Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
18 -22 City / 22 -26 HWY
Horsepower
153 -200
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Pattie C
Safety and value. I have found that my vehicle fits very well in that title.
I am second owner and I have not found any major issues. I have found that replacing the brakes on the rear axle are easy to repair. I do find that the rotors need to be replaced and unless you have access to professional tools I have to take it to a tire shop where they can replace them for me.
accountCircle Alexander S
It is a safe car for the whole family to ride in.
I love that it drives well during snow storms. I do not like that during the summer it does not get real cold. In the winter it gets cold in the car the heat does not work real well.
accountCircle Shawn F
Best Midsize SUV for all your needs
Best SUV/car I have ever owned. V6 engine is powerful, cloth seats, rear seats fold, CD player, power windows, ABS brakes, I have the towing package on mine. Rear is big enough to haul a washing machine, clothes dryer, or a kitchen stove. I know because I have put these items in the back and the rear hatchback door closes. My SUV has been a very reliable car. It takes me everywhere and has never left me stranded. The ride is comfortable and we enjoying taking long trips in it. Very roomy front and back.
accountCircle Tarin A
Spacious and rides smooth.
Very reliable and run great when taken care of. . I am at 180, 000 and still runs smooth. Love how spacious and comfortable it is and easy to drive for everyone. . Great for if you have a lot of things to haul around but do not want a truck. I'd highly recommend this car for family.
accountCircle Cynthia C
I love the grey trim around the doors of the Mazda.
I haven't had any issues with my Mazda. But easy to work on for self repairs if needed. I love the heated seats and the heater works beautifully. Very spacious for an SUV. And good on gas if you like to travel.
accountCircle Carrie S
In summary, the Mazda tribute is an overall great vehicle.
This is my 2nd Mazda tribute. The only problem I have ever had is my computer going out. The Mazda tribute is a very reliable vehicle. It has several features such as heated seats, lumbar, sunroof. I have been extremely happy with my Mazda tribute, and will probably buy another one
accountCircle Sonny S
I really like the. Style of the truck.
I love my vehicle. It has the right amount of space and I can travel without worrying about safety. I like the tires, I like the style. It is a very reliable and relaxing vehicle that comes with a sunroof and cup holders in the back. I also like the surround sound that also plays in the truck.
accountCircle Dianne M
Very dependable, roomy interior and comfortable.
The Mazda is probably the most reliable car I have ever driven. It belonged to my son, driven by his wife 5 years before he gave it to me. I have never had any problems with only routine oil change and maintenance. It is very comfortable and rides very well.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Donna M
It is a 13 years old and beyond basic issues, it is been great.
Vehicle has been a wonderful car for 13 years. I did have an issue with the engine but it was resolved and was an issue with the engine itself, not maintenance.
accountCircle Hillary E
The Mazda tribute is a very reliable vehicle, and gets great gas mileage.
The vehicle itself is not a bad vehicle at all. I have never had a more reliable car! I simply am no longer happy with it because of its age. I am ready for a new Mazda! I do plan on driving only Mazdas for a long time! They are very reliable. I have driven this car since 2013 and have only had one engine related issue, which was a leaky water pump hose. It was an easy, inexpensive fix.
accountCircle Faye T
No traction in wet weather, does a lot of hydroplaning.
The car is good overall but it has no traction whatsoever. I drive another vehicle when it rains. The Mazda is hydroplaning and all over the road in wet weather. I put a concrete block in the back hoping that would help. It has helped some but not much. Other than that the car is good.
accountCircle Steve Z
Because of the engine size, it only gets 16- 20 miles per gallon.
Likes: It is relatively reliable and relatively inexpensive to maintain. It is dependable and comfortable to drive. Dislikes: It has a 3-liter engine and gets 16-20 MPG.
accountCircle Emily G
The most important thing to me, is that it is very fuel efficient.
I like how spacious yet compact it is. This truck has great gas mileage. It has lasted a long time.
accountCircle Bart S
It's the same car as the Ford Escape, but more expensive because it's "foreign."
My vehicle breaks down consistently. I like that it gets me where I want to go, but I don't like that all years prior to my car were recalled but not mine and I have exactly what they were recalled for.
accountCircle Paul G
The car is great runs good and no problems at all the whole time I had it.
Ok well first of all my vehicle doesn't really have any problems its just when u don't have the key in you can open certain things but overall the car runs good and is good on gas if u put regular I would recommend this type of car to anyone looking forward to buying it;).
accountCircle First Name Z
Family necessities on wheels.
It is a very durable and safe vehicle for just about any driver. The high gas mileage makes it an affordable, and dependable automobile. With plenty of room in the back kids will have easy rides with plenty of room for activities. The trunk offers just the space needed for a trip to the beach, or a trip to the park.

