1992 Mazda Protege

Routine

Owners filed 63 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Mazda Protege years to avoid. Which Mazda Protege years to avoid →

Most common 1992 Mazda Protege problems

32 of the 63 complaints (51%) are about the seat belts.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts14
101
Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices5
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor5
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components · brakes3
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner3
304
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission3
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration2
000
Unknown or Other2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing2
101

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch15V674000
Filed Oct 19, 20151,368,500 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Apr 19, 2016NY

LETTER FROM SENATOR GILLIBRAND ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 1992 MAZDA PROTEGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT HE PAID FOR OUT-OF-POCKET. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Nov 30, 201592,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed May 1, 2006AZ

1. AUTOMATIC/PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT FOR DRIVERS SIDE HAD BEEN ACTING SLUGGISH E.G. BELT WOULD HESITATE WHEN OPENING/CLOSING DOOR BEFORE MOVING TO FULL OPEN/CLOSED POSITION. 2. BELT IS STUCK/FROZEN IN MIDWAY POSITION OF DOOR. DRIVER HAS NO ADEQUATE SHOULDER RESTRAINT IN EVENT OF COLLISION. 3. CONTACTED MAZDA MANUFACTURE BUT THEY STATE CAR VIN IS NOT IN U.S. DATABASE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V211000 THAT IDENTIFIES A PROBLEM WITH MAZDA VEHICLES 323 AND MX3 THAT USE THE IDENTICAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN JAPAN, SHIPPED TO EUROPE AND PURCHASED NEW IN MONTHS, BELGIUM AS U.S. SPEC VEHICLE. THIS PUTS MY CAR IN A LIMBO STATUS OF IT IS A U.S. SPEC CAR BUT WAS SOLD IN EUROPE AND ISN'T COVERED BY A U.S. ONLY RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE SELLING VEHICLES OVERSEAS TO U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS WHO BRING THE CARS BACK TO THE STATES THEN THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED COVER THOSE VINS AS WELL FOR SAFETY RECALLS ETC. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank AssemblyFire1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 200410,000 milesNM

WHILE DRIVING, ROAD DEBRIS RUPTURED THE VEHICLE FUEL TANK WHICH RESULTED ON A FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BURNED ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF HER BODY. *LA

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Nov 23, 2003NE

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. THE CABLE HAS COME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. *LA

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 29, 2003NJ

WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Aug 11, 2003149,000 milesMD

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE, IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK. SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed May 29, 2003OR

CABLE THAT MOVES SHOULDER RESTRAINT BACK AND FORTH CAME OUT OF ITS TRACK CREATING A NOOSE ACROSS THE WINDOW SHOULDER BELT IS NOW INOPERABLE

Seat Belts › Front
Filed May 29, 2003OR

FRONT DRIVER SHOULDER RESTRAIN IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 20, 2002MO

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS DISABLED IN FORWARD POSITION, LAYING ACROSS STEERING WHEEL. MAZDA CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE BELT HAS FAILED IN FORWARD POSITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 8, 2002CT

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SEAT BELT FAILURE . *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 23, 2001NV

RAIL OF AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT HAS WORN OUT SUFFICIENTLY, CAUSING CABLE, WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, TO JAM IN RAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2001CT

MAIN BEARINGS ON CRANK BLEW, EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS ONLY 65000 MILES OIL IS CHANGED EVERY 4 MONTHS OR 3000 WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. NO WARNING THAT ANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR IN TRAFFIC ENGINE STARTED TO WEV HIGH,WHEN THIS HAPPENED I PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD CAR OVERHEATED WAS TOWED OFF HIGHWAY IN NEW JERSEY. WAS BROGHT BACK TO CT ON FLAT BED. SAME MECHANIC ON CAR SINCE BEGINING.*AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 27, 2001CA

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WOULD JAM IN THE MIDDLE OF TRACK AND REMAIN IN THAT POSITION, LEAVING THE OCCUPANT WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST,. STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Apr 4, 2001CO

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 3, 2001MI

HORN SOUNDS SPONTANIOUSLY. PEDESTRIANS WERE FRIGHTENED. WHILE WE WERE AT THE MOVIES (CAST AWAY) THE HORN WENT OFF WHILE WE WERE WATCHING THE MOVIE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IT UNTIL WE GOT BACK TO THE PARKING LOT, WHICH WAS ALMOST WMPTY EXCEPT FOR US, THE MOVIE WAS CLOSINF, AND THW HORN WAS BARELY BLOWING. LUCKY FOR US THE CAR STARTED BUT DIDN'T THE NEXT MORNING AND I HAD TO CATCH THE BUS IN THE SNOW.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Oct 5, 2000NY

FUNNY NOISE IN BRAKES, DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG, CONSUMER WAS BACKING CAR WHEN BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING A CRASH. *SLC

Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices
Filed Aug 14, 2000GA

SEATBELTS INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH WILL GO OFF AND BEEP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION, CAUSING A DISTRACTION . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jul 10, 2000TN

FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE MOTOR DRIVEN AND DO NOT WORK AND NEED TO BE RECALLED

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 8, 2000NJ

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ANOTHER CAR WAS IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. VEHICLE STARTED RACING AND LAUNCHED FORWARD WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM. BUT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 7 JUNE, 2 000. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC CLEANED OUT THE CABLES AND THROTTLE.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Nov 16, 1999NY

