I have a 2005 Mazda Tribute (rebadged Ford Escape) sitting on the driveway that’s not safe to drive anymore. This generation was notorious for rust issues, especially the rear wheel wells. I’d advise you to go over it with a fine tooth comb, including checking under the carpets where possible. You should also check the wheel bearings because it tends to eat them pretty quickly. Mine lost both rear wheel wells to rust and had to have a plate patched into the driver’s wheel well because there was a huge hole spraying water and causing various electrical issues. The floor under the front carpets is just a mess of rust. I kept it going a little longer and now there are malfunctioning relays clicking in the dash, the airbags are disabled, the rear defrost and wiper are dead, and it’s the rustiest POS I’ve ever seen. The shop I take it to has advised me not to have $100 repairs done because it was in such awful condition.
Mazda knew about the rust issues with this car for many years. There was a recall on the rear wheel wells up to 2004, which they declined to extend to later years despite it continuing for multiple generations. I will never buy another Mazda as long as I live.