MazdaTribute2001Overview/mazda/tribute/2001/base/

2001 Mazda Tribute

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Tribute.

Body SUV

The 2001 Mazda Tribute arrives as a compact SUV that marks the peak of owner-reported issues across the model's 2000–2011 run, logging 581 complaints — the highest single-year total in the dataset — with Engine & Engine Cooling leading the categories and 15 recalls recorded. That volume stands in sharp contrast to the 2007 model year, which drew just four complaints, underscoring how unusually trouble-prone this debut year proved relative to later iterations. For a researcher, the 2001 Tribute therefore sits as the reliability nadir of the lineage, a data point that frames any assessment of the model's durability around a distinctly problematic launch.

Model year201120102009200820062005200420032001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque84-114 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 40R · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter AJTM14302. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 40R · 590 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterAJTM14302 alt YF0914302A
Engine air filterYF0913Z40
Fuel filterAJ0313480
Spark plugGY0118110 alt YF1018110
Battery0000806540WB
Front wiper bladesEC0167330B
Serpentine beltAJ0318381 alt ZZP018381C
ThermostatGY0115171 alt YF0915171

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length173.2 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight3091 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 59.8 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Tribute of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.2–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 2001 LX V-6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2001LX V-6 3.0L V68.20 sec16.40 sec200 hpAWD
2001ES V-6 3.0L V68.40 sec16.70 sec200 hpAWD
2001ES V-6 3.0L V68.70 sec16.40 sec200 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 84-114 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts84-114 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug12.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug8.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 850, AT: 740 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)MT: 50, AT: 10 rpm
Spark Plug Gap0.049-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.055 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number40R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature194-201 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-65

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle111 ft-lbs
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.945 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.945 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.866 in
Drum Nominal Diameter9 in
Drum Discard at-or-over9.06

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
130 ft.lbs30 ft.lbs
290 degrees.90 degrees
3Loosen 1 turn.
430 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
590 degrees.90 degrees
690 degrees.90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · PCV Valve (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2001 Mazda Tribute represents a significant surge in federal records compared to the 2000 model year, which saw only 5 complaints and 0 recalls. Across the generation's record, 2001 is the worst-performing year, reaching a peak of 581 complaints, 15 recalls, 10 investigations, and 183 TSBs. While these figures generally trended downward in subsequent years—such as 2002 with 389 complaints and 9 recalls—the 2001 model remains the outlier for instability. The most frequent issues for the target year occurred in Engine & Engine Cooling (132), the Electrical System (56), and Power Train (54), although the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Additionally, the 2001 model recorded 21 crash complaints and 13 fire complaints. Given that this year marks the absolute peak of recalls and complaints for the entire production run, it is not a recommended year to buy.

15
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
183
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
10
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
581
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 13 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 581 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling132
Electrical System56
Power Train54
Latches/Locks/Linkages39
Vehicle Speed Control26
Structure25
Service Brakes, Hydraulic25
Fuel System, Gasoline23

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 15 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15E045000Suspension:Front:Wheel BearingReported 03/06/2015

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda… Remedy: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer…

14V174000Structure:Frame And MembersReported 04/04/2014

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 29, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 183 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
09-038-242024-08-08Electrical SystemIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
SA-011-24b2024-07-29Unknown Or OtherMazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all…
SA-011-24a2024-06-07Unknown Or OtherMazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all…
SA-011-242024-02-12SteeringMazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all…
09-016-232023-02-28Electrical SystemSpeedometer replacement procedure

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tribute. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2001 Tribute have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.