IllustrationREAR VIEW WINDOW TAKES AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF TIME TO DEFROST. OTHER WIDOWS AND MIRRORS DEFROST IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
2001 Mazda Protege
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
Compare all Protege years →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
40–25K
825–50K
450–75K
175–100K
1100–150K
4150K+
22 reports with mileage · 28 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
50 reportsTHE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE OCCURRED ON 11/01/2001 IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I'M THE PASSENGER WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SOUTHBOUND ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN SUDDENLY I COULDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES, SO I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES, AND THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD, LANDING IN A DITCH AFTER CRASHING INTO 4 OR…
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THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE OCCURRED ON 11/01/2001 IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I'M THE PASSENGER WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SOUTHBOUND ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN SUDDENLY I COULDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES, SO I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES, AND THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD, LANDING IN A DITCH AFTER CRASHING INTO 4 OR 5 TREES. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY SEAT BELT DETACHED AT SOME POINT DURING THE IMPACT. AS A RESULT CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS SMASHED IN. PASSENGER'S SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER WAS PUSHED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, AND THE TRUCK SAT IN THE BACK SEAT. THROUGH ALL OF THE IMPACT I COULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THROWN OUT OF MY SEAT BECAUSE MY SAT BECAME UNATTACHED, THEREBY CAUSING EXTREME DAMAGE TO MY CHEST, AND LEAVING ME WITH FRACTURED RIBS WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIR BAGS SIMPLY DEPLOYED. *AKFURTHERMORE, THE WHOLE THING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD CONTROL OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN PULLING TO LEFT WHILE DRIVING SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR REAR AXLE FREE OF CHARGE EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
DURING AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE JACK COLLAPSED WHILE RAISING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED JACK, AND CONCLUDED A BOLT LOOKED "SOFT" RESULTING IN COLLAPSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
A LOUD TICKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER FEELS SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAUSE GEARS CAN BE HEARD CHANGING WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE STALLS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING 35-45MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT JUMPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REV UNTIL GEAR WAS CHANGED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE AT A STOP ENGINE REVVED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED. DEALER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS.*AK
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DESIGNED SO THEY DON'T FADE. THERE IS A SHARP CUTOFF LINE IN LIGHT BEAM. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN.*AK
STRONG HEAVY FUMES ENTERED VEHICLE, CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO BECOME NAUSEATED. CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN MIXED DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT THE CAUSE COULD BE. DEALER'S TECHNICAN BELIEVED SOME SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM ENGINE AND DASHBOARD COMPARTMENT CAUSED FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE WHILE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON. CONSUMER LIVED IN A HO…
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STRONG HEAVY FUMES ENTERED VEHICLE, CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO BECOME NAUSEATED. CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN MIXED DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT THE CAUSE COULD BE. DEALER'S TECHNICAN BELIEVED SOME SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM ENGINE AND DASHBOARD COMPARTMENT CAUSED FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE WHILE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON. CONSUMER LIVED IN A HOT CLIMATE AREA THAT REQUIRED AIR CONDITIONING TO RUN A LOT. MAZDA NEVER HEARD OF COMPLAINT, AND BELIEVED FUMES MIGHT COME FROM INTERIOR. MAZDA DIDN'T HAVE A REMEDY.*AK *SLC
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, CAME UPON A PATCH OF UNEVEN ROAD (SHAVED ROAD SURFACE IN PREPARATION FOR REPAVING) JUST BEFORE A STOPLIGHT. ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE. VEHICLE RAN OVER AN EXPOSED MANHOLE COVER APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES IN HEIGHT AND LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 50 FT BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AHEA…
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DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, CAME UPON A PATCH OF UNEVEN ROAD (SHAVED ROAD SURFACE IN PREPARATION FOR REPAVING) JUST BEFORE A STOPLIGHT. ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE. VEHICLE RAN OVER AN EXPOSED MANHOLE COVER APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES IN HEIGHT AND LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 50 FT BEFORE THE INTERSECTION AHEAD. ABS BEGAN TO PULSE UPON CONTACT WITH THIS MANHOLE. THE PULSE LASTED A SECOND, AFTER WHICH TIME THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE SLID (APPROXIMATELY 10 FT) INTO THE INTERSECTION. CONSTANT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE DURATION OF THE STOP. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE TIME, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTERWARD WITHOUT INCIDENT. ABS ACTIVATION SEEMED WARRANTED DUE TO THE UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, BUT THE SHORT DURATION OF THE PULSE AND THE SUBSEQUENT BRAKE LOCKUP SEEM OUT OF THE ORDINARY. NO OTHER FAILURES OF THIS TYPE HAVE OCCURRED.*AK
Official recalls
101V024000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.