2003 Mazda Tribute Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/14/2026

30Air Bags complaints

15.1%Of all 199 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS30 · 15.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL23 · 11.6%

STRUCTURE:BODY18 · 9%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING16 · 8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 6%

Share of the 199 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Mazda Tribute overview page.

What owners report

“THE AIRBAG ALERT LIGHT COMES ON ONCE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT FLASHES UP TO SIX FLASHES AND THEN REMAINS ON IN A STEADY MANNER.”NHTSA complaint 10555177 — filed 12/07/2013

“SHORTLY AFTER STARTING MY MAZDA 2003 TRIBUTE ON 10-10-2013 AT APPROXIMATELY:30 PM, AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE OF TRAVELING,MY AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH…”NHTSA complaint 10547843 — filed 10/14/2013

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 10511224 — filed 05/09/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Mazda Tribute have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2003 Mazda Tribute: 30 of 199 complaints on file (15.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Mazda Tribute have in total?

199 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 17 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.