← New search

2002 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 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

Other model years Selected 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

65 reports with mileage · 33 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 9 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 reports2 fire reports11 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
160,000 miles · Sep 24, 2015
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10775971

156,000 miles · Feb 21, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND DROPPED FROM 50 TO 25 IN SECONDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CIL) STARTING FLASHING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR DIED. STARTED CAR AGAIN THE CIL CONTINUED TO FLASH, IT ONLY WOULD ACCELERATE TO 25 MILES AN HOURS EVEN WITH MY FOOT A…

Read full complaint

THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND DROPPED FROM 50 TO 25 IN SECONDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CIL) STARTING FLASHING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR DIED. STARTED CAR AGAIN THE CIL CONTINUED TO FLASH, IT ONLY WOULD ACCELERATE TO 25 MILES AN HOURS EVEN WITH MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS. I TOOK IT TO THE A MECHANIC AND THE CODES WERE P0421, 171, 300. THE MECHANIC DID EVERYTHING FROM ENGINE FLUSH, SPARK PLUGS, OIL, AIR FILTERS AND INSTALLED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ITS NOW A YEAR LATER AND THE CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448859

62,502 miles · Jul 2, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETAINING BRACKET IN THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION PUNCTURED HOLES IN THE SENDING UNIT AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETAINING BRACKET IN THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION PUNCTURED HOLES IN THE SENDING UNIT AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,502 UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10275665

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSeat Belts

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CAR FOR MAYBE 2 YEARS AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS BEEN MISFIRING ON CYLINDER 3. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL AND NOW I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. ALSO …

Read full complaint

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CAR FOR MAYBE 2 YEARS AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS BEEN MISFIRING ON CYLINDER 3. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL AND NOW I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. ALSO THE SEAT BELT WOULD STAY LOCKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR SO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253641

63,000 miles · Oct 31, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE I BOUGHT NEW. NOW ABOUT 64,000 MILES. NEVER BEEN WRECKED. IN 09/07 I STARTED TO SMELL GAS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. SINCE THE DEFECT WAS MOST LIKELY A PROBLEM W/ THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SUGGESTED I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER & MAZDA TO LET THEM KNOW & DISCUSS POSSIBLE SO…

Read full complaint

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE I BOUGHT NEW. NOW ABOUT 64,000 MILES. NEVER BEEN WRECKED. IN 09/07 I STARTED TO SMELL GAS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. SINCE THE DEFECT WAS MOST LIKELY A PROBLEM W/ THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SUGGESTED I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER & MAZDA TO LET THEM KNOW & DISCUSS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. I SPOKE WITH A REP AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE & HE WAS EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL. HE DID NOT OFFER TO HELP IN ANY MANNER & SHOWED NO CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. HE REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. HE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME IT WAS TOO OLD. I REQUESTED THAT A MAZDA REP LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TO WHICH HE SAID HE WOULD CALL THEM. HE CALLED ME BACK SAYING THAT HE SPOKE WITH MAZDA & THEY TOO SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA TWICE ON THE PHONE. AGAIN THEY OFFERED NO HELP NOR ANY CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, NO LEMON LAW, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING. AGAIN, I REQUESTED THAT A REP PLEASE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE & AGAIN THEY REFUSED SAYTHING THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO GET THE GAS TANK, FUEL PUMP, ETC. REPLACED LATER THIS WEEK AS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (I.E. TUNE UPS, OIL CHANGES, BRAKES, TIRES, ETC.). THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE GAS TANK. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH MAZDA & THEIR LACK OF CONCERN, THEIR AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEIR GENERAL DISREGARD FOR MY SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT & THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND/OR OWN UP TO IT AND AT LEAST HAVE A QUALIFIED MAZDA PROFESSIONAL LOOK AT THE CAR TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A MAZDA AGAIN. I WANT TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF HOW MAZDA TREATED ME & THAT THERE COULD BE A REAL SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207552

88,472 miles · Aug 29, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK/SENDER UNIT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF MY MAZDA PROTEGE5. GIVEN AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A RECALL IN THE MAZDA6, 2003 MODEL YEAR. MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY IN MY VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $900. I AM LOOKING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT …

Read full complaint

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK/SENDER UNIT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF MY MAZDA PROTEGE5. GIVEN AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A RECALL IN THE MAZDA6, 2003 MODEL YEAR. MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY IN MY VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $900. I AM LOOKING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT TANK. I FEEL MAZDA SHOULD REPLACE THE TANK UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A KNOWN PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10201156

8,900 miles · Mar 25, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS STREAMING FROM LEAKING GAS TANK FROM 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. SECOND INCIDENT, FIRST OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER INITIAL DELIVERY ON NOV 2, 2001.

NHTSA ODI #10011005

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.