The shock tower was completely rusted out on the drivers side rear. It is possible to see the tire. The rust began in gasoline entry area per the mechanic and then spread to the shock tower. This has also effected the threads on the tire. I believe these cars should be recalled immediately. This a dangerous issue. I should be reimbursed for repairs related to the rust totaling $1056. Does not include the need to replace the worn tires.

- Melvindale, MI, USA

Both rear wheel well housings, sub frame, main supports rusted out, car now cannot be driven. Broke when it was being driven, car sank down on passenger side, started making aloud pounding sound, it happened on a busy city street.

- Hyde Park, NY, USA

This Mazda Tribute has extensive and unrepairable rust to the body, understructure and suspension parts than makes it unsafe to drive. Structural integrity is compromised in the event of a collision, vehicle is prone to veer out of control due to missing suspension pieces and gas and exhaust fumes leak into the cabin due to rusted out and missing inner body panels.

- Nashville, TN, USA

Our 2005 Tribute model has the same rusting out of the right and left rear wheel wells that the 2001-2004 models of the Tribute have experienced. Those models were repaired under a recall, but this year's model and forward still have the same rusting out problem. Dealers for Mazda and Ford won't even look at this to repair it. Car is now basically undrivable. And from what I've found, mazdaworld.com says that most of these vehicle were actually manufactured in 2004 but dated to 2005 model year. But avoided the 2004 recall because of this I can find a kit on ebay to fix, but no dealers will do the work. There have been plenty of complaints, but no action on this known problem that has existed in prior model designs.

- Alton, IL, USA

Right rear shock tower rusted out, came apart from the vehicle while driving 40 mph

- Newark, DE, USA

Passenger rear wheel well completely rusted through leading to failure of the shock mount. Shock entering the vehicle cargo area through the body.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

Rear shock towers excessive rust.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

Passenger side wheel well including strut for top of shock absorber rusted causing a dangerous condition. In the 10 yrs I owned this car, no impending failure of that area was detected in all annual and other inspections.while driving in heavy truck traffic on I87 (pa) I heard a loud explosion, smelled burning rubber, and temporarily lost control of my vehicle. I maneuvered to the side of the highway, examined the rear passenger tire and was able to remove and bend pieces of metal that were rubbing on the tire. This is apparently a well-known problem with Tributes and Ford escapes (2001-?) and has been reported to those companies multiple times. I was able to cautiously proceed driving with vehicle to my destination. The car is unstable while making turns, especially if the road causes the right rear tire to bounce. None of the recall notices I received since buying this car in 2007 have ever mentioned right rear rust problems. If I had been notified of this impending dangerous condition I would have taken steps to prevent it. Does someone have to be seriously injured or killed before Mazda and Ford do the right thing to correct the obvious manufacturing defect in 2001-present (?) Tributes and escapes?

- Manhasset, NY, USA

Right (passenger) rear wheel well rusted out so that shock is exposed and unattached. Suspension affected to the extent that car is not safe to drive.

- St. Charles, MO, USA

On July 12, 2017 while driving my car to work I noticed several loud thumps coming from the back of my car. I stopped at the gas station to see where the noise was coming from and noticed that my right wear wheel well had rusted out. I walked over to the left side and noticed no erosion or rust. I took my car to the to a near body shop and the total to replace this would be over $2,000. I also searched on the web and found a website called aboutautomoble.com who had a list of 51 of the same complaints as mine.

- Evergreen Park, IL, USA

Rusted through body back right wheel causing shock to push through inside of car.

- River Falls, WI, USA

I heard a loud creaking/thud noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel area while driving over any size bump/depression on city streets and highways. Looking closer, I saw that it was because the metal around that particular shock mount had rusted and cracked, and the mount would flex inwards when the shock was compressed. The problem is only on that wheel, and it is a common issue with other vehicles of the same model, so it must be a design flaw.

- Olathe, KS, USA

Both rear wheel wells rusted out (passenger side much worse) causing shocks to come unmounted. Discovered by hearing thumping noise while driving.

- Batavia, 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

Passenger side inner rear wheel well rusted out and completely seperated shock from frame. I was driving along last week and suddenly started hearing a rattling sound. I pulled over to inspect only to find nothing in trunk. Took truck to mechanic only to be told the entire shock had seperated from frame. The other wheel well is rust free. This is a known problem in Mazda Tributes only recalled from 2001-2004, when Tributes from 2001-2006 have interchangeable parts and tons of people online in all forums are experiencing the same rust problem in the same locations all over the us.

- New Haven, CT, USA

Loud banging from rear of auto during drive, found that rear passanger side shock mount and housing completely rusted out. Cannot drive auto as its a safety problem as shock is not attached to anything

- Framingham, MA, USA

The right, rear wheel well is completely rusted through and looks like a major accident waiting to happen. The shock mount is connected to this portion of the frame and will more than likely shear off soon. Upon searching this issue, it appears that several other 2005 Mazda Tribute and Ford escape owners have experienced the same defect. Mazda/Ford recalled 2001-2004 models for the same problem, but has yet to address the problem for the 2005 model year. Based on the widespread nature of the problem, it is obvious that this a factory defect and should be recalled either willingly or unwillingly.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

Passenger side rear wheel well is extremely rusted out and caused rear shock mount to break causing vehicle to be unsafe to drive. Shock mount broke while driving normally on city streets. Determined extent of rust damage after this event. The driver side rear wheel well appears to be in much better shape. Researching if anything similar has occurred to other people uncovered for me that this issue is consistent with the 2001 to 2004 recall of Mazda Tributes and should be extended to the 2005 Mazda Tribute.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

I was driving on an icy road, heard a loud bang, followed by a loud thumping noise from rear of vehicle. It caused me to lose control and slide into a snow bank. The right rear shock had broken loose and broke through the inside of cargo floor. I needed the SUV for going to work and had to get it repaired at the cost of over $1000. I feel Mazda should reimburse me for the repair bill. The whole shock tower was rusted through.I still have a hole in the inside cargo floor.

- Rhinelander, WI, USA

The rear passenger side wheel well is completely rusted and the mount is loose attached to nothing. Noticed it while riding down a smooth street when I heard a loud thump. In that moment I thought I left my rear passenger door open. I was lucky I was ridding on the highway.

- Orland Park, IL, USA