FaultScore

1994 Mazda Protege seat belt problems

38 of the 89 complaints about the 1994 Mazda Protege are about the seat belts — 43% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,000 miles.

F

38

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seat Belts 22 57.9%
Retractor 4 10.5%
Webbing 4 10.5%
Anchorage 3 7.9%
Buckle Assembly 2 5.3%
Front 2 5.3%
Warning Light/Devices 1 2.6%

Seat Belts across every Mazda Protege year

1990 22 11.0%
1991 28 14.0%
1992 34 17.0%
1993 26 13.0%
1994 38 19.0%
1995 14 7.0%
2002 21 10.5%
2003 17 8.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 93,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

SEAT BELTS

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 complaint #11039477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cartersville, GA

SEAT BELTS

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 complaint #11020193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Meridian, ID

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10480043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 171,000 miles Elkgrove, CA

SEAT BELTS

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 complaint #10454696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Vienna, WV

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10185989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Boise, ID

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

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?

NHTSA complaint #10184637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

SEAT BELTS

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 complaint #10154208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westerville, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10151689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frisco, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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.

NHTSA complaint #10095766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 239,000 miles Ceres, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10053144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Hermiston, OR

SEAT BELTS

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 complaint #10036608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethel, CT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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 complaint #8019345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

SEAT BELTS

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

NHTSA complaint #8016150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palmdale, CA

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #751786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menlo Park, CA

SEAT BELTS

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

NHTSA complaint #737845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norman, OK

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #736677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OKC, OK

SEAT BELTS

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 complaint #733901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainview, NY

SEAT BELTS

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

NHTSA complaint #734038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Shore, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

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

NHTSA complaint #723642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Paso, TX

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #858866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

N. Ogden, UT Crash

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #858651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burnsville, MN

SEAT BELTS

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION OR OPENING DOOR SEATBELT TRACKING WILL STOP BEFORE IT CONNECTS.

NHTSA complaint #849513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Berryville, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT TO ALLOW DRIVER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT A SHOULDER RESTRAINT, RECALL ISSUED BUT VEHICLE NOT COVER DUE TO MANUFACTURING DATE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #547703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, SAFETY LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND SEAT BELT BEEPER IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #706697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gibbon, NE

SEAT BELTS

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LODGED HALF-WAY BACK AS CONSUMER WAS GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENTKY, THE MOTOR BROKE, THE CABLE CAME OUT OF THE TRACK. CURRENTLY, THE LATCH IS LODGED ND CANNOT BE MOVED IN APOSITION THA TCONSUMER CAN USE SHOULDER BELT.

NHTSA complaint #834803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gibbon, NE

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT LODGED HALF-WAY BACK AS CONSUMER WAS GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENTKY, THE MOTOR BROKE, THE CABLE CAME OUT OF THE TRACK. CURRENTLY, THE LATCH IS LODGED ND CANNOT BE MOVED IN APOSITION THA TCONSUMER CAN USE SHOULDER BELT.

NHTSA complaint #834803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green BAY, WI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DRIVER SIDE REPAIRED TWICE,PASSENGER SIDE NOT REPAIRED

NHTSA complaint #704582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermiston, OR

SEAT BELTS

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR HAS STOPPED WORKING TWO TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #833735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, WA

SEAT BELTS

WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND VEHICLE IS STOPPED, DRIVER'S MOTORIZED SEAT BELT WILL OPEN AND SHUT ITSELF INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, AND THE DOOR IS OPENED ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT OPEN.

NHTSA complaint #781807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

AFTER PRESSING THE EMERGENCY RELEASE BUTTON ON DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT, THE BELT WILL NOT INSERT INTO THE LATCH. MECHANISM IN LATCH IS BROKEN AND ENTIRE LATCH MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #701876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Mazda Protege problems

← Full 1994 Mazda Protege report