1994 Mazda B-Series Truck Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe fuel leaks around the filler neck and front fuel lines, and brake problems involving the rear ABS and hydraulic parts. Many complaints come from long-term or high-mileage trucks, and several describe fuel or brake trouble that appeared gradually and was noted during refueling or routine driving. A smaller but recurring theme is a sticking accelerator or speed-control cable, and another is cracked sidewalls or tread separation on original-equipment tires.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks from filler neck and front fuel lines

   • 19 complaints (16%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 1998–2012

   Owners describe gasoline spilling on the ground while refueling, a strong fuel smell around the truck, and in some cases fuel leaking while driving. Several say a shop found the filler hose or front fuel line cracked or fractured and replaced it; more than one owner reports the same hose failing again after a prior repair. Some owners who checked recall 94V111002 were told by the dealer or manufacturer that their vehicle was not covered. Reported across a wide mileage span, from about 10,000 to over 300,000 miles, often noticed during refueling or from a fuel odor.

   Recall 94V111002

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel filler hose and front fuel lines have been replaced, and inspect them for cracks. Fill the tank during a test drive and watch the filler neck and the ground underneath for seepage or odor.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have replaced the fuel assembly twice on my 1994 Mazda b-3000 due to leaking fuel and paid $400.00 each occurence since I purchased the truck from the dealer. I took note of recall number 94v111002 and Mazda states my VIN number does not match. My truck specifications match as much as I can tell and I would appreciate a detailed explanation. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078600, filed 2004-06, 76,000 miles

   “The filler tube going to the gas tank ruptured. When I filled the tank, gas spilled on the ground. Fumes are always around the truck. I paid to have this tube replaced. The truck had 53 k miles. Now it has done the same thing at 74 k miles. I think that this is a very dangerous condition and is costly to keep repairing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10255238, filed 2009-01, 53,906 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rear ABS grabbing or locking; brake pedal and booster

   • 15 complaints (12%)
   • median 100,562 mi at 10.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2009

   Complaints describe rear wheels that lock up or grab under light braking, especially in wet or icy conditions, and an ABS and brake warning light coming on while driving. Some owners say the pedal went to the floor or that braking distance increased, and shops sometimes replaced the ABS hydraulic control valve or brake lines. Others describe the master cylinder separating from the vacuum booster when its mounting studs broke, and one report mentions the studs rusting through. Mostly reported on older, higher-mileage trucks; several describe the symptom as present for years and worsening over time.

   Recall 96V024002

   What to check: Ask for brake service records and whether the master cylinder-to-booster studs were inspected or replaced. Test braking on a wet or loose surface and watch for rear-wheel lockup or a brake warning light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My truck a 1994 Mazda b-4000 4x4 lost brakes at 40 to 45 MPH. I eneded up ditching the truck to avoid hitting a schoolbus that was letting off childeren a stop. My mechanic told me that this is a common problem with ford and Mazda. The problem was where the rubber brake line and steal brakeline come together blew apart. The result is a complete loss of brakes”

   NHTSA complaint #10056870, filed 2004-02, 82,000 miles

   “During a trip from home to store, the dash lights for the ABS and brake system came on without any prior warning. Another driver made a u-turn in front of me prior to my arrival at the store causing me to have to apply the brakes in an evasive manuever. The brakes l,ocked up and caused me to lose control of the vehicle. Fortunately, I was able to avoid the collision. I took the vehicle to a local repair shop and they informed me that the ABS hydraulic control valve needed to be replace. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093435, filed 2004-10, 91,125 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Sidewall cracks and tread separation on original tires

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • median 260,000 mi at 21.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe cracked sidewalls, tread separating from the casing, and tires that went flat or came apart at highway speed on the tires the truck was delivered with. Several mention the Firestone ATX line and recall 00T005, and a few say they were not reimbursed or that the tires cracked again after replacement. Others report vibration and uneven wear. Mostly reported on original-equipment tires at the time of the Firestone recall, with some later reports on replacement tires at high mileage.

   What to check: Check the tire date codes and look for sidewall cracking or bulges regardless of tread depth, and replace tires that show either. Ask whether any recall replacement or reimbursement was already handled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tires purchased from sam's club in 12/09 have cracks between treads. I just noticed this and was never told when I had tire balanced and rotated. Its on all four tires and read it may separate. I had the road hazard and of course its an on going issue that sam's played it smart and only warrant road hazard for 4 years after I question them about concern.I have bf goodrich tires 225/70/14 on a Mazda b4000 le . I have goodrich tires on two other vehicles that I need to inspect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661302, filed 2014-11, 260,000 miles

   “I don't know if there's anything to this complaint, but in view of the firestone tire recall (on wilderness p23575r15 tires - DOT vd), I thought I'd provide you with some input on this tire problem episode. I suspect that you look for trends...if folks don't let you know about something, then the statistics are never developed for something that would otherwise go unnoticed. Approx. 1/4 of the face of 1 of my truck's tires peeled away...the tire appears to have good tread. I am the second owner of the p/u. …”

   NHTSA complaint #747551, filed 2001-06
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Sticking accelerator or throttle

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the gas pedal sticking or staying down after release, sometimes at highway speed or when starting the truck, and one describes the throttle holding a cruising position. A related complaint describes the truck accelerating on its own while parked. Several owners asked whether a recall applied, and one notes a prior repair that did not last. Reported at various mileages and conditions; some reports mention downhill driving or cold weather.

   Recall 95V231002

   What to check: Check that the throttle plate and cable move freely and return fully when the pedal is released, and ask whether throttle-body icing or the speed-control linkage has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 65 MPH the gas pedal descended to the floorboard and the vehicle reached a speed of 90 MPH. The consumer tired to gain control of the truck by applying the brakes but they failed. The consume had to turn the engine off to coast to the side of the road. Both the manufacturer and the dealership were contacted. Please provide any additional information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10052095, filed 2003-12

   “The gas pedal sticks at any speed and when first starting the truck.this happen before and was supposedly fixed, but has reoccurred again. Has there been a recall on this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #716011, filed 1999-12
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Brake light switch failing (no brake lights)

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • typically at 6.2 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2001

   Complaints describe the brake light switch failing repeatedly, leaving the truck with no brake lights and no warning inside the cab. Owners report replacements at intervals of roughly 15,000 to 20,000 miles, and one says a dealer told them the switch or its mounting bracket was changed in a later model year and the underlying problem could not be fixed on this truck. Others describe turn-signal levers that cancel early or return to off unexpectedly. Reported across many years of ownership and repeated replacement intervals rather than a single mileage point.

   What to check: Have someone watch the rear lights while you press the brake pedal, and ask how often the brake light switch has been replaced. Check that the turn signal cancels only after completing a turn.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brake switch has failed 3 times on this vehicle since the purchase date. This failure results in no brake lights. The switch has been replaced by Mazda on 5/29/97 and 6/30/00. It was replaced for the third time by another repair shop on 7/16/01. I believe this high rate of failure needs to addressed because of failure to have break lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #748549, filed 2001-07

   “Turn signal lever returns to off position unexpectedly. Most of the time it remains in the on position until you are well into your turn. At other times it will pop to the off position just as you are starting your turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #730506, filed 2000-09

Buying note. Inspect the fuel filler hose and front fuel lines closely and check the brake lights and rear brake behavior on a test drive, since these are the faults owners most often describe. Service records showing recent brake, fuel-line and tire work make a used example easier to assess.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.