IllustrationWHEN CONSUMER PUTS KEY INTO DOOR LOCK IT SNAPS IN HALF AND BREAKS IN THE LOCK. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *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 reportsI FIND IT A LITTLE CONFUSING THAT BOTH CV JOINTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. IS THERE A RECALL OUT FOR THIS PRODUCT THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE. *AK
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE AND THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL OIL BURNING WHEN DRIVING. *AK
NO SUMMARY
CONSUMER LEARN THAT VEHICLE FUEL PUMP SHORTAGE OUT WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AT 10-15 MPH. REPAIR INFORMED THIS IS NOT CONSIDER TO BE A NORMAL CONDTION . CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION.
THE REAR SHOULDER HARNESS FAILS TO RETRACT AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO CLOSE. NLM
HEAD LIGHTS TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND AT RANDOM IF A BUMP IS HIT OR WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON ONLY IF TURNING ON THE HIGH BEAMS. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND HAVE FOUND THIS IN OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA FILES
I HAVE A DETAILED ACCOUNT WRITTEN TO THE DEALERSHIP - WHO CAN THIS BE SENT TO? IN GENERAL IN TWO SEPARATE ACCOUNTS, ONE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN FIXED FOR THE PROBLEM, WE WERE DRIVING WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A ROUGHNESS IN THE ENGINE. IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS THE TACHOMETER BEGAN TO WILDLY FLUCTUATE, CONCURRENTLY LOSS OF POWER TO THE…
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I HAVE A DETAILED ACCOUNT WRITTEN TO THE DEALERSHIP - WHO CAN THIS BE SENT TO? IN GENERAL IN TWO SEPARATE ACCOUNTS, ONE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN FIXED FOR THE PROBLEM, WE WERE DRIVING WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A ROUGHNESS IN THE ENGINE. IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS THE TACHOMETER BEGAN TO WILDLY FLUCTUATE, CONCURRENTLY LOSS OF POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL. WITHIN ABOUT TEN SECONDS THE ENGINE STALLED. WE COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR , PERFORMED A MAJOR TUNEUP AND RESET THE TIMING ON THE TIMING BELT FOR $ 700.00. WITHIN SIX HOURS OF GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED.
ON FEB 4/99 WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TILTED BACK QUITE DRAMTICALLY CAUSING ME TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAD BECOME UNSTABLE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR PARTICULARLY DURING ACCELERATION AND MAINTAIN CONTROL. I WENT TO THE DEAL…
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ON FEB 4/99 WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TILTED BACK QUITE DRAMTICALLY CAUSING ME TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAD BECOME UNSTABLE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR PARTICULARLY DURING ACCELERATION AND MAINTAIN CONTROL. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON FEB 10/99 AND FOR $36.92 THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SLIDING SEAT TRACK WAS BROKEN. THEY INDICTAED THE CAR APPEARED WELL MAINTAINED AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE RESULT OF POOR MAINTENANCE BUT INSTEAD SEEMED TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY SAID THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHIVLES WAS $209 CDN PLUS LABOUR FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT $300. I APPROACHED MAZDA CANADA AND THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE DEALER'S SEVICE MANAGER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND IT'S 5 YEAR 80,000 KM WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING HE COULD DO PARTICULARLY SINCE I HADN'T BEEN BRINGING MY CAR TO THEM REGUALRLY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HAS SHOWN UP IN OTHER MAZDAS AND WHAT RECOURSE I MIGHT HAVE IF ANY. I WILL ALSO BE CHECKING WHAT HELP I CAN GET FROM CANADIAN REGULATORY AGENCIES. YOUR ASSITANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK-YOU.
ENGINE FAILURE. ALSO, REPLACED REAR BRAKES. *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.