SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1990 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Mazda Protege do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 66.

About this comparison →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 66

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
198937
199051
199163
199244
1993
Compare all Protege years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
21Engine And Engine Cooling
4Steering
3Visibility
3Equipment
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Unknown Or Other
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 37 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1997. CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME VIBRATION WHEN IT IDLES. IN NOVEMBER OF 1998 CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO HAVE REPAIRED. THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND WHILE REPLACING THE THERMISTAT A CRACKED SENSOR WAS ALSO FOUND AND REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED…

Read full complaint

CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1997. CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME VIBRATION WHEN IT IDLES. IN NOVEMBER OF 1998 CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO HAVE REPAIRED. THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND WHILE REPLACING THE THERMISTAT A CRACKED SENSOR WAS ALSO FOUND AND REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN DECEMBER OF 1998 FRONT DRIVERSIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FROZE. IT WOULD NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY BACK. IT WOULD MAKE A CONSTANT CLICKING NOSE. THE WIRES WERE ALSO OFF THE TRACK. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE TO SHUT OFF THE CLICKING NOISE. HAD AN ESTIMITE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WHICH WAS APPROX. 900.00.

NHTSA ODI #717845

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. MJS

NHTSA ODI #547279

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO 'CHECK ENGINE' WARNING LIGHT COMING ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #502407

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLES RADIATOR CRACKED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. TT

NHTSA ODI #960685

Official recalls

1

15V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 19, 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 vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

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 number for this recall is 8715J.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA94039 · Auto Restraint System Fail

Opened Nov 30, 1994 · Closed Nov 26, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE94059 · Auto Restraint System Fail

Opened Jul 28, 1994 · Closed Nov 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available