ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1994 Mazda Protege
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 74 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Mazda Protege, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 19 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 2 | 3 |
| Mar 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| May 1995 | 4 | 9 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 1995 | 2 | 12 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 13 |
| Nov 1995 | 4 | 17 |
| Dec 1995 | 2 | 19 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 20 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 22 |
| Jul 1996 | 2 | 24 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 25 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 26 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 27 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 28 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 29 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 30 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 31 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 32 |
| Nov 1998 | 2 | 34 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 35 |
| Jan 1999 | 4 | 39 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 40 |
| Mar 1999 | 2 | 42 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 43 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 44 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 45 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 46 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 47 |
| Feb 2000 | 3 | 50 |
| Mar 2000 | 3 | 53 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 54 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 56 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 57 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 58 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 59 |
| Aug 2002 | 2 | 61 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 62 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 63 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 64 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 65 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 66 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 68 |
| Mar 2007 | 2 | 70 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 71 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 72 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 73 |
| Oct 2017 | 1 | 74 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Seat belts3745.7%
- Engine67.4%
- Electrical56.2%
- Transmission44.9%
- Body & structure44.9%
- Fuel system44.9%
- Interior & seats44.9%
- Powertrain (other)44.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSafety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE DID NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY WHEN VEHICLE WAS OFF AND DOOR WAS OPENED. SEAT BELT ONLY RETRACTED 1/3 OF THE WAY AND STAYS THERE. SEAT BELT STILL RETRACTS BACK TO SHOULDER POSITION WHEN KEY IS TURNED.
- NHTSA ID
- 11039477
- Incident
- Oct 22, 2017
- Mileage
- 93,000 mi
THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM HAS FAILED. HAD TO UNPLUG BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT MOTORS, BECAUSE THE SEATBELT LOCK WOULDN'T STOP TRYING TO MOVE WHILE IN DRIVE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11020193
- Incident
- Jul 23, 2017
SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN CLOSING DOOR. APPEARS THAT SOME SORT OF CABLE IS JAMMED SO THAT SEAT BELT NO LONGER WORKS CORRECTLY. OPENED AND CLOSED DOOR SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY AND REMEDY ISSUE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. REPLACED SEAT BELT FUSE BUT THAT FAILED TO RESOLVE ISSUE. SEAT BELT IS NOW STUCK IN THE "VEHICLE OFF" POSITION AT ALL TIMES. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10480043
- Incident
- Oct 14, 2012
- Mileage
- 170,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT, WHICH MAY CAUSE IMPROPER RESTRAINT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10454696
- Incident
- Apr 10, 2012
- Mileage
- 171,000 mi
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED ON 1994 MAZDA PROTEGE. COST TO REPLACED OVER $1000.00. MAZDA RECALLED THE SAME PROBLEM ON 1994 323. THE 323 AND PROTEGE ARE THE SAME IN BODY STYLE AND DESIGN.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10185989
- Incident
- Mar 22, 2007
- Mileage
- 75,000 mi
I HAVE A /94 MAZDA PROTEGE, IT HAS THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN # 97V211000. I CONTACTED MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN NUMBER. IT HAS ALL OF THE DESCRIBED SYMPTOMS. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE AUTOMATIC RETRACTION MECHANISM. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE? *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10184637
- Incident
- Jun 14, 2006
- Mileage
- 95,000 mi
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT FAILURE IN ALL THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SEATBELTS WOULD NOT LOCK IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND A SERVICE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THEM NOT REMAINING LOCKED DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING.
- NHTSA ID
- 10154208
- Incident
- Feb 12, 2006
- Mileage
- 40,000 mi
ISSUE WITH SEAT BELTS IN 1994 MAZDA PROTEGE LX. AT TIMES, FRONT SEAT BELTS CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN WHEN FOOT IS LIFTED FROM BRAKE PEDAL AFTER A SUDDEN STOP. IT GETS SO TIGHT THAT BELT HAS TO BE UNBUCKLED. IT IS A SCARY SITUATION AND NOT VERY SAFE. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10151689
- Incident
- Dec 17, 2005
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be revised gradually.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometerand related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the ?SpeedometerReplacement Label?.Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda?s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service.With the use of SPECMO?s services, a Mazda dealer can get the odometer setting updated to reflect the correct mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs, therefore resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Speedometer replacement procedure
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.