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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2003

Mazda Protege recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 805 owner complaints for the Mazda Protege, covering model years 1995 to 2003. The 1995 model year drew the most complaints (165), and Air Bags is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mazda Protege VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 6 recall campaigns on file
  • 805 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 9 model years with data (1995–2003)
  • most complaints: 1995 (165 for that model year)
  • top component: Air Bags (156 complaints)
  • latest recall 15V674000 (reported Oct 19, 2015)
  • 164 complaints reporting a crash (20.4%)
  • 16 complaints reporting a fire (2.0%)
  • 124 complaints reporting an injury (15.4%)
  • 2 complaints reporting a death (0.2%)

Mazda Protege complaints by model year

9 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1995 model year has the most complaints: 165 of 805, or 20.5%. Next come 2003 (120) and 2000 (102). The fewest are for 1998, with 46 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Mazda Protege owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–2003Column chart of 805 complaints across 9 model years. The highest is 1995 with 165. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 165 complaints16519951996: 70 complaints7019961997: 66 complaints6619971998: 46 complaints4619981999: 88 complaints8819992000: 102 complaints10220002001: 50 complaints5020012002: 98 complaints9820022003: 120 complaints1202003
Mazda Protege complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mazda Protege complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
1995165314331
199670241170
199766152100
1998468010
199988211150
2000102253180
20015012190
200298122110
2003120162101
All model years805164161242

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mazda Protege components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Air Bags is the component named most often, in 156 complaints (19.4% of all 805), followed by Power Train (138) and Engine and Engine Cooling (106).

Components named most often in Mazda Protege complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Mazda Protege complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Air Bags15619.4%
Power Train13817.1%
Engine and Engine Cooling10613.2%
Seat Belts789.7%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic688.4%
Electrical System526.5%
Tires506.2%
Suspension394.8%
Vehicle Speed Control384.7%
Exterior Lighting364.5%
Seats313.9%
Visibility293.6%
Equipment283.5%
Structure273.4%
Steering263.2%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mazda Protege recalls

6 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Protege, newest first. The 6 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2001. The 1995 model year appears in the most campaigns (4).

  • 6 recall campaigns
Mazda Protege recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
1995: 4 campaigns1996: 1 campaign1997: 1 campaign1998: 1 campaign1999: 1 campaign
2000: 1 campaign2001: 1 campaign
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 15V674000

    Reported

    Electrical System › Ignition › Switch

    Model years 1995–1998

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

    Consequence:
    If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

  2. NHTSA campaign 01V024000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

    Model years 2000–2001

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some left side rear brake hoses were damaged during assembly. Brake fluid leakage could occur.

    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.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

  3. NHTSA campaign 00V301000

    Reported

    Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/CD ETC.

    Model year 1999

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a particular factory installed audio unit. If the vehicle is operated at low speed in a hot and humid environment with the window open, air conditioner running, and audio on, condensed water on the A/C duct surface could drop and enter into the audio unit, causing a short circuit.

    Consequence:
    If the short circuit occurs at one specific set of terminals, the rear right loudspeaker can overheat and, in some cases, catch fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will affix aluminum tape over the audio unit to prevent water from entering.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

  4. NHTSA campaign 00V118000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch

    Model year 1995

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlight lead wire running through the turn signal lever can fail at the soldered connection to the headlight switch.

    Consequence:
    The failure of the wire connection can cause a loss of headlights without prior warning.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will repair the headlight switch.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

  5. NHTSA campaign 95V184000

    Reported

    Air Bags

    Model year 1995

    The tie down hooks can cause undercarriage impacts that can result in unnecessary air bag deployments.

    Consequence:
    Inadvertent air bag deployment can cause injury to the occupants and increase the potential for a vehicle accident.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will remove and replace the tie down hooks with modified tie down hooks.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

  6. NHTSA campaign 95V033000

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine

    Model year 1995

    The wire rod used in the manufacture of the engine valve springs can develop minute cracks causing breakage of the springs.

    Consequence:
    This breakage can cause engine chatter, damage to the engine pistons, and cause the engine to stall increasing the potential for an accident.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace all sixteen (16) valve springs in the engine of the affected vehicles.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mazda Protege questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mazda Protege have?

NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recall campaigns for the Mazda Protege, covering model years 1995 to 2003. The most recent, 15V674000, was reported on October 19, 2015 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 1995 model year is covered by the most campaigns (4).

Which Mazda Protege model year has the most complaints?

The 1995 model year, with 165 of the 805 complaints in NHTSA’s file (20.5%). The next are 2003 (120) and 2000 (102). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mazda Protege complaint?

Air Bags is the component named most often: 156 complaints, or 19.4% of all 805. Power Train (138) and Engine and Engine Cooling (106) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mazda Protege?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mazda dealer.

How many Mazda Protege complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 805 complaints, 164 report a crash, 16 a fire, 124 at least one injury and 2 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mazda models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mazda models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mazda VIN decoder with every Mazda model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Mazda 3 2004–2026 · 29 recalls · 2,983 complaints
  • Mazda 626 1995–2003 · 7 recalls · 2,458 complaints
  • Mazda CX-5 2012–2026 · 8 recalls · 2,443 complaints
  • Mazda 6 2002–2021 · 28 recalls · 2,234 complaints
  • Mazda Tribute 2000–2011 · 20 recalls · 2,102 complaints
  • Mazda CX-9 2007–2023 · 13 recalls · 1,487 complaints
  • Mazda CX-7 2007–2013 · 6 recalls · 1,131 complaints
  • Mazda RX-8 2004–2011 · 14 recalls · 783 complaints

All Mazda models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.