Mazda Protege Problems by Year
NHTSA has 805 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the Mazda Protege, across 9 model years (1995–2003). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (165). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Mazda Protege years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Protege year: 1995. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Protege: 165 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2003 Protege: 120 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 Protege: 102 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1998 Protege: 46 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 Protege: 50 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 Protege: 66 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mazda Protege problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 156 | 9 | 121 |
| Power Train problems | 138 | 9 | 8 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 106 | 9 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 78 | 9 | 17 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 | 9 | 19 |
| Electrical System | 52 | 9 | 0 |
| Tires | 50 | 9 | 3 |
| Suspension | 39 | 9 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 38 | 9 | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 36 | 6 | 0 |
| Seats | 31 | 9 | 11 |
| Visibility | 29 | 9 | 0 |
| Equipment | 28 | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 27 | 8 | 2 |
| Steering | 26 | 8 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 22 | 6 | 1 |
| Engine | 13 | 6 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 | 6 | 1 |
| Wheels | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Mazda Protege model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Protege | 120 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Protege | 98 | 0 | — | Seat Belts | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Protege | 50 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Protege | 102 | 1 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Protege | 88 | 1 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Protege | 46 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Protege | 66 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Protege | 70 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Protege | 165 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mazda: all Mazda models · Mazda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Protege years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (165) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Protege year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda Protege?
Air Bags, with 156 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Mazda Protege have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.