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.
The worst 1994 Mazda Protege problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Seat belts37
- Transmission7
- Engine6
- Electrical5
- Body4
- Fuel system4
- Brakes3
- Seats3
- Suspension3
- Steering2
- Acceleration1
- Airbags1
- Locks1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1994 Mazda Protege
Recalls 1
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
- Risk
- If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1‑800‑222‑5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
Recall number 15V674000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1994 Mazda Protege
Defect investigations
Auto restraint system fail
There is no summary currently available
EA94039
Technical service bulletins for the 1994 Mazda Protege 19
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak...
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- Speedometer replacement procedure
- In accordance with federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a...
- Battery test procedure requirements
- Speedometer replacement procedure
- Experiencing popping noise from front brake caliper during slow speed braking
- Subject on passive seat belt retractor switch
- Conditions with steering wheel slightly off center
1994 Mazda Protege fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20-24 | 26-33 | 22-27 |
What 1994 Mazda Protege owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a /94 mazda protege, it has the problems described in the federal safety agency 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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Compare the 1994 Mazda Protege
Other model years
Questions about the 1994 Mazda Protege
Is the 1994 Mazda Protege reliable?
Owners have filed 74 complaints about the 1994 Mazda Protege, fewer than a typical Protege model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1994 Mazda Protege?
Seat belts, with 37 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles. Next is transmission (7).
How many recalls does the 1994 Mazda Protege have?
1 recall, covering electrical system.
What year does the Mazda Protege have the most seat belts problems?
The Mazda Protege model years with the most seat belts complaints are 1994 (37 complaints), 1992 (34 complaints) and 1991 (27 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1994 Mazda Protege get?
Official estimates for the 1994 Mazda Protege range from 22 to 27 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.8L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20-24 city and 26-33 highway.
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