2002 Mazda Protege

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

• 12/23/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2002 PROTEGE HEATER FAN SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND MELTED PLUG AND SWITCH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE BUT IT WAS SMOKING WHEN IT FRIED AND CAUSED THE 4TH SPEED OF THE FAN NOT TO WORK I HAD TO SPLICE A NEW PLUG IN TO FIX THE ISSUE AND TO KEEP IT FROM CATCHING FIRE I HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED. *LN

• 12/21/2004· EQUIPMENT

  CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS WONDERING WHY HE WAS GETTING SUCH POOR GAS MILEAGE. HE THEN TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO HIS PRIVATE MECHANIC SINCE HE LIVES ABOUT 65-70 FROM THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALER. HE THINKS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, BECAUSE HE ALSO THINKS THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF SOME MIS-WIRING. AIR COMPRESSOR RUNS WHEN IT IS NOT TURNED ON. OVERDRIVE BUTTON IS INOPPERABLE.*TS *TC

• 12/14/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE STATED THAT THE POLE STRUCK A BUILDING AND CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,624 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 2/22/11 *CN UPDATED 07/01/11

• 12/09/2014· SEAT BELTS

  I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD THAT CAUSED THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO COME LOOSE AND IT GOT IN MY WAY OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS LUCKY TO BE DRIVING ON THE LEFT LANE ON ONE WAY STREET, I WAS ABLE PULL OVER, AND TO MY SURPRISE THE BUCKLE WOULDN'T LATCH TO THE FEMALE CONNECTOR. IT SEEMS LIKE THE FEMALE CONNECTOR PIECES INSIDE IT HAD BROKEN. PLEASE CHECK, THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ANYONE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY I CAN'T IMAGINE TAKING MY EYES OF THE ROAD FOR EVEN 1 SEC. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR

• 12/06/2012· SEAT BELTS

  THE DRIVER-SIDE SEATBELT LATCH FELL APART. THE SEATBELT IS NO LONGER OPERABLE. *TR

• 12/03/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. WITHOUT WARNING, IT WOULDN'T START. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. THE HEAT, STEREO, HEADLIGHTS & POWER WINDOWS ALL WORKED. THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND DIDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER, IT STARTED FINE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO (APPROX A MONTH IN BETWEEN INCIDENTS). SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE CAR REFUSES TO START. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT INFO SHOULD I BE AWARE OF? I DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

• 11/29/2010· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  MYSELF, THE DRIVER, REAR-ENDED ANOTHER DRIVER AT A SPEED OF 35-40MPH. THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND I HAD NO TIME TO REACT. THE RESULT IS A TOTALED FRONT END W/ $4000+ OF REPAIRS. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WILL BE TOTALED AND I SUFFERED EXTENSIVE BRUISING BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. *TR

• 11/29/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK UPDATED 02/08/07. *JB

• 11/28/2006· SEAT BELTS

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BUCKLE AT ALL. THERE WAS NO CLICK WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS INSERTED IN THE BUCKLE, AND THE BELT DID NOT LOCK INTO THE BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. A NEW PART WAS ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.

• 11/28/2002· TIRES

  NOTICED BULGE ON SIDEWALL OF TIRE. REPLACED TIRE TO PREVENT TIRE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT/CASUALTIRES. DT

• 11/20/2009· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVE SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE INTO PIECES. *TR

• 11/18/2002· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HARD PLASTIC PIECE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. IF THE PIECE IS IMPACTED IN A CRASH, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER INDICATES "THE PLASTIC PIECE COULD BREAK OFF BECOMING A HAZARDOUS WEAPON". TS

• 11/15/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN STARTED. NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED A "VALVE" IN THE ENGINE IS CAUSING NOISE AND THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS ARE INVESTIGATING TO FIND A SOLUTION. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT ISSUE COULD COMPROMISE HER SAFETY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. TS

• 11/04/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, CONSUMER STATES' APPLIED BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED BRAKE LINE WAS SPLIT DUE TO A DEFECT IN LINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 11/02/2015· SUSPENSION,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE

  UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE CAR'S FRAME ITSELF. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS BOTH CONTROL ARM SHOCK AND THE CAR IS STILL HARD TO STEER

• 10/31/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  2002 MAZDA PROTEGE I BOUGHT NEW. NOW ABOUT 64,000 MILES. NEVER BEEN WRECKED. IN 09/07 I STARTED TO SMELL GAS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. SINCE THE DEFECT WAS MOST LIKELY A PROBLEM W/ THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SUGGESTED I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER & MAZDA TO LET THEM KNOW & DISCUSS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. I SPOKE WITH A REP AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE & HE WAS EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL. HE DID NOT OFFER TO HELP IN ANY MANNER & SHOWED NO CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. HE REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. HE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME IT WAS TOO OLD. I REQUESTED THAT A MAZDA REP LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TO WHICH HE SAID HE WOULD CALL THEM. HE CALLED ME BACK SAYING THAT HE SPOKE WITH MAZDA & THEY TOO SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA TWICE ON THE PHONE. AGAIN THEY OFFERED NO HELP NOR ANY CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, NO LEMON LAW, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING. AGAIN, I REQUESTED THAT A REP PLEASE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE & AGAIN THEY REFUSED SAYTHING THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO GET THE GAS TANK, FUEL PUMP, ETC. REPLACED LATER THIS WEEK AS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (I.E. TUNE UPS, OIL CHANGES, BRAKES, TIRES, ETC.). THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE GAS TANK. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH MAZDA & THEIR LACK OF CONCERN, THEIR AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEIR GENERAL DISREGARD FOR MY SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT & THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND/OR OWN UP TO IT AND AT LEAST HAVE A QUALIFIED MAZDA PROFESSIONAL LOOK AT THE CAR TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A MAZDA AGAIN. I WANT TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF HOW MAZDA TREATED ME & THAT THERE COULD BE A REAL SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

• 10/28/2003· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 10/25/2013· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 880. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED MODEL YEAR 2003 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURER. BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR MODEL YEARS 2001-2002. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS CONDITION DOES NOT KEEP THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. IT CAN AND HAS CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. UPDATED 05/29/2014 *JS

• 10/20/2009· TIRES

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE -H TIRES 205/55/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE NOTICED A RUBBING, THUMPING SOUND. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BLISTERS ON THE SIDE OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. SHE INSTALLED THE SPARE AND WHEN SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION, SHE NOTICED 5 TO 6 ADDITIONAL BLISTERS ON THE TIRE. SHE NOTIFIED THE TIRE STORE WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY SPOKE WITH THE TIRE STORE ABOUT INSTALLING AN H SPEED RATED TIRE INSTEAD OF A V SPEED RATED TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE V RATED TIRE WOULD BE FINE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

• 10/15/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO FRONT PORCH. *AK

• 10/11/2008· SEATSCrash

  I WAS REAR-ENDED, I WAS A PASSENGER, A LOOSE LUG WRENCH CAME ,FROM THE TRUNK, THROUGH THE SEAT AND CRACKED ME IN THE RIBS. *TR

• 10/05/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN THE DRIVER RELEASES THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE PEDALS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

• 10/05/2003· VISIBILITY

  I BOUGHT A NEW 2002 PROTG LX IN JUNE 2002 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR 6 MONTHS. EARLY JANUARY 2003, BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NOT WORK ON SPEEDS 1, 2, AND 3. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEIR REPORT WAS THAT BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR WERE DEFECTIVE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LESS THAN A WEEK LATER AND DEALER STATED AGAIN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS ALL WITH THE DEALER STATING THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL OCTOBER 2003. SOMETIMES NONE OF THE SPEEDS WOULD WORK, AND SOMETIMES JUST THE 4TH SPEED. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR OVER NIGHT, AND SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES BY DEALER AND TO NO AVAIL. THIS CAR IS CLEARLY A LEMON AND A HAZARD TO DRIVE WHEN NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF NO HEAT TO DEFROST OR DEFOGGER THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. *LA

