RoadVitals

1994 Mazda Protege Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
74
Latest Oct 24, 2017
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 17, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 74 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Mazda Protege. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 74 · page 1 of 3

Seat belts
Filed Oct 24, 2017

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
Seat belts
Filed Aug 28, 2017

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 belts
Filed Oct 14, 2012

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
Seat belts
Filed Apr 10, 2012

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
Seat belts
Filed Mar 23, 2007

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
Seat belts
Filed Mar 9, 2007

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
Seat belts
Filed Mar 30, 2006

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
Seat belts
Filed Mar 3, 2006

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
Seat belts
Filed Oct 14, 2004

I HAVE A 1994 MAZDA PROTEGE LX WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT UPON OPENING THE DOOR. ON TOP OF THIS BEING A VERY ANNOYING DEVELOPMENT, IT ALSO CREATES AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IF I'M INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND AM TRYING TO EXIT THE CAR. THERE IS AN EMERGENCY RELEASE, BUT IF I WERE UNABLE TO REACH IT DUE TO INJURY OR OTHERWISE, I COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR. MY CAR IS JUST ONE OF MANY OF THIS MANUFACTURE AND MODEL THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE DATE THAT MY BELTS BEGAN FAILING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10095766
Incident
Sep 9, 2004
Seat belts
Filed Jan 14, 2004

PASSENGER SIDE ACTIVE SHOULDER BELT SEAT BELT MECHANISM WORKS INTERMITTENLY WHEN OPENING DOOR. DRIVERS SIDE HAS NOT WORKED WHEN DOOR IS OPENED ON A FEW OCCASIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10053144
Incident
Dec 27, 2003
Mileage
239,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 6, 2003

CANNOT UNLOCK BACK DOORS WHEN WEATHER IS COLD. ALSO BECOME STUCK IN WARM WEATHER. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER 4 TIME THE DOORS WOULD WORK FINE FOR A FEW DAY THEN BECOME JAMMED AGAIN. I GAVE UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10037333
Incident
Dec 11, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Aug 26, 2003

BOTH FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. THE RESTRAINTS DO NOT RETRACT. I HAVE HAD THEM FIXED AT LEAST 3 TO 4 TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10036608
Incident
Feb 26, 1996
Mileage
95,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 24, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT FEEL SNUG ENOUGH AND THE FASTEN SEAT BELT INDICATOR CONSTANTLY BEEPS. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO ADVISED THE "CENTER CONSOLE RETRACTOR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY" IS DEFECTIVE. NLM

NHTSA ID
8019345
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 13, 2002

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT COLLAPSED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED FORCEFULLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016151
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Aug 13, 2002

WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016150
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Sep 6, 2001

DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER STRAP IS BROKEN. IT MOVES ON A MOTORIZED TRACK AND THE MOTOR DOESN'T WORK SO THE STRAP IS STUCK MORE THAN HALF WAY TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. MAZDA WON'T FIX IT WITHOUT PAYMENT BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE IS BEYOND EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE. THEY WANT $720.00 TO FIX THE SHOULDER STRAP, $590.00 JUST FOR A NEW MOTOR. I HAVE A FIX-IT TICKET ON THIS STRAP AND CANNOT AFFORED TO PAY THEIR PRICE TO HAVE A SHOULDER STRAP THAT MOVES UP AND DOWN AS I OPEN AND CLOSE MY CAR DOOR. THE LANCASTER MAZDA SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THAT THE 1993 MAZDA'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MINE IS A 1994 SO DOESN'T FALL UNDER A RECALL. I COULD USE SOME HELP WITH THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID
751786
Seat belts
Filed Dec 15, 2000

ACTIVE SHOULDER BELT SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILS TO MOVE WHEN OPENING DOOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
737845
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Nov 21, 2000

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS WILL ONLY ROLL BACK ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY THEN STOPS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME IN DESCRIPTION AS THAT OF A RECALL (CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V211000 ON THE MAZDA 323 BUILT THAT SAME YEAR. THE SEAT BELT MOTOR AND TRACK ASSEMBLY COSTS $600 AT THE DEALER WHICH SEEMS TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS. I AM FILING THIS REPORT IN THE HOPE THAT MY CAR YEAR AND MODEL COULD BE ADDED TO THAT RECALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
736677
Incident
Nov 15, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Oct 11, 2000

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RETRAINT IS GETTING STUCK AND WHEN GETTING IN OR OUT I GET HIT IN THE HEAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
734038
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Oct 10, 2000

THE SEAT BELTS ON THE MAZDA PROTOGE IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE MAZDA DEALER WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR. AND IF THERE WAS RECALL ON IT BEFORE.

NHTSA ID
733901
Incident
Jul 12, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Jun 6, 2000

SEATBELT LIGHT AND AUDIO SIGNAL ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING ALTHOUGH SEATBELT IS FASTENED. *AK

NHTSA ID
723642
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 22, 2000

BOTH RUBBER CV B00TS WERE BROKEN, AND BOTH SIDES OF FRONT AXLE PRACTICALLY SHEARED OFF. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
859050
Incident
Mar 21, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Mar 20, 2000

MOTOR SEAT BELTS ON BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE FAILED TO OPERATE WITHIN 31,000 MILES OF WEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
858866
Incident
Aug 15, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Mar 16, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES AND BEEPS, BUT WHEN LEANING FORWARD IT SHUTS OFF. WAS IN A REARENDED ACCIDENT ON 3-15-2000, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE. ALSO, WHEN OPENING THE DOOR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE OR SLIDE FORWARD. WILL HAVE TO MANUALLY RELEASE IT IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE SEAT BELT WILL AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE, SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
858651
Incident
Jun 15, 1996
Filed Feb 22, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
719095
Incident
Jul 1, 1999

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.

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