1994 Mazda Navajo

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Mazda Navajo, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	11	15%
Visibility	8	11%
Structure	8	11%
Vehicle speed control	7	9%
Power train	6	8%
Suspension	6	8%
Tires	5	7%
Engine and engine cooling	3	4%
Wheels	2	3%
Fuel system	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

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 VEHI
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

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 WILD
NHTSA complaint: Tires

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
NHTSA complaint: Steering

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 PULLE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

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 IND
NHTSA complaint: Power train

THE IGNITION MODULE SWITCH IS FAILING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1994 Mazda Navajo. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Tires:tread/belt 00T005000

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 T

Risk: IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

Fix: 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.

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut 99V310002

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET WELDS COULD FRACTURE.

Risk: WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDER BALL STUD TO DISENGAGE, UNEXPECTEDLY ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL FROM AN

Fix: 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.

Service brakes 96V024002

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.

Risk: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM FUL

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.

Parking brake:conventional 94V169002

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.

Risk: WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.

Fix: 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 W

The seven scores

Reliability raw	87	excellent
Longevity est.	84	excellent
Maintenance	71	good
Depreciation	62	average
Performance	65	good
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 55% of other
Longevity: better than 91% of other
Running costs: better than 46% of other
Value retention: better than 53% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 84: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 71: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1994 Mazda Navajo?

Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 11 of them (15%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1994 Mazda Navajo reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1994 Mazda Navajo last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 Mazda Navajo?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.