1995 Mazda Protege

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 165 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal28
18129
Exterior Lighting › Headlights13
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission8
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch7
000
Seats6
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline6
000
Air Bags6
202
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System5
000
Unknown or Other5
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner4
202

5 safety recalls

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.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch00V118000
Filed Apr 21, 200076,000 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE RUNNING THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE SOLDERED CONNECTION TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Risk. THE FAILURE OF THE WIRE CONNECTION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Air Bags95V184000
Filed Oct 3, 199551,817 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. THE TIE DOWN HOOKS CAN CAUSE UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT IN UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.

Risk. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine95V033000
Filed Feb 21, 19955,760 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. THE WIRE ROD USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS CAN DEVELOP MINUTE CRACKS CAUSING BREAKAGE OF THE SPRINGS.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed May 12, 201449,000 milesNY

THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED WHILE I WAS OUT SIDE THE CAR , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS & I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY EITHER MAZDA CORP OR THE DEALER & I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER , THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THE 1995 PROTEGE & AT NO TIME I WAS EVER CONTACTED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PERIOD. IN 1997 THE ENGINE DIED & I HAD TO PAY THE SUM OF $1500.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE & THERE WERE RECALLS I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF. I CONTACTED BOTH MAZDA OF NORTH AMERICA & THE DEALER PLAZA AUTO MALL WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1995 & BOTH REFUSED MY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, DUE TO CORROSION. UPDATED 08/27/14

Air Bags
Filed Apr 29, 201449,000 milesNY

I WAS OUT OF THE CAR & BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS , BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY MAZDA CORP ,I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL AFTER THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED. *JS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 12, 2008125,000 milesMI

1995 MAZDA PROTEGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured1 killed
Filed Jan 16, 200712,546 milesNC

TL* - THE CONTACT HAD A 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE WHICH WAS IN A HEAD ON CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. THAT CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY SKID MARKS IN THE ROAD TO INDICATE THAT EITHER VEHICLE TRIED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS A POLICE REPORT FROM THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS THE STEERING SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG. *NM THE DECEDENTS GRANDMOTHER WROTE IN. UPDATED 02/26/07.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed Nov 26, 2005IA

MY 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS THE GAS AND BRAKE PETALS SO CLOSE IN HEIGHT AND LITTLE SEPARATION THAT IT IS VERY EASY TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND STILL BE APPLYING THE GAS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT HAVE HAD SOME VERY NEAR MISSES. *NM

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window
Filed Nov 26, 20055,000 milesIA

AT 5000 MILES THE REAR DEFROST DID NOT WORK. IN THE WINTER IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. IT WAS NOT FIXED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MAZDA WOULD NOT REPAIR. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Mar 15, 2005127,066 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT SWITCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER REPAIR OF RECALL 91007. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 4, 2005MN

DRIVER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ,THEN PUSHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Dec 13, 2004GA

THIS IS A REPEAT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V118000. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN YEAR 2000 UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL. 1 MONTH AGO THE HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE GROUND WIRE BROKE ITS SOLDER CONNECTION AT THE BASE OF THE SWITCH. I HAVE DISSAEMBLED THE SWITCH AND CONNECT A TEMPORARY GROUND WIRE TO THE BASE OF THE SWITCH. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THIS SWITCH ASSEMBLY IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN!

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Sep 22, 2003125,000 milesMA

1995 MAZDA PROTEGE. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN MY DAUGHTER HIT A CURB. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT. TIRES AND RIMS HAD NO DAMAGE. THE BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. RECALL 95V184000 DESCRIBES PROBLEM WITH INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. MAZDA CLAIMS THAT MY DAUGHTERS VEHICLE WAS FIXED IN 1995. THIS UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACT CAUSED THE BAGS TO DEPLOY HURTING MY DAUGHTER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG DOOR CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. VERY EXPENSIVE ITEMS TO FIX FOR NO REASON. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlCrash
Filed Sep 12, 200388,000 milesCA

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL(3 TIMES), BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MOTOR. *AK *SCC *JB

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Aug 6, 2003NY

REAR DEFROST SWITCH FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. PER MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE AND IS A PART OF TSB. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY AND MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 18, 200360,128 milesWA

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 60128 MILES. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH MADE IT A SAFETY ISSUE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS PASSING DECIDED TO SPEED UP SO THAT I COULD GET BACK INTO MY LANE BEFORE ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ALONG WHICH WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Apr 16, 2003180,000 milesAL

1995 MAZDA PROTEGE >180000 MI. >DURING THIS TIME THE DEALER HAS INSTALLED (3) AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSORS APPROXIMATELY ONE FOR EVERY 60000 MI. AT OVER $1000 APIECE> IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP WITH AN EXPECTED BILL OF $1200.00. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2003111,123 milesTX

ENGINE FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 95 V 0 3 3000. CALLED MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500 ON MARCH 03, 2003, BUT WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS NOT IN THEIR RECALL LIST. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOTIFIED. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Jan 13, 200370,000 milesNJ

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. REPLACEMENT SWITCH FAILED: HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF WHEN TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. REPLACED AGAIN. NOW TAILLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ARE SHORTING OUT. MAY BE DUE TO SWITCH AGAIN. DEALER UNABLE TO FIX.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 8, 2003VA

CONSUMER STATED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#95V033000 ENGINE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 15, 2002GA

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEEN INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TRUCK AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Aug 14, 2002GA

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BYPASS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DASHBOARD. VEHICLE CURRENTLY BEING CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Aug 9, 2002GA

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER FIRE RELATED PROBLEMS. *AK

20 of 165 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
2003120421Fatalities reported
200298420Routine
200150510Routine
2000102330Routine
199988310Routine
199846200Routine
199766220Routine
199670210Routine
1995 — this page165541Fatalities reported
199474110Routine
199344120Routine
199263110Routine
199151120Routine
199037100Routine

Compare every Protege year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.