• 10/04/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  REAR DISC BRAKES WITH EBFD PREMATURE WEAR OF ONE PAD ON ONE SIDE OF DISC BRAKE TO 0% WHILE OPPOSITE SIDE AT 30% AND OPPOSITE BRAKE AT 50% *JB

• 09/30/2011· SEAT BELTS

  SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK IN ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND TODAY THE HANDLE BROKE ON THE INSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR! *TR

• 09/25/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER BUT THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE EGR VALVE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

• 09/24/2015· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ

• 09/21/2007· TIRES

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE VEHICLE HAS KUMHO (P195/55R15) TIRES. WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW TIRE. THE DEALER NOTICED A SPLIT AND WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE. SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF THE OTHER TIRES HAVE THE SAME FAILURE AS WELL. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,022. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,290.

• 09/18/2015· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE IN THE LATCHED POSITION. NECESSITATED TAKING THE LATCH APART TO RELEASE THE BELT.

• 09/10/2017· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE SECURITY ALARM FEATURE BECOMES ACTIVATED AND WILL NOT DEACTIVATE WITH EITHER THE KEY FOB, THE IGNITION KEY, DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, OR PULLING THE INTERNAL IGNITION/ALARM FUSE. THIS PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED AND DRIVEN FOR INDETERMINATE PERIODS OF TIME. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKED, NO MATTER BY WHAT METHOD. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE CAUSED THE CAR'S ALARM SYSTEM TO BECOME ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING GREAT CONCERN THAT SOMETHING MAY SHORT OUT IN THE ENGINE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

• 09/08/2005· EQUIPMENT

  AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN GETTING LESS AND LESS COOL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THE EVAPORATOR WAS LEAKING AND PART WOULD COST 561.12 OUT OF WARRANTY. 2 MONTHS PRIOR THE CONDENSER WENT OUT AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

• 09/07/2005· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE LX WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO FIX IT WITH AAMOCO. TOTAL BILL, $2500. I REALIZED THE PROBLEM WHEN I DROVE THE CAR IT WOULDN'T SHIFT. IT ACTED LIKE I WAS DRIVING IN NEUTRAL. MAZDA REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A HAVE SAFE HALF RELIABLE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF YOUR DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND YOU CAN'T ACCELERATE IT CREATES A VERY SCARY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *JB

• 09/06/2007· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE PERFORMING AN EMISSIONS INSPECTION, THE DEALER NOTICED A LEAK CAUSED BY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION SEAL AND STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,000.

• 09/03/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENTFire

  PURCHASED A NEW 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE ON 2/20/02 FROM RAMSEY MAZDA, RAMSEY, NJ. OTHER THAN REGULAR OIL CHANGES, ONLY SERVICE TO VEHICLE DONE BY MAZDA DEALER ON 5/8/02 WHEN CAR STALLED AND DEALER INSTALLED NEW COMPUTER. ON 8/24/03, WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLED AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OPENED HOOD AND SAW ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND PUT OUT FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO FRONT OF CAR. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED CAR TOTALLED. MAZDA CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO INVESTIGATIVE TEAM TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE AND THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD HIRE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR. INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO HIRE INVESTIGATOR. *AK

• 08/30/2007· SEAT BELTS

  2002 MAZDA PROTEGE', IN 2006 (UNDER 60,000 MILES) THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND BEGAN TO STICK. AFTER A SHORT TIME, IT WAS NO LONGER WORKING AT ALL. MAZDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SAFETY LATCH AT NO COST. JUST LAST WEEK THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT. AS THIS IS WHERE A 2-YEAR OLD IS BUCKLED, I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT IS INDEED BEGINNING TO MALFUNCTION. THE CAR HAS JUST OVER 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS "NO LONGER UNDER SAFETY WARRANTY". HOWEVER, THE SEATBELT HAS ONLY BEEN USED CONSISTENTLY ON THAT SIDE FOR JUST UNDER A YEAR. A NEW PART HAS BEEN ORDERED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $100 INCLUDING THE LABOR. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED *JB

