Photo: Mazda
It's been only two months since Mazda called back 109,000 Tribute SUVs fitted with control arms prone to crack or even break. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced that 33,000 more Tributes from the 2008 - 2011 model years are due for a visit at dealership service departments.
This latest batch of vehicles are underpinned by the Ford developed CD2 platform, which was also shared between 2001 and 2012 with the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. According to the Japanese manufacturer, the problem lies with the steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input.
In some cases, the faulty component could even cut off the electric power steering assist. If that happens while you're hammering a corner at 50 miles per hour, you'd better be wearing your seat belt because you'll most likely end up head first into the nearest tree or roadside safety barrier. If power steering fails at that speed while cornering, only racecar driver reflexes can get you out of trouble.
Those 33k Mazda Tribute SUVs affected by the aforementioned glitch were built between October 5th, 2006 to September 11th, 2010. Both Mazda and the NHTSA are not aware of any accidents or injuries linked to the defective steering torque sensor. The fix consists of updating the power steering control module's software, as well as the instrument cluster module. Overly faulty modules will be replaced entirely at no charge for the customer.
If you own a Mazda Tribute and the steering wheel acted funny at least once, then contact Mazda for further info on the matter at 1-248-295-7859 and try not to drive the car until the recall operation commences in July.
In some cases, the faulty component could even cut off the electric power steering assist. If that happens while you're hammering a corner at 50 miles per hour, you'd better be wearing your seat belt because you'll most likely end up head first into the nearest tree or roadside safety barrier. If power steering fails at that speed while cornering, only racecar driver reflexes can get you out of trouble.
Those 33k Mazda Tribute SUVs affected by the aforementioned glitch were built between October 5th, 2006 to September 11th, 2010. Both Mazda and the NHTSA are not aware of any accidents or injuries linked to the defective steering torque sensor. The fix consists of updating the power steering control module's software, as well as the instrument cluster module. Overly faulty modules will be replaced entirely at no charge for the customer.
If you own a Mazda Tribute and the steering wheel acted funny at least once, then contact Mazda for further info on the matter at 1-248-295-7859 and try not to drive the car until the recall operation commences in July.
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