1997 Mazda Protege

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/27/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULD BELT TWIST AND BINDS IN GUIDE, REQUIRING IT TO BE FREED MANUALLY

• 12/19/2001· STRUCTURE

  POWER LOCKS WERE REPLACED TWICE BY COVINGTON PIKE MAZDA (TN) AND ONCE BY CASCADE MAZDA DEALER(OH, 44221). THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME, MY LOCKS HAVE DETERIORATED.

• 12/18/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,INTERIOR LIGHTING

  BRAKE CALIPER PINS RUSTED OUT DUE TO MOISTURE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE PINS, AND CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO WORK ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER ADDED THAT CALIPERS WERE EXHIBITING A CLICK AND POPPING NOISE, DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS. CUSTOMER STATES DOME LIGHT FAILED. *TT

• 11/29/2001· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFT/FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS TOTALLING $576.44 IN REPAIRS.*AK

• 11/22/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA PROTG DX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. UPDATED 02/11/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN

• 11/13/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER DRIVING AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE IS OUT OF CONTROL, FELL INTO A HOLE HEAD-ON AND ROLLED 3-4 TIMES, ALL OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

• 10/22/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

• 10/20/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.

• 10/18/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE CONSUMER STATED THE FILLER NECK TUBE HAS RUSTED. AS A RESULT FUEL VAPORS SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. A RECALL FOR THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HAS BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

• 10/15/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ACCELERATION IS POOR.*MR ENCLOSED ARE COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS AND SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY IDENTIFIED AS A FAULTY VALVEIN CYLINDER #1. *JB

• 09/30/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO VEHICLE AHEAD. THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS SMASHED, AND THE THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND DRY AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME.

• 09/28/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED IN DRIVER'S FACE, CAUSING BURNS ON CHEEK AND SHEARING OFF CORNEA ON LEFT EYE. *AK

• 09/14/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AFTER INVESTIGATING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" OVER A PERIOD OF 5 MONTHS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A VALVE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST CYLINDER WAS CAUSING A LACK OF COMPRESSION AND POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE. 2 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS 8 VALVES AND OTHER PARTS, TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE SPENT A TOTAL OF $1791.78 BEFORE THE CAR WAS FIXED. WE LEARNED FROM OUR MAZDA DEALER THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED 6/10/98 THAT COVERED THIS PROBLEM. WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MAZDA AREA REP, AND NO REIMBURSEMENT WAS ISSUED. *PH

• 09/10/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ENGINE IDLED UP OR DOWN AT STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES RACE UP OVER 300 RPMS SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT FROM GOING HIGHER THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALMOST GOING THROUGH BACK OF MY GARAGE ALSO SURGED WHEN TRYING TO PARK AND CAUSING CAR TO JUMP FORWARD CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS TWICE THEY CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WIRE HARNESS UNDER HOOD GROUNDS ALTERNATOR VACUUM LINE ENGINE MOUNTS WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED TO BE WORSENING ON SURGING AND GOT A NUMBER FOR MAZDA TECH CENTER BY MISTAKE AND THE MAN I TALKED TO SAID HE FELT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH MAZDA REP FOR THIS AREA AND THEY SAID HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO LOOK INTO ANY FURTHER HOLIDAY DEALER SERVICE REPS DID NOT HELP ME MUCH WITH ANYTHINGI WOULD HAVE TO ASK AROUND WITH FRIENDS TO FIND WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE CAUSING SURGES AND IDLING DOWN TO STALLING EACH HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS WHICH I WOULD TAKE TO HOLIDAY AND I WOULD BE PUT OFF AS THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD DIFFERENT MECHANICS SEE THE IDLE SURGES ANDCOULD NOT FIGURE WHAT CAUSED ITBESIDES THE THINGS I MENTIONED I HAD A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH DOOR NOT UNLOCKING OR WINDOW GOING UP OR DOWN TOOK IT IN 2 TIMES AND THEN THE SERVICES REP SAID I SHOULD JUST LIVE WITH IT AND WALKED AWAY ON ME WHICH I HAVENT BEEN BACK SINCE BUT KEEP CALLING MAZDA AND THEY KEEP PUTTING ME OFF THEY SUGGESTED I GO ONLY TO MAZDA CERTIFIED PLACES WHICH THERE ARE NOT ANYMORE AROUND HERE WITHOUT DRIVING 45 MILES TO APPLETON SO A GUY AT A SHOP I WAS AT SAID I SHOULD CONTACT YOU PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I COULD GET HELP I WILL NOT TALK TO THAT IGNORANT SERVICE REP AGAIN DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO A DIFFERENT PLACE TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED I FOUND A COUPLE GOOD LEADS TO MY PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET WHICH SEAMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE ON MAZDA AND A FEW OTHER CARS THAT WHERE FIXED BY THESE MECHANICS WHICH WAS SOME CENSOR OR VACUUM GAUGE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEMSOR AMAIN COMPUTER PROBLEMTO IGNITIONCCAN

• 09/10/1997· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND TACHOMETER WENT TO 5000 RPMS, VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND DID NOT CHANGE GEAR. THE SECOND TIME, DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CURB WHILE DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROAD. *AK

• 08/27/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION PUT 3 DENTS IN THE HOOD, MAZDA BATTREY. *AK

• 08/16/1999· POWER TRAIN

  WITH GEAR IN PARK VEHICLE CAN STILL BE MOVED. COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

• 08/15/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH WHEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN THE FRONT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

• 08/14/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  MAZDA PRO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING IN 2 ENGINE FIRES IN 3-4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *AK

• 08/13/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  1) AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY DURING A RIGHT ANGLE (T BONE) ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION .. THE DRIVER (ME) SYSTAINED HEAD AND FACE / CHEST INJURIES. 2) SINCE NEW THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ON MY NON ABS CAR LOCKES UP VERY EASILY, AND HAS CAUSED A SPIN OUT IN SEVERAL CASES, ON WET SURFACES. A DEALER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, WHEN I WROTE MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE HQ, THEY SIMPLY SAID TO GO BACK TO A DEALER FOR THEIR JUDGEMENT / ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

• 08/07/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON BOTH SIDES AT 35MPH WHILE REAR ENDING A VAN. TORE OFF BUMPER WITH AIRBAG SENSORS CLEARLY IN VIEW AIRBAG LIGHT INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS NOT ON EITHER. *AK

• 08/04/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

• 07/27/1999· EQUIPMENT

  THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER IS IN A BAD PLACE. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE A ROCK HIT THE COMPRESSOR. SOMEHOW I FEEL THIS IS A CROCK AND A WAY FOR MAZDA TO GET OUT OF HONORING THE WARRANTY.

• 07/27/1999· SUSPENSION,EQUIPMENT

  AFTER VEHICLE REACHED 20,000 MILES IT HAS A VERY HARD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ACTIVATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 07/20/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE MOUNTS. RATTLE NOICE INSIDE THE HOOD WHEN CAR SITS AT AN IDLE & REVERSE.ALSO WITH A/C ON & IT VIBRATES. *AK

• 07/13/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, CREATING A SLIGHT VACUUM IN THE GAS TANK. DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK CAP AND CANCELED THE CODE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 07/12/2002· SEATSCrash

  FAILURE OF THE LATCHES ON BOTH FRONT SEAT ALLOWING THE SEAT TO RECLINE. DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN REAR CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO RECLINE. THE ACTION TRAPPED MY WIFE'S LEFT FOOT UNDER THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED SEVERE CONTUSION AND ABRASIONS.*AK

• 07/09/1998· AIR BAGS

  WARNING LIGHT FOR DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG HAS ILLUMINATED TWICE AND THE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

• 07/09/1998· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES, LETTING DRIVER KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK

• 07/08/2002· SUSPENSION

  THERE WAS A SEVERE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA, DEALER FOUND THE G1 BEARING WAS WORN ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER AND THE DEALER FOUND THE SWAY BAR LINKS TO BE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS MADE. *SLC

• 07/06/1999· AIR BAGS,STRUCTURECrash

  CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, ON A 15 MPH IMPACT, BOTH HOOD HINGES SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE AND HIT WINDSHIELD. *AK

• 06/28/2002· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THERE WAS A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER. *AK THE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

• 06/28/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXETENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 06/23/2000· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT CABLE WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CABLE OF BELT IS STICKING OUT OF TRACK AND MOTORS HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE RUNNING ALL THE TIME AND RAN DOWN THE BATTERY. *AK *ML

• 06/19/2003· POWER TRAIN

  MY 1997 626 IS HAVING A SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY 60000 MILES ON IT. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILES ON THIS ISSUE, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT MAZDA DOES SOMETHING ABOUT (RECALL OR BETTER GO OUT OF BUSINESS). *NLM

• 06/18/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CAR ALWAYS WOULD SPEED UP OR IDLE DOWN AT DIFF. TIMES ONCE WENT TO 3000 RPMS HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF KILLED AT STOP SIGNS HOLIDAY CHANGED DIFF COMPONENTS BUT COULD NOT STOP THE IDLING AND LURCHING FORWARD PROBLEM ALSO AT DIFF TIMES IT WOULD IDLE DOWN AND STALL OR JUST IDLE UP AND DOWN TIL I WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART OR JUST STOP ON THE GAS THIS IDLING UP AND LURCHING FORWARD HAS AT DIFF TIMES ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY GOING FORWARD. *AK

• 06/14/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN COLLISION. *YC

• 06/08/1998· STRUCTURE

  DEPRESSIONS ARE PRESENT IN THE SHEET METAL ALONG THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROOF ABOVE THE DOORS.

• 06/06/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND KEPT GAINING SPEED.

• 06/04/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *MR *PH

• 05/30/1997· TIRES

  FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT.

• 05/27/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, ROTORS / CALIPERS TO FAILED. *YC

• 05/26/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 05/21/2001· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED, CAUSING INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER PURCHASED REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *YH

• 05/12/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN A\BLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 05/09/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CAR ENGINE RACED WHILE SLOWING TO PARK. CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND A BUILDING. CAR HAD BEEN IN SHOP APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT FOR HIGH IDLE CONDITION. *AK

• 05/03/1999· POWER TRAIN

  NO SUMMARY

• 04/25/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE THEY ARE RUBBING AGAINST METAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 04/22/2002· POWER TRAIN

  OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE WILL KICK. *AK

• 04/19/2000· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHILE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE AND THEN SWITCHES TO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL JUMP WITHOUT A WARNING. ONE TIME RESULTED IN CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL, DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK *ML