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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 →
98Owner complaints

Model-year median: 66

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
88
1999102
200050
200198
2002120
2003
Compare all Protege years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
20Power Train
17Air Bags
9Electrical System
9Structure
9
All reported categories
Tires
9Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Fuel System, Gasoline
7Equipment
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Wheels
5Visibility
4Steering
3Suspension
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes
2Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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

Suspension complaints

3 reports
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118,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Exterior LightingStructureSuspensionInjury

UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE CAR'S FRAME ITSELF. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS BOTH CONTROL ARM SHOCK AND THE CAR IS STILL HARD TO STEER

NHTSA ODI #10787735

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2005
Air BagsEquipmentPower TrainCrashInjury

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30 MPH YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED TWO SLIPPED DISK IN HER BACK. AFTER THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TESTED BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST THE AIR BAG. THE INDICATED THAT A…

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2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30 MPH YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED TWO SLIPPED DISK IN HER BACK. AFTER THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TESTED BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST THE AIR BAG. THE INDICATED THAT AS LONG AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WASN'T ON THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE RADIO SWITCHES STATIONS ON IT'S OWN. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 9/7/2004, 40561 MILES. THE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT WONT HOLD. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #10122636

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2005
Electrical SystemSuspension

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MILEAGE WAS DELETED, THE GAS, TEMPERATURE AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER DID REPLACE A PART, HOWEVER THE MILEAGE WAS NOT ACCURATE. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE HUB BEARINGS. *JB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10119095

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.