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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.

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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

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

6 reports
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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 …

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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

58,624 miles · Dec 14, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE STATED THAT THE POLE STRUCK A BUILDING AND CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE STATED THAT THE POLE STRUCK A BUILDING AND CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,624 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 2/22/11 *CN UPDATED 07/01/11

NHTSA ODI #10370639

110,000 miles · Mar 31, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

ON 10/31/09, WHILE MOVING THE '02 MAZDA PROTEGE ES FROM 2ND BAY TO 1ST BAY IN MY SHOP, AT THE 1ST BAY EVEN BRAKE PEDAL BEING APPLIED, THAT CAR RUSHED FORWARD TO THE SHOP WALL ; MY SHOP WALL AND CAR CRASHED. MY ADDRESS IS [XXX](CELL) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).…

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ON 10/31/09, WHILE MOVING THE '02 MAZDA PROTEGE ES FROM 2ND BAY TO 1ST BAY IN MY SHOP, AT THE 1ST BAY EVEN BRAKE PEDAL BEING APPLIED, THAT CAR RUSHED FORWARD TO THE SHOP WALL ; MY SHOP WALL AND CAR CRASHED. MY ADDRESS IS [XXX](CELL) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323018

4,200 miles · Oct 5, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN THE DRIVER RELEASES THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE PEDALS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10095122

25 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED AND VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057467

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO FRONT PORCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044023

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.