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION SEATBELT LIGHT WILL COME ON, ALERTING DRIVER THAT SEATBELTS ARE NOT ON CORRECTLY.CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES TWICE WITHIN 7 YEARS. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Oct 18, 1999NE

VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND JERKS AND IDLES VERY LOW DUE TO THE FUEL FILTER FAILURE. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices
Filed Sep 30, 1999CT

INTERMITTENTLY THE RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON AND OFF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 29, 1999TX

PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING FROM ORIGINAL PAINT JOB IN NUMEROUS PLACES ON ROOF

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Aug 28, 1999WI

THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH SPORADIC LOSSES OF WIPER AND BLOWER FUNCTION. WE COULD BYPASS THE PROBLEM BY JIGGLING THE KEY WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING TO RESTORE POWER TO THE WIPERS AND BLOWER. SOON THIS DEFECT OCCURRED MOST TIMES THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING. ON A RECENT OCCASION, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO SMOKE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON. WE HAVE NOT USED THE CAR SINCE. THESE DEFECTS ARE SERIOUS IN WISCONSIN WHERE WEATHER CONDITIONS REQUIRE A WORKING HEATER AND WIPERS. WE WERE WONDERING IF THERE EVER WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. OUR LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL. WE FEEL THAT THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF WIPERS OR DEFROSTER REPRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE STARTING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THANK YOU.

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filling/Charging
Filed Aug 10, 1999MN

GAS INTAKE VALVE FAILED. MJS

Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices
Filed Apr 15, 1999TX

SEAT BELT WARNING BELL GOES OFF AND ON CONTINUOUSLY WHILE CAR IS ON FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 1999IL

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE BEFORE DETERMINING THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR SWITCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN , 1 MONTH AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. SEAT BELT LIGHT BEEPS AND GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Feb 2, 1999WY

UNSURE IF ALL DATA I RECEIVED WHEN PURCHASED IS CORRECT. NO DEFECTS MENTIONE DIN THE SUMMARY. *AK

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Dec 28, 1998MN

DIFFERENTIAL UNIT IN THE F-4 TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. DEALER CONTACTED, AND THEY CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 15, 1998MN

RECALL WORK PERFORM ON MOTORBELT, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO NOT WORK.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Nov 9, 1998TX

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THEM TO BE INOPERABLE. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 27, 1998GA

MOTOR BELT FAILED TO OPERATE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE; DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSE TO REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Sep 10, 1998PA

CYLINDER HEAD AND SEAL PREMATURELY FAILED. ENGINE SHOWED VISIBLE SIGNS OF IT GOING BAD. SIGNS INCLUDED ROUGH START AND IDLE AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE PUFFY SMOKE FROM EXHAUST.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 29, 1998WI

THE VEHICLE WAS ON, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITHIN THE HARNESS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED WIRING HARNESS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 22, 1998SC

SEAT BELT SOMETIMES LOCKS WHEN IT'S MOVING BACK OR FORWARD. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE IT IS TO USE THE EMERGENCY RELEASE.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Aug 29, 1997IL

THE RESTRAINT LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 1, 1997WA

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED. ALSO, FRESH AIR VALVE BUSTED WHILE SWITCHING FROM RECIRC TO FRESH AIR. IN ADDITION, MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLED RADIO REPLACED. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 11, 1997WA

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE; ALSO, FRESH AIR VALVE BUSTED WHILE SWITCHING FROM MRECIRC TO FRESH AT FREEWAY, AND MANUFACTURING INSTALLED RADIO REPLACED DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 6, 1997ME

BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS COLLAPSED AFTER BEING HIT FROM THE REAR AT A COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Dec 30, 1996WA

DRIVER HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO UNLOCK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 26, 1996DC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE ENGINE BROKE A ROD, CAUSING OWNER TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN OIL PAN. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 30, 1996NY

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS IN COLD WEATHER.

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 5, 1996NJ

UPON STARTING VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS MALFUNCTION, PINNING DRIVER BACK INTO SEAT, AND ERRACTIC OPERATION OF BELT WHEN GOING UP AND DOWN TRACK.*AK

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Jun 18, 1996LA

CAR HORN DOES NOT WORK.*AK CONSUMER STATES ON FIRST OCCASION HORN WOULD BLOW BY ITSELF WHEN IT FELT LIKE IT HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE TO MAKE IT STOP BLOWING, ON SECOND OCCASION HORN STOPPED BLOWING AND DEALER STATED A NEW HORN WAS NEEDED ON STEERING COLUMN.*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 1996CO

ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, GEARS ARE NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices
Filed Jan 11, 1996NY

SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices
Filed Jan 11, 1996NY

SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING. TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Dec 28, 1995VA

#EA94-039 WHEN DRIVING AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT MAKES NOISE . TT

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Nov 22, 1995NY

PE95-044 ACTIVE, FAULTY FUEL FILLER NECK, REPLACED FUEL NECK ASSEMBLY, DAMAGED THE FUEL TANK. TT *SLC

Complaints 1-50 of 63, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
2003120421Fatalities reported
200298420Routine
200150510Routine
2000102330Routine
199988310Routine
199846200Routine
199766220Routine
199670210Routine
1995165541Fatalities reported
199474110Routine
199344120Routine
1992 — this page63110Routine
199151120Routine
199037100Routine

Compare every Protege year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 19, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.