2008 Mazda Tribute
Price Estimate: $1,990 - $5,694
Mazda Tribute Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(41%)
4(37%)
3(10%)
2(12%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
From new to now problems continue
gz408, 03/03/2012
2008 Mazda Tribute i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)
-4K miles Transmission cooler leaking (replaced under warranty)
-8K miles Hard shifting (serviced under warranty)
-22K miles transmission stuck in 2nd gear (covered under warranty)
-24K miles replaced front brakes and rotors (pulsating and noisy)
-Window regulator failure
-26K L+R Tie rod end replacement (warranty)
-35K engine knocking/tapping (warranty)
-35K Serpentine belt tensioner … failure (warranty)
-46K Transmission shifting hard (not fixed yet)
This vehicle is horribly built. Interior is noisy from all the cheap plastics. Suspension and ride quality is really bad too. I would not recommend purchasing this, you're better off with a Kia!!
Rust Problems Here Too
ChicagoDriver, 10/17/2010
2008 Mazda Tribute i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)
So I hate to say anything bad about my 2008 Tribute, which we just traded in last week, and I loved owning. It was a simple car without any fuss, and perfect for me! The only bad thing about it is the rust. I noticed a few other reviews mentioning this, and i found it a little too coincidental that we all have found the same rust problems. Mazda must have gotten cheap on their … materials, or they stared buying steel from China. I bent down to check on my tires one day and I couldn't believe how badly rusted out the wheel well was. I traded the car in a week later.
Window Regulator Should be Recalled
swflmazda, 11/18/2011
2008 Mazda Tribute i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
Ok.. So not a bad car as my first mazda purchase.
I am totally surprised there hasn't been a recall on these, that all but one of my power window regulators have snapped.
Really poor poor poor design and cheap materials. Dealership wants me to pay for labor, will cost be around $800. No-way since this is faulty equipment. not standard wear and tear.. Also gas pedal gets stuck.
Incredibly … dangerous. Not sure what's worse; windows that do not work or a gas pedal that gets stuck.
Other than that.. seems to be a decent car.
Wish I'd never bought it!
Kathy, 09/10/2015
2008 Mazda Tribute i Touring 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)
Rusting! Thought that was a thing of the past! 90,000 miles the accelerator pedal went limp & SUV stopped moving. Had to have it towed. Now the transmission went out at 128,000. 2 yrs. before that cruise control went out. Friends' vehicles that aren't Mazdas have 200,000+ miles w/ no issues.
Safety
Key safety features on the Tribute include:
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
FAQ
Is the Mazda Tribute a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2008 Tribute both on the road and at the track. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2008 Tribute gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 59 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Tribute has 29.2 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Mazda Tribute. Learn more
Is the Mazda Tribute reliable?
To determine whether the Mazda Tribute is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Tribute. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Tribute's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2008 Mazda Tribute a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2008 Mazda Tribute is a good car. Our consumer reviews show that the 2008 Tribute gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 59 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2008 Tribute is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2008 Mazda Tribute?
The least-expensive 2008 Mazda Tribute is the 2008 Mazda Tribute i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $19,135.
Other versions include:
- i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M) which starts at $19,135
- i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A) which starts at $20,550
- i Touring 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A) which starts at $21,325
- s Sport 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A) which starts at $21,790
- i Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl 4A) which starts at $22,300
- s Touring 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A) which starts at $22,565
- i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl 4A) which starts at $23,075
- i Grand Touring 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A) which starts at $23,515
- s Sport 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 4A) which starts at $23,540
- s Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 4A) which starts at $24,315
- s Grand Touring 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A) which starts at $24,755
- i Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.3L 4cyl 4A) which starts at $25,265
- s Grand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 4A) which starts at $26,505
What are the different models of Mazda Tribute?
If you're interested in the Mazda Tribute, the next question is, which Tribute model is right for you? Tribute variants include i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M), i Sport 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A), i Touring 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A), and s Sport 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A). For a full list of Tribute models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$196/mo for Tribute i Sport
vs
$228/mo
Avg. Compact SUV











