Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
19–27 mpgcombined; city 17–28, highway 21–27; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,030–$17,100U.S. average; Ohio $10,750–$15,280 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2006 Tribute, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Tribute. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Vehicle speed control
49
4
0
1
Power train
18
0
0
0
Engine
17
2
1
1
Structure
13
0
0
0
Suspension
12
0
0
0
Electrical system
10
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
9
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
7
0
0
0
Air bags
6
2
0
2
Engine and engine cooling
5
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
5
0
0
0
Service brakes
5
2
0
1
10 more parts
Tires
5
0
0
0
Unknown or other
5
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
4
1
0
0
Wheels
4
0
0
0
Seat belts
3
0
0
0
Steering
3
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Tribute over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Engine and engine cooling; Vehicle speed control: cables
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2006, and 2008, Tribute vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Risk: A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. Remedy parts are now available. The safety recall began on September 13, 2012. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-5500, option #6.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.
Risk: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TEETH TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 107 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Tribute, the latest on Aug 20, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (41), electrical system (26), steering (13), engine and engine cooling (12), power train (11).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Tribute.
EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Tribute Front-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 27 / 23
Tribute Front-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 23 / 21
Tribute 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 24 / 21
Tribute Front-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 23 / 20
Tribute 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 22 / 20
Tribute 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 21 / 19
Tribute Hybrid 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
28 / 26 / 27
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data