1994 Mazda Navajo: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 49 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (17% of complaints); the 1992 and 1993 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2000
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Started vehicle snowy day turned on the defroster - smoke started coming in through heating and defrost vents, smelled like pine needles. Turned car off smoke proceeded to get worse - called fire dept. Suv was then on fire, suv is completely totaled - from reading other incidents I really think this a fault where debris gets in the fan compartment and catches on fire - some type of notice should be sent to people with navajo mazdas and ford rangers/explorers that have this type of fan compartment.*tr”Owner report · Visibility · Mar 2009
“While driving at 65mph and without warning the vehicle will stall and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer diagnosed the problem as fuel pump and crank sensor failure. Ts”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2003
“Consumer's mazda suv was involved in an accident as a result of faulty work performed on the vehicle by technicians at pep boys.*mr the consumer purchased rims from a local retailer, however when he returned to the vehicle he noticed all 4 of the rims had stains, rust/ blemishes. The consumer believed the local mechanic shop destroyed his transmission and the ignition.*jb”Owner report · Wheels · Apr 2002
Show 7 more owner reports
“Pulley was defective and redesigned. Owners should be notified that pulley can disentegrate causing belt to break resulting in loss of power steering, overheating, and battery charging. The company redesinged the pulley so they know they had a problem, but the consumer is at risk. It also cost $165.00 parts and labor to fix. If it was a design problem, I think I should be reimbursed for the failure. Fortunately, I was stopped at the time the belt separated. I would hate to have lost my steering at 70 mph.*ak”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2001
“Serpentine belt idler pulley is defective. When bearings went, it would cause belt to overheat and then snap. Would lose power steering control. Steering would go into a hard manual steering instead. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2001
“While driving on highway vehicle started to accelerate very fast on its own. Accelerator pedal was pressed down while the consumer was pressing the brake pedal to make the vehicle to stop. Vehicle drove about 3 miles when consumer had a chance to place vehicle in neutral which eventually stopped vehicle. Dealer has advised consumer that the accelerator pedal's cable had binded and freid (wear and tear) which caused problem. *ak”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2000
“On aug 7, 2000 I was on route 17, when I entered the highway, my gas pedal jammed and started excelerating very quickly, I was driving at 85 miles per hour, within seconds of entering the highway. Thank god, I was capable, to handle the situation and was able to get off the road safely! I contacted mazda corp to inform them of this. There reply was my car is no longer under warrenty and there are no recalls for my vehcile. The mechanic who fixed my vehcile said is was because my throttle was dirty. This situation is very dangerous my gas peddal becoming jammed like that so easily I feel there is something wrong with this vehcile because that should not happen.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2000
“The cruise control system will not shut off when you apply the brakes to slow down. You can slow the car, by braking, by 15-20 mph and the system continues to accelerate. The only way to shut off the cruise control is to hit the off switch on the steering wheel. This could lead to uncontrolled speed and possible crash.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 2000
“Vehicle ABS light stayed on and caused ABS system to disengage. Vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, and dealer is still unable to locate the problem. Please feel free to provide any further details.*ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jul 2000
“Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 55mph on the highway and heard a thumping noise. She pulled over and noticed that right passenger's tire tread had separated from rim. *ak”Owner report · Tires · May 2000
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF-ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET.
Remedy: A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER TOOTH SKIP OCCURS AND WILL BE REMINDED TO ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET WELDS COULD FRACTURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL LIFTGATE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS. DEPENDING UPON THE CONDITION OF THE LIFTGATE SHEET METAL IN THE AREA OF THE BRACKET, DEALERS MAY ALSO INSTALL A LARGER REINFORCEMENT.
THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.
TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1994 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Navajo by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1994 Mazda Navajo reliable?
NHTSA has 49 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1994 Mazda Navajo. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (17% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1994 Mazda Navajo problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 1994 Mazda Navajo have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning parking brake:conventional. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.