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: 5 of 70 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports1 fire reports17 injury reports
What owners actually said
70 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2001
Child Seat
OUR PROBLEM IS WITH THE CAR SEAT WE BOUGHT. IT IS A COSCO ALPHA OMEGA WITH A OVER HEAD SHIELD ON IT. THE OVERHEAD SHIELD, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT COMES OFF OFTEN, AND PARTS HAVE FALLEN OUT. THIS PERTICULAR SEAT , WITH THE OVER HEAD SHIELD, SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM STORES. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME COMPLAINT AND THE FA…
Read full complaint
OUR PROBLEM IS WITH THE CAR SEAT WE BOUGHT. IT IS A COSCO ALPHA OMEGA WITH A OVER HEAD SHIELD ON IT. THE OVERHEAD SHIELD, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT COMES OFF OFTEN, AND PARTS HAVE FALLEN OUT. THIS PERTICULAR SEAT , WITH THE OVER HEAD SHIELD, SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM STORES. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME COMPLAINT AND THE FACT THAT THE SHIELD COMES OFF SO EASILY IS A DANGER TO THE CHILD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750731
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2001
Air Bags
THE DRIVERS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH
NHTSA ODI #562117
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2001
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN, IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER AIR BAG. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #892916
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages
ALL FOUR DOORS ON VEHICLE WOULD UNLOCK OR LOCK ON THEIR OWN WHETHER VEHICLE WAS ON OR TURNED OFF. HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #892625
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
EVERY TEN THOUSAND MILES BRAKES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE BRAKES BEGAN FAILING RIGHT FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE AND LATER AT 6000 MILES AND 10000 MILES. *YH
NHTSA ODI #885036
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Power Train
PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTER LEVER, HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEARS. *AK THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER PROBLEM OCCURED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN FOUR YEARS LATER. *YH
NHTSA ODI #883488
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Tires
LEFT REAR TIRE 'SEPARATED' WHILE GOING TO WORK ON I-95 AT 11 A.M. I TEMPORARY LOST CONTROL AND VEERED OVER 3 LANES BEFORE REGAINING CONTROL OF CAR. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.( DOT NUMBER: ???? TIRE SIZE: ????? )
NHTSA ODI #728726
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
POPPING NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKE CALIPER DURING SLOW SPEED BRAKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #726295
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #784736
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2000
Seat Belts
CONSUMER WAS LOCKED IN DRIVER SEAT BECAUSE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. CONSUMER HAD TO CUT HERSELF OUT. NOTIFIED DEALER, REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.*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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 Mazda Protege Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration