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1997 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mazda Protege do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 66.

About this comparison →
66Owner complaints

Model-year median: 66

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
74
1994165
199570
199666
199746
199888
1999102
2000
Compare all Protege years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
12Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Power Train
10Engine And Engine Cooling
9Vehicle Speed Control
8
All reported categories
Electrical System
6Seat Belts
6Equipment
5Fuel System, Gasoline
5Structure
5Suspension
5Visibility
5Tires
3Unknown Or Other
3Seats
2Interior Lighting
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: 3 of 66 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Suspension complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2002
Suspension

THERE WAS A SEVERE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA, DEALER FOUND THE G1 BEARING WAS WORN ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER AND THE DEALER FOUND THE SWAY BAR LINKS TO BE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS MADE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #566438

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Power TrainSuspension

RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFT/FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS TOTALLING $576.44 IN REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755095

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 1999
EquipmentSuspension

AFTER VEHICLE REACHED 20,000 MILES IT HAS A VERY HARD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ACTIVATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843561

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1999
Suspension

OVERALL SUSPENSION IS TOO STIFF INDUCING BACK PAIN ON LOCAL BUMPY ROADS.

NHTSA ODI #704362

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
EquipmentSuspension

STRUT FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #605898

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.