RecallMyCar

Mazda Protege Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 1,076 owner complaints across 15 model years of the Mazda Protege (1989–2003). The most-complained-about year is 1995.

6
safety recalls, all years
1,076
owner complaints, all years
1995
year with most recalls
1995
year with most complaints

Pick your Mazda Protege model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Mazda Protege0120
2002 Mazda Protege098
2001 Mazda Protege150
2000 Mazda Protege1102
1999 Mazda Protege188
1998 Mazda Protege146
1997 Mazda Protege166
1996 Mazda Protege170
1995 Mazda Protege4165
1994 Mazda Protege174
1993 Mazda Protege144
1992 Mazda Protege163
1991 Mazda Protege151
1990 Mazda Protege137
1989 Mazda Protege02

What Mazda Protege owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1,076 complaints with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 165.

All Mazda Protege recalls (6)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Mazda Protege, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 15V674000 Reported 1,368,500 vehicles potentially affected Mazda North American Operations

    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 vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

    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 at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's…

    Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 01V024000 Reported 13,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some left side rear brake hoses were damaged during assembly. Brake fluid leakage could occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake hose and, if necessary, replace the hose. Owner notification began february 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

    Model years: 2000, 2001

  3. Radio/tape deck/cd etc. (equipment)

    NHTSA 00V301000 Reported 23,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a particular factory installed audio unit. If the vehicle is operated at low speed in a hot and humid environment with the window open, air conditioner running, and audio on, condensed water on the a/c duct surface could drop and enter into the audio unit, causing a short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will affix aluminum tape over the audio unit to prevent water from entering.

    Model years: 1999

  4. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 00V118000 Reported 76,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlight lead wire running through the turn signal lever can fail at the soldered connection to the headlight switch.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the headlight switch.

    Model years: 1995

  5. Air bags

    NHTSA 95V184000 Reported 51,817 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    The tie down hooks can cause undercarriage impacts that can result in unnecessary air bag deployments.

    Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the tie down hooks with modified tie down hooks.

    Model years: 1995

  6. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 95V033000 Reported 5,760 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    The wire rod used in the manufacture of the engine valve springs can develop minute cracks causing breakage of the springs.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace all sixteen (16) valve springs in the engine of the affected vehicles.

    Model years: 1995

Other Mazda models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.