Right rear frame has rusted out enough to cause brake and shock issues causing a perfectly good vehicle to become unsafe and dangerous for my family and others. The shock and brake line broke and the vehicle slid to a stop.

- Villa Ridge, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that there was rust accumulation on the rear passenger side wheel well. As a result, the contact experienced rough driving and heard banging noises coming from the rear passenger side wheel. The contact drove to an independent mechanic who informed her of the rust. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall; therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V174000 (structure: Frame and members), which was related to the 2001-2004 models. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- West St. Paul, MN, USA

The rear wheel well is extremely rusted to the point of the shock being loose. Their is a recall for 01-04 but doesn't appear to offer same recall although numerous complaints from other owners with same issue. My wife recently noticed car made a lot of noise lately from rear wheel. When I investigated it, I noticed large rust issues all over rear wheel area and shock barely holding to frame. My wife's car has been garaged all its life. We bought it new off the show room. Doesn't make sense to have so much rust and now a huge safety concern. Undercarriage was even cleaned throughout winter months. We can't drive vehicle because it might fall apart on road and the car could lose control.

- East Hartford, CT, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving 65 mph, the contact heard an abnormal banging/clacking noise and the vehicle swayed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (kings Ford Inc., 9555 kings auto mall rd, cincinnati, Ohio 45249) where it was diagnosed that the wheel well on the rear passenger side was rusted and referred the contact to a body shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and did not assist. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 157,000.

- Clarksville, OH, USA

This vehicle is owned by me but used by my son in Colorado. On a recent trip near moab, ut on the way to a camp site, my son heard a strange noise. Upon investigation he noted the frame in the right rear wheel well holding the upper end of the shock absorber had broken in two places from rust intrusion. An inspection of the left rear wheel well indicated minimal rusting. Since the tires were recently replaced this failure was a surprise as the mechanic didn't note excessive rust, cracking or signs of metal fatigue. When the incident occured my son was driving on a gravel road toward a designated campground just a short distance from a paved highway. Although the vehicle has 4 wheel drive, it was never used in a rough manner such as for 4 wheeling or on rough uneven surfaces. This was my personal vehicle until a year ago. We had just spent $1,500 for new tires, a carburator repair and a new windshield that a rock had cracked. It was our intent to own the vehicle a few years longer since it has only 135,000 and is in good condition. My son was able to safely return to steamboat, a 5 hour drive from moab, but was very concerned the entire shock would push through the wheel well causing the vehicle to list or drift resulting in loss of control or a rollover, I.e. serious injury or death. A local body shop refused to make repairs due to the extensive damage. To make the vehicle salvage based on its current value and condition is unthinkable, yet if repaid cannot be made at a reasonable cost, this may be our only choice. My research suggest the right rear wheel rust is fairly common in Tributes and escapes, yet no recall.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

I own a 2005 Tribute that has been kept in meticulous condition. Always garaged and taken to the dealership for maintenance. The vehicle runs like new with no signs of wear and tear, and has been a great car. That all changed when a few weeks ago I was driving about 40 mph down a residential street, and hit a small patch of bumps in the road (not potholes, just normal uneven pavement spots) and all of a sudden heard a jackhammer noise from the back of the car. The passenger side rear wheel well had completely disintegrated, leaving the wheel/suspension detached from the vehicle body/frame. Nothing was holding the suspension tower to the car. Had I been going faster or didn't stop right away this could have killed me. I have three small kids and I am so upset that such a dangerous condition is well-known. The way I found out was that I immediately went to the Ford/Mazda dealership when the noise happened. They took in the car and called me the next morning to say they wanted nothing to do with it because their corporate Ford/Mazda policy instructed them not to accept or work on vehicles with this defect. I'm shocked that Ford/Mazda would conceal such a dangerous known condition in their vehicles, putting thousands and thousands of people at risk without any warning. If I had received some kind of notification that the problem existed I would have gone to get it fixed right away at my own expense if needed, but instead I drove thousands of miles on the highway with my kids in the car ignorant to the fact that the car could have broken apart and caused us to crash without any warning.

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

While driving the vehicle at a speed of about 35 mph I felt what appeared to be a flat tire. After checking the tire, there was nothing obvious showing. At speeds about 55 mph the sensation of a flat tire ceased, however, as soon as I would slow down, it would return, along with a loud noise. I took the car in to Firestone tire. They discovered that the passenger side rear wheel well is completely rusted out. The strut housing is exposed and the wheel is at risk for literally separating from the vehicle. We were told that any small rear impact could cause the rear end of the vehicle to completely separate from the rest of the car. After having the vehicle checked by several different mechanics and body shops we were told that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and requires over $5800 in repairs. After contacting Mazda, they refuse to acknowledge this as a recall and the only off they made was for $1,500-$3,000 off the purchase of a brand new Mazda. We have cared for our vehicle impeccably. It only has 135,000 miles on it and has always had all maintenance performed. All other areas of the vehicle are in good condition. This is obviously an issue with the parts that were used on the assembly line during production. I find it very hard to believe that only one side in one area of the vehicle would rust out like this. Mazda should take responsibility for this before someone is seriously hurt or killed.

