality control checks. There is no way this car should have made it onto the street. What should be a great SUV, is now tarnished. Will I buy a Mazda or Ford again? Let me think, hmmmmmm Not on your life or anyone else's.
Love it, will purchase another
erb1, 09/02/2008
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased it new, and my vehicle has 170,000 miles on it. I just changed the spark plugs last week. I have driven 700 miles a week for 3.5 years with no problems. I have replaced the brakes once, three years ago. It's starting to get "squeaky" on turns, so I will replace shocks and struts early next year when I get new tires. There have been a few recalls, and my only complaint is that Mazda dealers are few and far between in this area. Also, some of the parts inside look cheap, like the inside door handles are plastic, covered in a metal looking tape stuff. But hey, they work. Will be driving it until it croaks, and will probably buy a second one next year.
Love MY Tribute
luvmytrib, 02/18/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
My wife and I just got ours this week. We love it. The way it handles, the ride, the power. We just love it. Test drove an Escape and it doesn't compare. Showed it to my inlaws and they are thinking of getting one. I will write another review in a few months updating how things are going with my new Trib.
Decent but not great
Montana, 08/03/2018
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I got a Mazda Tribute for college. It was a used car so I wasn’t expecting it to last forever. However with that being said I didn’t expect to have it in the garage every 6 months with a new 300$ problem. Like clock work every 6 months it was in the garage and just today I decided to scrap it after I had 400$ of repairs done 2 months ago and yesterday my mechanic told me I had 1000$ worth of rust damage and 600$ worth of mechanical issues. It was a great car when it was running it just wasn’t worth all the repairs
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
GREAT CAR!
michst2789, 09/19/2009
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is my second Tribute, before this I had a 2003. This a great car that could last for a long time. Reliability is great, gas mileage is lacking, but that is expected with an SUV. Comfort is really good and it really gets up and goes with that V6 engine in it. GREAT CAR OVERALL!!
TRIBLOVER
TRIBLOVER, 05/13/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
MY TRIBUTE WAS A MOTHERS DAY PRESENT AND I REALLY LOVE IT. IT HANDLES LIKE A HEAVIER SUV, BUT NOT LIKE A TRUCK. THE CARGO ROOM IS GREAT BECAUSE I HAVE 2 BOYS AND LOTS OF HAULING TO DO. I WOULD RECOMMEND ONE TO ANYONE LIKE ME WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE BIGGER SUV'S, BUT SILL WANTED HIGH STYLE.
Beware
snorkymn, 07/18/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought a Tribute on Monday evening, it was in the shop on Thursday morning after it stalled while sitting at a stoplight. It didn't even have 150 miles on it yet. The dealer said it was a problem withe Pollution Control Valve or it's sensor and they are going to replace it. Seeing some of these other bad reviews, I tend to wonder what will be next.
Nice for a small SUV
CreamCorn, 07/19/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Driven for 2000 Miles with no issues. Found that after 1000 the transmission was a little more responsive whle in OD. Nice classic look that will not go out of style unlike others in the same catagory.
It's really a FORD
Monica, 04/12/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute DX 4WD 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Tribute in February 2002 and had to take it in 5 weeks/1800 miles later. They found a leak in a seal in the transmission and corrected it. However, my car still bucks, spits, amd misses to this very day. I have taken it back three times and the dealership has told me they all run this way and nothing is wrong. I am meeting with a factory rep next week and if that doesn't resolve the issue, I will be pursuing the lemon law. I doubt that I will ever buy another Mazda again, especially since Ford has started putting their parts in them.
Love my Tribute
LeeAnn, 10/18/2006
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had my Tribute for 4 years now and have never had a major problem. It does seem to get good gas mileage as compared to other SUVs I've had and is a lot of fun to drive. I love the way it looks - classy but kinda sporty. The only thing I don't like is the big bulky obtrusive gear shift handle. It looks clumsy and unusually large - kinda ugly. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with this SUV for the money.
Pretty reliable after 4 yrs!
nalarika, 05/03/2006
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Had some problems in the beginning with the transmission and exhaust manifolds, warranty covered those so ever since then we have had no powertrain issues. The door seals seem to sag and that is annoying but other than that the car has a ton of features for the price and has made many adventurous trips with us!
Bad Experience. Good Timing
doreen, 06/08/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just want everyone to know, I test drove a brand new Mazda Tribute that only had 35 miles on it and it stalled while I was in the car with the salesperson. That is not good
Review of a Mazda lover
Reetz, 02/09/2003
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Tribute in March of 2002. It's fun to drive and is very reliable. It handles every kind of road condition and even stops straight on icy roads. The things I would improve would be the front passenger's seat belt. It locks up too easily. Also, the interior quality could be better. The molding on the inside of the doors keeps coming loose. Then again, there is no perfect car in my opinion.
Dissapointment
Seadog, 04/11/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
No question the performance and power for this SUV were great. But I had it in 4 times for repairs to the drivers outside mirror (vibrated)a rattle in the right rear and an engine failure. The egine was fixed but they were never able to fix the other things.
never buy a tribute
Angel Pereira, 03/16/2015
updated 09/25/2017
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
3 of 9 people found this review helpful
I had just bought my 2002 tribute 4 weeks ago and it started losing power and this past Saturday it cot on firer totaled the vehicle luckly everyone got out ok had pregnant daughter 4 year old grandson and would of had my 9 month old granddaughter thank god her mother got off work early that day now stuck with no money no transportion and lots of head aches come to fined out its a manufactory defect
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Best value in mini-SUVs
cobraal, 05/06/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We just rolled over 10K trouble-free miles in our 2wd Tributes ES. The Tribute has to be the best value in the mini-SUV market. It has as much or more passenger room (especially in the backseat) and cargo room as some midsize SUVs but in the size and price of a mini-SUV. My wife likes the driving position, its small proportions and low step-in height. It handles well for a tall vehicle, has great power, brakes and steering. The biggest surprise has been how smooth and quiet the engine and ride are. Plus we get 22 mpg in normal driving. Great value, highly recommended.
