MAZDA NAVAJO · model year

1994 MAZDA NAVAJO

77 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994MAZDANAVAJO carries 77 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 NAVAJO is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 5 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (4) and structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1994 NAVAJO, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

77
Complaints
2
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

77 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
SUSPENSION:REAR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
TIRES2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY2

Recent Complaints

20090302FireVISIBILITY

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

Mileage: 65,000

20050809CrashWHEELS:RIM

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

20030123FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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

20010530TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND SAW THAT ONE OF THE TIRES HAD COME COMPLETLEY APART AND WAS IN SHREDS AROUND THE WHEEL, ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AND CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

20010228STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT

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

20010228STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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

20010228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

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

20010213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20010213SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

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

20010201POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUB FOR THE FRONT WHEELS DOWS NOT WORK. WHENEVER SWITCHING FROM 2-WD TO 4-WD HUBS FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WOULD NEED A NEW LOCKING HUB. GAVE NO INDICATION WHAT CAUSED PROBLEM. *AK

20001219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE IGNITION MODULE SWITCH IS FAILING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC

20001107VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE THROTTLE WAS DIRTY CAUSING THE PEDAL TO STICK AND THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. NLM

20001107POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. NLM

20001107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. NLM

20001025STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V310002 AND IS WAITING FOR DEALER TO RECEIVE PARTS. *SLC

20001024STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V310002 AND IS WAITING FOR DEALER TO RECEIVE PARTS. *SLC

20000905VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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.

20000822VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

20000809VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

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

20000804CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

Compare 1994MAZDANAVAJO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 MAZDA NAVAJO have?
The 1994 MAZDA NAVAJO has 77 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 MAZDA NAVAJO?
The most-complained component for the 1994 MAZDA NAVAJO is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT.
Is the 1994 MAZDA NAVAJO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.