- Cottleville, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact heard an abnormal noise, while driving the vehicle. The contact stated upon inspection it was discovered that the rear tire well had disconnected. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician confirmed that the rear end tire well was detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,990. Updated 06/14/16 consumer stated the vehicle has been repaired updated 5/29/18

- Bellville, OH, USA

While driving, my passenger and I noticed a strange noise coming from the rear passenger wheel well. After inspecting it, we discovered that the entire wheel well was rusted out and that the suspension system was disconnected. Hence, the entire area is being cut out and rebuilt. After speaking with a representative from Mazda, my vehicle is out of any consideration of assistance from Mazda because of the age and mileage on the vehicle.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

The right rear strut tower has rusted causing the bracket to come loose from the body of the vehicle. I called a body shop to see if they could fix this and they knew the type of vehicle I have just based on the problem as it is so pervasive. In researching this it appears there is a defect in these Mazda and Ford escape models as it is a common finding.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. While driving at approximately 60 mph, there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the entire wheel well was rusted and needed to be re-welded and restructured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

- Woodbury, MN, USA

The car began making a loud banging noise from the right rear. Upon inspection by our mechanic it was diagnosed as a complete rusting through of the right rear well, causing the shock to no longer be attached to the frame. The shock was actually visible from the inside rear of the car. We were told the car was no longer safe to drive. Mazda was unwilling to do anything about the failure, in spite of my finding numerous other complaints related to the same failure on blogs. A frame shop had to install a new inner wheel house panel. Cost of the repair was $2000.

- West Olive, MI, USA

My Mazda 2005, has totally rusted out on the passenger back wheel well. The suspension is affected as well. The repairs are going to be very costly and I found out that the 01-04 models have done the same and there was a recall for the same exact issue. Mazda needs to extend the recall to include the 05 model as well. I am also filing a report with Mazda.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

I purchased my 2005 Mazda Tribute brand new from martin Mazda, located in newark, de. My vehicle has never been in an accident and I just drive it back and forth to work. In January I started hearing a loud noise in the rear of my vehicle which started to get louder and louder. It sounded like something in the rear of the vehicle was bouncing/rattling around. On February 10, 2015 I took my car to nucar Mazda in new castle who has serviced my vehicle since 2005. [xxx], Mazda service advisor informed me that the right rear subframe and wheelwell had rusted away and that it was unsafe for me to drive. The brake line had started to rust, as well. The shock attached T the vehicle had rusted away, as well. He explained that the rear could collapse. I contacted Mazda headquarters and they said that due to the way that Delaware salts their roads is why this rust occurred only on the right side. A family member suggested that I get an estimate from a body shop. Northeast body shop was able to repair all of the parts that had rusted out at a cost of $2,710. [xxx], owner stated that this rusting out was due to the undercoating was not covering the parts that rusted out. He provided me with the entire piece that had to be replaced and you can clearly see what the problem is. I feel that Mazda should take some responsibility for this defect on my vehicle. I believed in Mazda and I am very upset that I was driving an unsafe vehicle for this period of time. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Newark, DE, USA

After hearing rattling from the rear passenger-side when going over potholes, I took my car in for shock/struts. I was told that the noise was not my shocks, but that the wheel well was rusted out. The shocks were ok, but there was nothing to attach them to. I was further told by the mechanic that he had never seen corrosion this bad on a 10yr old car with 50,000 miles. Advice was to find a body shop to fabricate a part. I've read that this is occurring with lots of Mazda Tributes and Ford escape in different years. So why isn't Mazda/Ford making these repairs. This is a defect. I should have gotten a Honda: Something I trust.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

The right back side by the tired the chassis is all rust it and the shock is loose I can move it with my hands and the left side is about to get like the other side.

- Erie, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact discovered that passenger's rear wheel housing had completely rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

- Norton , OH, USA

While driving on the highway I began to notice a loud banging coming from the back of the car. After inspecting the rear door to verify the sound was not an open door, I found that the underside of the car, specifically the rear right axle, was rusted and deteriorating. Upon further inspection I found that the shock mount had rusted, a problem that will soon cause problems for the wheel mount. There are a multitude of complaints online, all pointing out that this is a factory issue, and all Mazda Tributes and Ford escapes in this year range have this exact problem. This is an issue that must be fixed in the next week or else I will not be able to drive my car- a car I have owned for less than a year.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out such that the suspension is now protruding into the interior of the vehicle. This was discovered when regular rattling from the area progressed into loud bangs with each bump. The mechanic who discovered stated that the rust was abnormal, even for the geographic area, and that none of the other wheel wells exhibited any signs of rusting. He stated it was no longer safe to drive the vehicle and that this condition was most likely the result of some sort of manufacturing defect (as opposed to regular and expected oxidation).

- Mishawaka, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that the passenger's side rear wheel well and shocks were corroded due to corrosion, which also became fractured. The vehicle could not be driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for further inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage were 121,000.

- Darien , IL, USA