Mazda Tribute Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
i
153 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
s
200 HP 20-20 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Mazda Tribute Owner Reviews

4.11
66 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 41%
4 stars 32%
3 stars 24%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Haley S on April 3, 2021
It has yet to die on me and I love the vehicle to death.
Not really wrong when it get older it takes a while to accelerate, but everything else is super great I love my vehicle. I wish it cruise control lasted longer though it would really be great with long distance trips like the ones for home. But you know oh well.
accountCircle Gary J on March 25, 2021
2005 Mazda Tribute , awesome
The car is very comfortable. Consumes very little fuel. Most spare parts are within reach. In speed it is efficient.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Allyssa G.

It'll definitely get you where you're going, kind of good on gas. Good mileage, great air, a lot of room, fits 3 car seats. A spacious trunk, heated seats, great radio, good bass from the radio, a deep console, a few places you could hide stuff if you need to.

likeFilled Jesica M.

It holds quite a bit of stuff like when I am moving. It gets decent gas mileage and drives nicely. It heats up relatively quickly in the winter and since it's kind of compact it is easier to parallel park in smaller spaces.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Allyssa G.

I had so many problems with the engine, my motor jumped when I went into reverse, my heat barely worked, one of the doors didn't latch all the way so it constantly beeped, my motor mounts keep breaking, it is been in the shop about 5 times in the past 6 months when I first got the car, it had to go straight to the shop a week after I got it. In all honesty I would never get a Mazda again, any model.

dislikeFilled Jesica M.

I have been having quite a few, expensive issues with the engine and brakes the past year or so. It does not have good traction so if I am trying to go uphill on an icy patch I am not moving. The buttons on my radio are falling off so they are virtually unpressable at this point.

Ranks #11 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2005 Mazda Tribute has an average owner rating of 4.20 out of 5 which ranks it #11 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.64
11
car
4.11

Ranks #12 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Mazda Tribute has a combined MPG of 24 which ranks it #12 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
38 MPG
2
car
35 MPG
12
Tie
car
26 MPG

Is The 2005 Mazda Tribute A Good Car?

Yes this is a reliable vehicle, rides smooth. Only issue is gas consumption. This vehicle does not get very good gas mileage around the city.
Carolyn B.
Yes it is a very good vehicle. It is lasted me almost 10 years with minimal issues. Gas is good, and only minor maintenance.
Kenneth T.
Yes. It’s a very reliable vehicle, with plenty of rider space and trunk space. The vehicle is great on gas and maintenance is easy.
Lily R.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Mazda Tribute?

As I mentioned before, the only issues with the vehicle is gas consumption and mileage. Also, there's an oil smell from the vehicle but it does not affect it is abilities.
Carolyn B.
The 2005 tribute is very reliable. The only issues have been minor maintenance due to wear and tear. It has experienced some valve cover sticking but if it is cleaned the problem is solved.
Kenneth T.
It’s a very reliable vehicle as long as you maintain the vehicle and continually keep up with maintenance and check ups
Katie M.

Is The 2005 Mazda Tribute A Good Value?

I purchased the vehicle for $2,500 and I think that was a great value! The car that I got was in great shape, not much damage to exterior and not looking too bad on the inside.
Carolyn B.
Very good value for the car. For the dependability and gas mileage (almost 30 mpg for a small SUV), I paid 10 thousand for it and never regretted it.
Kenneth T.
I'm not sure about the cost of the Mazda Tribute as of today, but I know it is definitely worth the price. Have had it in the family almost fifteen years and is still doing great
Amber S.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2005 Mazda Tribute power steering fluid type?

Answer: The 2005 Mazda Tribute has a power steering fluid type of Dexron II. This is also known as ATF M-III fluid. It can be found at the majority of maSSRetail locations, including Wal-Mart or the automotive center...

What's the 2005 Mazda Tribute oil type?

Answer: The 2005 Mazda Tribute uses a synthetic 5W-20 motor oil; while You can get away with a conventional, You really oughtn't: The additional additives add to Your engine's longevity and performance. Additionally,...

What's the 2005 Mazda Tribute coolant type?

Answer: The 2005 Mazda Tribute is going to need to run on blue 50/50 coolant and antifreeze. Mazda does not make their own OEM version of this so You're going to want to go with a name brand like Prestone or Zerex. The...

How to put 2005 Mazda Tribute in 4wd?

Answer: Look on the gear shift. There is a button with AWD on it. Hit this and You will be in 4 wheel drive.

How do i reset the 2005 Mazda Tribute anti theft?

Answer: To reset the 2005 Mazda Tribute anti theft turn the key on, disconnect the battery, wait 1 min. With the key still on, reconnect the battery and then try to start.Anti-theft systems are designed to prevent Your...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety