What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2002 Mazda Protege

Typical pattern

7.8% of complaints about the 2002 Mazda Protege came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is seat belts (20 complaints), typically at 7.0 yr or about 80,225 miles.

Complaints
129
Median age at failure
5.3 yr
Median mileage
67,000 n=84
Crash / fire / tow
20.2% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Seat belts
20 reports · 80,225 mi
7.0 yr
20%
Power train
16 reports · 34,000 mi
2.8 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

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.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E064000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E038000 2006-05-08
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 6 mo in service
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT TO 5TH GEAR, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION NEAR A QUARRY, HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE, ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK
Power train 17,000 mi 1.8 yr in service
THERE IS A DISTINCT TRANSMISSION WHINE/SQUEAL THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES BEYOND 50 MPH. THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR AFTER ABOUT 17000 MILES. IT WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. MAZDA CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL' AND CAUSED BY THE RESONANCE OF PARTS WHICH OCCURS ONCE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN BROKEN IN. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND I FEEL IT IS BIZARRE THAT A NEW CAR WOULD HAVE SUCH AN INHERENT FLAW THAT MAZDA FEELS IS NORMAL AND THAT CUSTOMERS ACCEPT THE NOISE FACTOR ONCE THE CAR IS 'BROKEN IN'.*AK
Power train 15,000 mi 2.1 yr in service
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY, NONE OF THE GEARS WORKED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
Seat belts 41,000 mi 1.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
THE REAR SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED. WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR MY DAUGHTER FELL ASLEEP. WHEN SHE SAT UPRIGHT THE SEAT BELT HAD TWISTED AROUND HER MIDDLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE LATCH BUT THE SEAT BELT WAS FEEDING BACK IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I TRIED TO PULL THE SEAT BELT AND WAS UNABLE TO ADVANCE THE BELT. IT WOULD RETRACT CAUSING MORE CONSTRICTION ON HER. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO CUT THE BELT TO FREE HER. *JB

Other Protege model years

2003200220001999

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