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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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

What owners actually said

66 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2002
Power Train

LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON, OVERDRIVE SENSOR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT FUSE WAS BLOWN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8007646

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2001
Structure

POWER LOCKS WERE REPLACED TWICE BY COVINGTON PIKE MAZDA (TN) AND ONCE BY CASCADE MAZDA DEALER(OH, 44221). THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME, MY LOCKS HAVE DETERIORATED.

NHTSA ODI #755816

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2001
Interior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE CALIPER PINS RUSTED OUT DUE TO MOISTURE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE PINS, AND CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO WORK ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER ADDED THAT CALIPERS WERE EXHIBITING A CLICK AND POPPING NOISE, DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS. CUSTOMER STATES DOME LIGHT FAILED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8000869

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 · Sep 10, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE IDLED UP OR DOWN AT STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES RACE UP OVER 300 RPMS SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT FROM GOING HIGHER THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALMOST GOING THROUGH BACK OF MY GARAGE ALSO SURGED WHEN TRYING TO PARK AND CAUSING CAR TO JUMP FORWARD CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS TWICE THEY CHANGED NUMEROUS P…

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ENGINE IDLED UP OR DOWN AT STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES RACE UP OVER 300 RPMS SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT FROM GOING HIGHER THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALMOST GOING THROUGH BACK OF MY GARAGE ALSO SURGED WHEN TRYING TO PARK AND CAUSING CAR TO JUMP FORWARD CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS TWICE THEY CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WIRE HARNESS UNDER HOOD GROUNDS ALTERNATOR VACUUM LINE ENGINE MOUNTS WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED TO BE WORSENING ON SURGING AND GOT A NUMBER FOR MAZDA TECH CENTER BY MISTAKE AND THE MAN I TALKED TO SAID HE FELT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH MAZDA REP FOR THIS AREA AND THEY SAID HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO LOOK INTO ANY FURTHER HOLIDAY DEALER SERVICE REPS DID NOT HELP ME MUCH WITH ANYTHINGI WOULD HAVE TO ASK AROUND WITH FRIENDS TO FIND WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE CAUSING SURGES AND IDLING DOWN TO STALLING EACH HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS WHICH I WOULD TAKE TO HOLIDAY AND I WOULD BE PUT OFF AS THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD DIFFERENT MECHANICS SEE THE IDLE SURGES ANDCOULD NOT FIGURE WHAT CAUSED ITBESIDES THE THINGS I MENTIONED I HAD A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH DOOR NOT UNLOCKING OR WINDOW GOING UP OR DOWN TOOK IT IN 2 TIMES AND THEN THE SERVICES REP SAID I SHOULD JUST LIVE WITH IT AND WALKED AWAY ON ME WHICH I HAVENT BEEN BACK SINCE BUT KEEP CALLING MAZDA AND THEY KEEP PUTTING ME OFF THEY SUGGESTED I GO ONLY TO MAZDA CERTIFIED PLACES WHICH THERE ARE NOT ANYMORE AROUND HERE WITHOUT DRIVING 45 MILES TO APPLETON SO A GUY AT A SHOP I WAS AT SAID I SHOULD CONTACT YOU PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I COULD GET HELP I WILL NOT TALK TO THAT IGNORANT SERVICE REP AGAIN DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO A DIFFERENT PLACE TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED I FOUND A COUPLE GOOD LEADS TO MY PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET WHICH SEAMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE ON MAZDA AND A FEW OTHER CARS THAT WHERE FIXED BY THESE MECHANICS WHICH WAS SOME CENSOR OR VACUUM GAUGE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEMSOR AMAIN COMPUTER PROBLEMTO IGNITIONCCAN

NHTSA ODI #752047

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Electrical System

BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION PUT 3 DENTS IN THE HOOD, MAZDA BATTREY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751239

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

CAR ALWAYS WOULD SPEED UP OR IDLE DOWN AT DIFF. TIMES ONCE WENT TO 3000 RPMS HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF KILLED AT STOP SIGNS HOLIDAY CHANGED DIFF COMPONENTS BUT COULD NOT STOP THE IDLING AND LURCHING FORWARD PROBLEM ALSO AT DIFF TIMES IT WOULD IDLE DOWN AND STALL OR JUST IDLE UP AND DOWN TIL I WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART OR JUST S…

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CAR ALWAYS WOULD SPEED UP OR IDLE DOWN AT DIFF. TIMES ONCE WENT TO 3000 RPMS HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF KILLED AT STOP SIGNS HOLIDAY CHANGED DIFF COMPONENTS BUT COULD NOT STOP THE IDLING AND LURCHING FORWARD PROBLEM ALSO AT DIFF TIMES IT WOULD IDLE DOWN AND STALL OR JUST IDLE UP AND DOWN TIL I WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART OR JUST STOP ON THE GAS THIS IDLING UP AND LURCHING FORWARD HAS AT DIFF TIMES ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY GOING FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746998

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED, CAUSING INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER PURCHASED REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #888802

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Electrical SystemFireInjury

MAZDA PRO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING IN 2 ENGINE FIRES IN 3-4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #727932

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2000
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

1) AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY DURING A RIGHT ANGLE (T BONE) ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION .. THE DRIVER (ME) SYSTAINED HEAD AND FACE / CHEST INJURIES. 2) SINCE NEW THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ON MY NON ABS CAR LOCKES UP VERY EASILY, AND HAS CAUSED A SPIN OUT IN SEVERAL CASES, ON WET SURFACES. A DEALER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT IT HAS NOT CO…

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1) AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY DURING A RIGHT ANGLE (T BONE) ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION .. THE DRIVER (ME) SYSTAINED HEAD AND FACE / CHEST INJURIES. 2) SINCE NEW THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ON MY NON ABS CAR LOCKES UP VERY EASILY, AND HAS CAUSED A SPIN OUT IN SEVERAL CASES, ON WET SURFACES. A DEALER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, WHEN I WROTE MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE HQ, THEY SIMPLY SAID TO GO BACK TO A DEALER FOR THEIR JUDGEMENT / ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #727784

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.