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Mazda ProtegeYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,074 NHTSA owner complaints across 14 model years, the Mazda Protege years to avoid are 1995, and the strongest years are 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1998. The Protege has 6 safety recalls on record.

Mazda Protege
Years to avoid'95Use caution: 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003Best years'90 '91 '93 '98Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,074Top: Seat beltsSafety recalls61990–2003 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Mazda Protege years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Protege median. Tap a year for its full report.

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2003Caution38/100120 complaints · 0 recalls2002Solid42/10098 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid53/10050 complaints · 1 recall2000Caution36/100102 complaints · 1 recall1999Caution40/10088 complaints · 1 recall1998Solid63/10046 complaints · 1 recall1997Solid47/10066 complaints · 1 recall1996Caution41/10070 complaints · 1 recall1995Avoid26/100165 complaints · 4 recalls1994Solid53/10074 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid65/10044 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid55/10063 complaints · 1 recall1991Solid58/10051 complaints · 1 recall1990Best67/10037 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Mazda Protege problems

All model years combined: 1,074 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seat belts22035
Air bags159136
Power train1578
Engine and engine cooling12510
Service brakes, hydraulic8422
Electrical system7110
Tires535
Vehicle speed control4712
Suspension464
20 other systems31452
6 recalls

Mazda Protege recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

1%Ignition: switch15V-674 · 1990–1998 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings01V-024 · 2000–2001 · Feb 1, 2001 · 13,000 vehicles–Electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc.00V-301 · 1999 · Oct 5, 2000 · 23,000 vehicles–Headlights: switch00V-118 · 1995 · Apr 21, 2000 · 76,000 vehicles–Air bags95V-184 · 1995 · Oct 3, 1995 · 51,817 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: engine95V-033 · 1995 · Feb 21, 1995 · 5,760 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Protege

  1. HEADLIGHT WIRE BREAKAGEEA99029 · 1995 · closed May 10, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-118
  2. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTSPE99038 · 1995 · closed Sep 30, 1999
    No recall
  3. AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILEA94039 · 1990–1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-211
  4. AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILPE94059 · 1990–1993 · closed Nov 30, 1994
    No recall
  5. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONPE94029 · 1993 · closed Jul 28, 1994
    No recall