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: 12 of 165 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.
Air Bags. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports4 fire reports31 injury reports
What owners actually said
165 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1999
Electrical System
THE WIRES FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND TURN SIGNAL STALK CRACKED FROM CONSTANT FLEXING. THIS IS IN THE SMALL LOOP JUST BEFORE THE WIRES ENTER THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE INITIAL AFFECT WAS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. I SPLICED THE WIRES ONCE LAST SUMMER, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. THE RED…
Read full complaint
THE WIRES FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND TURN SIGNAL STALK CRACKED FROM CONSTANT FLEXING. THIS IS IN THE SMALL LOOP JUST BEFORE THE WIRES ENTER THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE INITIAL AFFECT WAS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. I SPLICED THE WIRES ONCE LAST SUMMER, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. THE RED WIRE TO THE HEADLIGHT RELAY IS VERY THIN. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED BOTH TIMES NEAR HOME. I SAW SIMILAR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR DATABASE: 536495, 976418, 977383.
NHTSA ODI #702076
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1998
Seats
THE BOLT HOLDING THE SEAT CAME UNDONE I GOT IT BACK IN PLACE AND PUT ANOTHER NUT ON IT. IT RECENTLY BECAME LOOSE AND WHEN I WENT TO FIX IT THE METAL WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF AND NOW MY SEAT ROCK BACK AND FORTH. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM ON PROTOEGE'S SEATS?
NHTSA ODI #701430
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Air BagsCrash
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #832306
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FRONT AXLE BROKE AND CV BOOT ALSO BROKE, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830482
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH COMING AROUND A CURB, WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND RUN OFF THE ROAD INTO THE ENBANKMENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830362
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
SPEEDOMETER STAYS ON "0" EVEN WHEN THE TACKOMETER GOES UP TO "7." DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. ENGINE REVVED AT 40 MPH DID NOT SPEED UP. SMOKE POURED OUT OF BACK AND FRONT AND SMELL CAME INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #828959
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1998
Seat Belts
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN A FORWARD POSITION, CAUSING THE SHOULDER BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826933
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN TRAVELING AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE IS NO RESPONSE. ALSO, THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #825441
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1998
Air BagsInjury
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING. *AK
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE RUNNING THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE SOLDERED CONNECTION TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FAILURE OF THE WIRE CONNECTION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
THE WIRE ROD USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS CAN DEVELOP MINUTE CRACKS CAUSING BREAKAGE OF THE SPRINGS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS BREAKAGE CAN CAUSE ENGINE CHATTER, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE PISTONS, AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL SIXTEEN (16) VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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
EA99029 · Headlight Wire Breakage
Opened Sep 30, 1999 · Closed May 10, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
IN ITS LETTER DATED APRIL 21, 2000, MAZDA STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MODEL YEAR 1995 AND 1996 MAZDA PROTEGE VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 1994 THROUGH JULY 1995.MAZDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLE
PE99038 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened May 20, 1999 · Closed Sep 30, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
BASED ON THE REVIEW OF MAZDA'S INVESTIGATION AND TESTING, EXAMINATION OF TWO FAILED FIELD UNITS (A HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND A COMBINATION SWITCH), AND TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS OF SEVERAL COMPLAINANTS, IT APPEARS THAT THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AND LOCATED JUST BELOW THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, CAN BE STRESSED FROM CYCLING THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AND RESULT IN FATIGUE BREAKAGE OF THE WIRE.COMPLAINTS STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF DURINGOPERATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1995 PROTEGE VEHICLES WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL AND/OR WHILE JUST DRIVING (E.G., GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP).SEVERAL COMPLAINANTS CONTACTED BY ODI STATED THAT SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON AFTER GOING OFF UNTIL THE DRIVER SUCCESSFULLY JIGGLED THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER OR THE HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNES (I.E., RE-MAKE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF A PARTIALLY BROKEN WIRE).PERMANENT LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS CAN OCCUR WHEN THE WIRE IS COMPLETELY BROKEN.IN JULY 1995, ABOUT THE START OF MY 1996 PRODUCTION, MAZDA CHANGED THE MATERIAL OF THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE TO INCREASE DURABILITY.NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON MY 1996 PROTEGE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ODI OR MAZDA.
1995 Mazda Protege Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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