Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1625–50K
1050–75K
475–100K
2100–150K
3150K+
41 reports with mileage · 61 unknown
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.
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
What owners actually said
102 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Power Train
I HAVE COMPLAINED CONTINUOUSLY TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SINCE CAR HAD APPROX 4,000 MILES. A "CLUNKING" NOISE WAS COMING FROM TRANSAXLE AREA. BOTH DEALER AND MAZDA REP, TOLD ME TO "WAIT AND SEE" OR "THATS A NORMAL SOUND, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT". YESTERDAY WHILE OPERATING MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE ES AT APPROX 60MPH ON INTERSTATE 93 N…
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I HAVE COMPLAINED CONTINUOUSLY TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SINCE CAR HAD APPROX 4,000 MILES. A "CLUNKING" NOISE WAS COMING FROM TRANSAXLE AREA. BOTH DEALER AND MAZDA REP, TOLD ME TO "WAIT AND SEE" OR "THATS A NORMAL SOUND, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT". YESTERDAY WHILE OPERATING MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE ES AT APPROX 60MPH ON INTERSTATE 93 N TRANSAXLE FAILED. CAR WAS FINE ONE SECOND, THE NEXT SECONF I WAS FREE WHEELING, NO POWER, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, BUT IT WAS IF I WAS IN NEUTRAL. MOST FORTUNATLY IT WAS DAYLIGHT, DRY CONDITIONS, AND A HIGHWAY EXIT WAS RIGHT THERE, I COASTED OFF THE HIGHWAY DOWN THE EXIT RAMP AND CALLED FOR HELP. HAD I BEEN IN THE PASSING LANE, OR IF CONDITIONS WERE POOR, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #733164
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Suspension
CAR ALWAYS PULLS TOWARD THE RIGHT. MORE PRONOUNCED WITH PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. HAVE TRIED ALLIGNMENTS AND TIRE ROTATION. NOTHING HELPS. DROVE SEVERAL OTHER 2000 PROTEGES, AND THEY ALSO PULLED. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE CAR BEING TOO STIFF FOR THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #731309
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869902
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Power Train
WENT INTO OVERDRIVE BY ITS SELF WITH STRESSFUL JERK AND LOUD NOISE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON BY ITS SELF. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY IF THIS HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #730652
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHEN DRIVING SPEEDOMETER READING GOES FROM 60 TO 0 STILL WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD/ HESITATE ALSO, CONSUMER NOTED OVERDRIVE BUTTON FLASHES OFF AND ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO A COMPUTER CHIP, PROBLEM STILL OCCUR. PLEASE PR…
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WHEN DRIVING SPEEDOMETER READING GOES FROM 60 TO 0 STILL WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD/ HESITATE ALSO, CONSUMER NOTED OVERDRIVE BUTTON FLASHES OFF AND ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO A COMPUTER CHIP, PROBLEM STILL OCCUR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #866299
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2000
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND O/D OFF LIGHT WERE BLINKING. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #726226
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2000
Seats
THE METAL PLATES/BARS INSIDE THE BUCKET SEATS CAN BE FELT. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE SEAT CUSHION COMPRESSES AND THESE PLATES PUT PRESSURE ON THE LOWER BACK AND CAUSE SEVERE BACK PAIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725805
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
Seat Belts
SEALT BELT BROKE ON PASSENGER SEAT, BELT LATCH WAS LATCHED INTO THE CASE AND RELEASE BUTTON BROKE IMMEDIATLY, WHILE TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE BELT (BY PUSHING ON THE BUTTON) THE CASE BROKE INHALF, BUT REMAINED ENGAGED UNTIL COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED.
NHTSA ODI #9000595
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2000
SeatsInjury
CONSUMER'S SEAT ADJUSTER INTERFERS WITH FOOT WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS SPRAINED KNEE BECAUSE OF HANDLE UNDERNEATH SEAT GETS CAUGHT IN LOOP OF TENNIS SHOE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860734
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2000
Seat Belts
PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED DURING FIRST USE BY JAMMING. PASSENGER UNABLE TO DISENGAGE SEATBELT WHICH CAUSED PASSENGER TO HAVE TO "SLITHER" OUT OF SEAT. PUSHING THE BUTTON MADE THE ASSEMBLY CRACK IN HALF AT THE SEAMS. INSIDE OF ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE MADE OF PLASTIC. *AK
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2000 Mazda Protege Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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