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1994 Mazda Protege

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Protege.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Mazda Protege is a passenger car equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission and rated at 21/29/24 mpg (city/highway/combined). Owner feedback shows 88 total complaints, with seat belts the leading issue and a single recall recorded for the year. Within the 1990‑2006 complaint timeline, this figure sits between the low of 41 complaints in 1990 and the high of 206 complaints in 1995, positioning the 1994 model as moderately reliable in the Protege’s history.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy21/29/24 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	171.7 in
Overall width	66.1 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	98.4 in
Curb weight	2326 lb
Track (front / rear)	56.3 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 29 / 24 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	92 cu ft
Cargo volume	13 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Protege of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.80 sec — 1991 Protegé LX Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1991	Protegé LX Sedan 1.8L I-4	8.80 sec	16.50 sec	103 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.4 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	DEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi.

Every 5,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Fasteners (torque) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 90,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 1994 the Protege recorded 88 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation and 20 TSBs, which exceeds the 1993 totals of 61 complaints, 1 recall and 19 TSBs but is far below the 1995 spike of 206 complaints and 5 recalls. The complaint count rises steadily from 1990 through 1994, positioning 1994 at the upper end of a gradual increase before the sharp 1995 peak. The model’s single recall aligns with earlier years, yet the top complaint category — seat belts with 37 reports — signals a notable safety‑related issue, though the data does not specify its root cause. Compared with the immediate predecessor and successor, 1994’s complaint volume is higher than 1993’s but markedly lower than 1995’s, while its recall frequency remains unchanged. Therefore, for a used‑car purchase, the 1994 Mazda Protege is not the optimal year to target.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 2 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93’94’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 88 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts37

Power Train9

Fuel System, Gasoline6

Engine & Engine Cooling5

Electrical System4

Structure4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Seats3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V674000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 19/10/2015

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 20 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
00-003-19-3583	2019-03-20	Engine And Engine Cooling	In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose…
09-009-19-3566	2019-01-14	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430a	2018-10-10	Vehicle Speed Control	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430	2018-08-31	Vehicle Speed Control	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-035-17-3080	2017-08-07	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Protege. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1994 Protege have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Protege get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined mpg.