IllustrationSEAT BEGAN ROCKING; TRIED TO TIGHTEN ANCHOR BOLT, BUT ANCHOR BROKE. NOW SEAT ROCKS COMPLETELY BACK AND FORTH....CV SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE; HEARD CLICKING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CV SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER REPLACEMENT CV SHAFT BEGAN TO FAIL.*AK
1995 Mazda Protege
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Protege years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Mazda Protege are substantially higher than the model-year median of 66.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Protege years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsVEHICLE WILL STALLS WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING. VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND SHAKES. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS JERKING WHEN WE ACCELERATE TROUGHT THE GEARS -ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT CODE SAYS CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE AS FOR HEADLIGHTS THE SWITCH WENT DEFECTIVE AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK
HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V118000 FOR HEADLIGHT FAILURE . *AK *JB
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OR MORE WHILE STILL PARKED, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. DRIVER SUSTAINED TEMPORY LOSS OF HEARING ON LEFT EAR. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FIVE MILES WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON, AS SOO…
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WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OR MORE WHILE STILL PARKED, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. DRIVER SUSTAINED TEMPORY LOSS OF HEARING ON LEFT EAR. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FIVE MILES WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON, AS SOON AS THE AIR BAG BLEW THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE FROM ENGINE, LATER ON CONSUMER KNEW RADIATOR WAS LEAKING CAUSING WHITE SMOKE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AIR BAG WAS REPLACED AND THE LEAKING RADIATOR WAS REPAIRED, AIR BAG CAME BACK ON TWICE AND THE CLOCK SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB
CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, IT WAS A SMALL DIP, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED. COSUMER'S FACE WAS BURNED. CONSUMER WILL BE CONTACTING DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC
MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT WHEN EVER IT RAINS (HARD WITH WIND) MY AIR FILTER SOMEHOW GETS SOAKED IN WET. WHEN I EXPLAIN THIS TO A MECHANIC OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, THE FIRST QUESTION THEY ASK ME IS WHETHER I DROVE ON PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ROAD. THE ANSWER IS "NO!" WHEN IT IS RAINING THAT HARD I DON'T GO ANYWHERE AND THE…
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MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT WHEN EVER IT RAINS (HARD WITH WIND) MY AIR FILTER SOMEHOW GETS SOAKED IN WET. WHEN I EXPLAIN THIS TO A MECHANIC OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, THE FIRST QUESTION THEY ASK ME IS WHETHER I DROVE ON PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ROAD. THE ANSWER IS "NO!" WHEN IT IS RAINING THAT HARD I DON'T GO ANYWHERE AND THEREFORE THE CAR IS JUST PARKED ON THE PARKING LOT. I'VE TAKEN TO MAZDA ONE AND THE RAN A TEST AND FOUND NOTHING. MEANWHILE "MY ENGINE" LIGHT STAYS ON. I HAVE A SPARE AIR FILTER THAT I USE. IN THE MEANTIME WHAT CAN I DO? .*AK
HEADLIGHTS LED TO WIRE RUNNING THROUGH TURN SINGNAL LEVER, CAN FAIL AT SOLDERED CONNECTION TO HEADLIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT AXLE STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND UPON GOING BUMPS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1995. AS TIME WENT ON, THE GRINDING GOT WORSE MAKING LOUDER NOISES. WE TOLD THE DEALER AT FIRST ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS JUST GETTING BROKEN IN. AS A RESULT, THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED FIRS…
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THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT AXLE STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND UPON GOING BUMPS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1995. AS TIME WENT ON, THE GRINDING GOT WORSE MAKING LOUDER NOISES. WE TOLD THE DEALER AT FIRST ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS JUST GETTING BROKEN IN. AS A RESULT, THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED FIRST IN DECEMBER 2000, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS JUST REPLACED IN FEB.2001 DUE TO LACKAGE OF FUNDS TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, WE COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THIS WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE IF WE WERE DRIVING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THEY CULD HAVE BROKEN AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO US AS WELL AS OTHER CARS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPARED 2 YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. *AK
SEAT LATCH MECHANISM HAS BROKEN, CAUSING SEAT TO RELEASE FROM UPRIGHT POSITION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Official recalls
415V674000 · 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.
00V118000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Apr 21, 2000
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
95V184000 · Air Bags
Oct 3, 1995
THE TIE DOWN HOOKS CAN CAUSE UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT IN UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TIE DOWN HOOKS WITH MODIFIED TIE DOWN HOOKS.
95V033000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Feb 21, 1995
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
2EA99029 · 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.