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2000 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 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

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
33,000 miles · Jan 30, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND IT COLLIDED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057194

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

2 miles · Nov 15, 2003
Steering

2000 MAZDA PROTEGE ES HAS HAD A STEERING/ALIGNMENT PROBLEM FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED 6 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO PULL HARD AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE STEERING EXAMINED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046967

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

CONSUMER STATED THAT 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SEAT BELT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. THEN, WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK, AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED CERVICAL STRAIN/KNEE AND LOWER BACK INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044140

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

45,000 miles · Jul 16, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD ON 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE CRACKED IN 2 DIFFERENT PLACES FOR NO APPARENT REASON-CAR WAS PARKED IN SAFE LOCATION, NOT HIT WITH ANYTHING, ETC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028423

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2003
Power Train

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 TRANSMISS…

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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

30,000 miles · May 30, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

ISSUE WITH A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE ES, 5 SPD. WHEN DRIVING ENGINE WILL HESITATE, WHEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR, CAUSING "JERKING" OF THE CAR AFTER ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED OR RELEASED. IT FEELS LIKE THE FUEL IS NOT DELIVERED PROPERLY. DEALER RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OR FIX THE CAUSE. IT SEEMS THAT PROB…

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ISSUE WITH A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE ES, 5 SPD. WHEN DRIVING ENGINE WILL HESITATE, WHEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR, CAUSING "JERKING" OF THE CAR AFTER ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED OR RELEASED. IT FEELS LIKE THE FUEL IS NOT DELIVERED PROPERLY. DEALER RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OR FIX THE CAUSE. IT SEEMS THAT PROBKEM GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10020740

57,000 miles · May 6, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

THE KEYLESS ENTRY LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAVE STOPPED WORKING. INSTEAD OF LOCKING OR UNLOCKING WHEN THE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE IS PRESSED THE LOCKS REMAIN IN THE POSITION THAT THEY STARTED IN AND A HORRIBLE NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM INSIDE THE DOOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE U…

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THE KEYLESS ENTRY LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAVE STOPPED WORKING. INSTEAD OF LOCKING OR UNLOCKING WHEN THE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE IS PRESSED THE LOCKS REMAIN IN THE POSITION THAT THEY STARTED IN AND A HORRIBLE NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM INSIDE THE DOOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE USING THE KEY BUT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR MUST BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018303

41,000 miles · Apr 30, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING W. BOUND AT ABOUT 25 MPH, PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR WAS IMPACTED BY VEHICLE GOING S. BOUND AT ABOUT 40 MPH. CAR WAS FORCED SW THROUGH A CURB, A GAS SIGN, AND IMPACTED WITH THE REAR OF A PARKED CAR. ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK, BRAKES INEFFECTIVE AND FINALLY PARKED BY DRIVER. MAJOR PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONTAL DAMAGE. CAR …

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WHILE DRIVING W. BOUND AT ABOUT 25 MPH, PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR WAS IMPACTED BY VEHICLE GOING S. BOUND AT ABOUT 40 MPH. CAR WAS FORCED SW THROUGH A CURB, A GAS SIGN, AND IMPACTED WITH THE REAR OF A PARKED CAR. ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK, BRAKES INEFFECTIVE AND FINALLY PARKED BY DRIVER. MAJOR PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONTAL DAMAGE. CAR TOTALED. NEITHER PASSENGER NOR DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10016765

Official recalls

1

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.