Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Mazda Tribute. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (35)
35 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 35 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 19 | 54.3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 8.6% |
| Engine | 3 | 8.6% |
| Power train | 3 | 8.6% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 8.6% |
| Air bags | 2 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 5.7% |
| Structure | 2 | 5.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5.7% |
How 2009 compares with other Tribute years
Best and worst Tribute years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 384 | 7 |
| 2003 | 199 | 6 |
| 2004 | 157 | 5 |
| 2005 | 377 | 3 |
| 2006 | 130 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 202 | 4 |
| 2009 | 35 | 1 |
| 2010 | 39 | 2 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 32 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 278 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 32 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 34 / 31 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 29 / 27 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2009 Tribute for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2009 Mazda Tribute FAQ
How many recalls does the 2009 Mazda Tribute have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 14V282000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2009 Mazda Tribute problems?
Owners filed 35 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (19), Electrical system (3), Engine (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2009 Mazda Tribute get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 34 city, 31 highway and 32 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2009 Tribute compare with other years?
Among the 2002–2011 Mazda Tribute model years at least five years old, the 2007 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 2002 the most (384). The 2009 drew 35. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.