Viewpoint from a Professor
Professor, 04/11/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute DX-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my 2001 Tribute DX/V6 for a little more than a year. Call it luck, or simply a reasonably well-designed vehicle, no problems at all @ almost 40,000 miles. With the exception of some wind noise at highway speeds, and wishful better fuel economy...pretty satisfied with my purchase. I would encourage a tight maintenance schedule however.
This SUV Rocks!
Satisfied Driver, 04/18/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought an ES-4WD three weeks ago. I already racked up 1600 miles. So far I've been very impressed. After driving a sports car for seven years, I wanted a car-based mini-SUV with somewhat similiar performance. The Tribute doesn't disappoint. It's quite nimble to drive and has plenty of power to boot. Fuel economy averages about 20 a gallon ... not too shabby. I've test-driven a few other mini-SUV (Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 ...), I think the Tribute is definitely a good buy for its class.
The soul of a sports car in an SUV
uncle_teddy_78, 06/15/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
In Dec. 2001, I bought my ES-V6 with tow+lux package. By June 2002, it has 13,000+ miles. This is the best car I have had in a long time. Never experienced the stalling issue <knock on wood>. As far as the gear shift being in front of the volume control, that is fine with me, the shifter allows me to rest my hand while rotating the control or searching through cd tracks. I love how it jumps off the line at a red light. Zoom Zoom.
Great car, IF it starts!
Kathy Cass, 06/28/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had much distress over a repetitve problem that the service people cannot fix,sometimes my car won't start,leaving me stranded.They replaced the immobolizer.They cut and reprogramed new keys,a tech took it home,and couldn't get it started,had to be towed back to the dealer.Then they thought it was a wiring harness connection,took apart and reconnected, and were convinced it was fixed.I am so stressed and upset over this,I was to go on a trip this morning,but still need to get the car towed,and confront the dealer.This may be a lemon,but I have had trouble getting callbacks from the servicing dealer,Pugi.
Death trap
pete05, 07/04/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have not made the first car payment and my new Mazda is already in the repair shop. The car stalled on me as I was existing the freeway. So far, the mechanic cannot reproduce the problem. However, considering what I am reading on this website, it's no wonder Mazda has not gotten sued yet from someone getting killed due to this problem.
All I hoped For in SUV
Iowa Tribute Fan, 04/12/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My wife and I test drove several SUV's - Liberty, Xterra, Escape, Santa Fe, Vue, Montero Sport. We felt the Tribute was easily the best overall. It's roomy, has plenty of power, comfortable ride for an SUV, reasonably quite on the road, and looks great. Gas mileage is descent for a 200 HP V6. Been averaqing 18-19 in city driving so far in just 1500 miles. Like everyone else, our only complaint is that gear shifter partially blocks volume on radio when in drive. However, I've already found myself reaching around it without thinking about it. This vehicle really is fun to drive. I can tell a lot of people take a good look at it on the road.
BEST, AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE
trexy2, 04/19/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
GREAT SUV in style and performance...Choose the es-v6 4wd!!!
Mini SUV Exceeds My Expectations
NewTributeDriver, 05/13/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Looked at all the similar sized models of mini suvs. This came out on top by far. Lot's of standard creature comforts. Lots of interior space and storage cubbies and pockets. Has a much bigger feel than it is. I got this one completely loaded...no option left unturned and it was still a reasonable price considering.
So far, so good....
MickeyD - NJ, 07/08/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was most impressed with the styling. I am a little concerned about the 'spongy' brake pedal. The cigarette lighter doesn't work and the fuel door is problematic. The premium sound system breaks up a little when 'pushed'. The stalling problem?... While coasting into a drive, the car began to 'buck' and would not move forward. Worried, I checked the gear selector and discovered that I had inadvertantly put the car into reverse. I simply placed the car back into drive and it's been fine ever since. I've gottten about 25.4 MPG (not bad at all). This car is so much fun to drive, I'll make any excuse to run to the store or just simply, to take a ride.
Only one complaint
elgin, 07/10/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have 8,000+ miles on my Tribute. I had a hard time making up my mind what to buy. I am very happy with my purchase. My children love the SUV. With 3 vehicles in the house to drive, they are constantly borrowing it.
Mazda Tribute 2002
rbarea, 05/16/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Tribute for $250 over real invoice with side airbags, premium sound system and tow pkg. To make it look a little nicer I purchased the wood pkg. for the interior and it looks great. No problems after 5000 miles. Getting about 20 MPG with majority of the driving being stop and go. Only complaint is I wish the engine was more quiet, but hey...
Nothing can still compare
Angelo, 07/15/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So powerful that you'll not notice you're speeding already.
Very Satisfied
noname, 04/21/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Surprisingly satisfied. I test drove the Grand Cherokee, Trailblazer, Bravado and Montero Sport. The Tributes comfort was better than any (except Bravado). It's performance was better that most. It's perfect for me. Mileage 1st tank 18.5, second 19.5. Go the ES model.
From Porsche to Tribute
LoveMyTribute, 07/17/2002
2002 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Had a 2000 Boxster S. Traded and bought my Tribute ES 4WD. Would MUCH rather have a Tribute than a Porsche anyday. It is the right size, useful, comfortable, performs beautifully, and a joy to own. I coulc not be happier.