Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. 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.

25 crash reports3 fire reports18 injury reports

Power Train complaints

29 reports

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36,000 miles · Aug 26, 2004

Power Train

FAILED TRANSMISSION AT AROUND 37,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088598

68,000 miles · Feb 9, 2004

Power Train

VEHICLE RECENTLY REPAIRED FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH NECESSITATED REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $2,500.00. *LA (NAR) *CB

NHTSA ODI #10057917

36,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL TRANSMISSION SEIZED, THROWING THE PASSENGERS FORWARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM .*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048118

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2003

Power Train

2000 MAZDA PROTEGE. AT 64000 MILES THE O/D OFF INDICATION STARTED BLINKING. AT 70000 THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY MAZDA AND TRANS SERVICE CO. TO REPLACE THE TRANS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039122

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2003

Power Train

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ON SEVERAL NON-SUCCESSIVE OCCURRENCES, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 - 40 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE SUDDEN DECELERATION WHICH FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE SCRAPED AN INVISIBLE BUMP. THE DECELERATION IS SUDDEN, HARSH AND VERY UNSETTLING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP EAST COAST MOUNTAINS, SUCH AS IN MD. VA. AND PA., THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE A VERY BAD SMELL AS IF HEATING UP TOO MUCH. EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT NO COST. NOW THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS DOING THE SAME THINGS AGAIN! IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DUE TO FAIL AGAIN!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021235

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2003

Power Train

O/D LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES ON AND OFF. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. ALSO IS ACCOMPANIED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT TIMES. LOW MILEAGE ON CAR - 50,000. MAZDA DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP HAS SUGGESTED DEFECTIVE SOLENOIDS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016654

27,500 miles · Apr 28, 2003

Power Train

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WHILE LIGHTLY ACCELERATING THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED, MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND FELT AS THOUGH IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PULLED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE CAR RECOVERED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED AROUND 40 MPH. I NOTICED THE CAR USUALLY DOWNSHIFTS AT THIS SPEED, BUT HAD NOT BEFORE EACH OF THESE INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 30K MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS INDEPENDENTLY AND FOUND THAT 4 CYLINDER MAZDA'S HAVE HAD SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE SWITCH TO FORD TRANSMISSIONS IN 1994/1995!! I FEEL MAZDA SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS LONG AGO AND THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016639

49,800 miles · Jan 23, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainStructure

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE AND OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT VEHICLE REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR AND OTHER ENGINE WORK. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE VEHICLE MILEAGE WA SLOW AND MAINTAINED REGULARLY. TS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10004469

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2002

Power Train

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES. THE RPM'S INCREASE AND THE CAR WILL BOG DOWN LIKE IT CAN'T CATCH ANOTHER GEAR. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MAZDA DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY TOLD US THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WHILE WE WERE TALKING TO THE MAZDA TECH ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THE CAR WAS HAVING AND HE WAS TELLING US CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NISSAN TECH STANDING THERE LISTENING AND AFTER THE MAZDA TECH WENT TO GET OUR CAR. THE NISSAN TECH TOLD US THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON THAT CAR JUST BY YOU TELLING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YOUR HAVING WITH IT. HE SAID HE HAS REPLACED QUITE A FEW TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM. HE ALSO TOLD US A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT RAN OUT AND COST THEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE SAID AS SOON AS THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN BRING IT BACK TO THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN IF YOU HAVE TO. WELL TODAY IS 11/03/02 AND THE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON AGAIN AND THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING. WE WILL CALL MONDAY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ODI #769238

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002

Power Train

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT A 55 MPH VEHICLE WILL JERKS REALLY HARD. CONSUMER STATES IT FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019306

Official recalls

01V024000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Feb 1, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE HOSES WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE DEGRADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE HOSE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.