• 08/29/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK/SENDER UNIT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF MY MAZDA PROTEGE5. GIVEN AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A RECALL IN THE MAZDA6, 2003 MODEL YEAR. MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY IN MY VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $900. I AM LOOKING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT TANK. I FEEL MAZDA SHOULD REPLACE THE TANK UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A KNOWN PROBLEM. *JB

• 08/26/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 08/25/2009· STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  1. NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. 2. THE LEFT FRONT SEAT INSIDE DOOR HANDLE (DRIVER'S SIDE) BROKE OFF 1/28/09. ONLY WAY OUT IS TO CRAW OVER CENTER CONSOLE AND EXIT PASSENGER SIDE. 3. THE LEFT REAR SEAT INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF 8/22/09. CHILD HAD TO EXIT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR. 4. GOOGLE (NO QUOTES) "PROTEGE BROKE DOOR HANDLE" AND SEE OTHERS WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

• 08/12/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED AND VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 08/12/2002· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 08/11/2010· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVERS FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK IN. *TR

• 08/10/2006· POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED A USED 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE 5TH GEAR STARTED POPPING OUT OF GEAR ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THEN ACTS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU PUT IT IN 5TH GEAR. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $2500. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS NEW OF A CAR. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE, WHY ISN'T A RECALL BEING MADE?

• 08/02/2007· VISIBILITY

  DRIVING ON FL TURNPIKE AT NIGHT IN HEAVY RAIN, BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, WIPERS WERE ON HIGH, SWITCHED THEM TO LOW (NOT INTERMITTENT) AND THE WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW SO I CAN SEE, AND THEY JUST CAME BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY. MADE IT HOME, KEEPING THEM ON LOW. THAT WAS 7/17/07. YESTERDAY (8/1/07) IN MEDIUM RAIN IN DAYLIGHT, WENT TO LOCAL STORE. AS A TEST, I PUT WIPERS ON LOW A MINUTE OR SO, THEN HIGH, THEN BACK TO LOW, THEN THEY STOPPED MID WINDOW AGAIN (ALL THIS IN ABOUT 4 MINUTES). TURNING THEM OFF/ON WOULD NOT MAKE THEM COME ON AGAIN. I PUT THEM BACK ON LOW HOPING THEY WOULD COME BACK ON. TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED AND I HAD TO DRIVE ACROSS FOUR LANES TO STORE WITH NO WIPERS. WIPERS CAME BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN I PULLED UP TO THE STORE (MAYBE 3 MINUTES AFTER THE WIPERS POWERED OFF). THE CAR HAS ABOUT 60,050 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER, NO ACCIDENTS OR OTHER MISHAPS. IT APPEARS THAT I CAN REPRODUCE THIS BEHAVIOR. *JB

• 07/26/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IF MY MAZDA PROTEGE 5 IS NOT DRIVEN FOR 2-3 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS DEAD THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT. IT HAS BEEN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR JUMPED ON 3 OTHER OCCASSIONS. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES, REPLACED VARIOUES FUSES, AND FINALLY DECIDED THAT THE FACTORY STEREO SYSTEM WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS 7/25, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 9 OTHER TIMES SINCE LAST JUNE.

• 07/24/2007· TIRES

  THE TIRE WAS SIX WEEKS OLD AND BLEW UP FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. DUNLOP AND TIRES PLUS REFUSED TO HONOR A WARRANTY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT RETURN THE ENTIRE TIRE TO THEM. THE TIRE WAS BLOWN INTO 2 INCH PIECES AND ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. PERHAPS THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RISKED OUR LIVES RUNNING AROUND THE HIGHWAY PICKING UP THE PIECES. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT OUR LIVES WERE PUT INTO ENOUGH DANGER DUE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE DUNLOP MADE. *TR

• 07/24/2003· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SEAT BELT CAN'T BE USED DUE A FAULTY RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATED SEAT BELT WAS WARRANTED ONLY 2 MONTHS. *AK

• 07/17/2008· VISIBILITY

  DRIVING CAR IN POURING TROPICAL RAINSTORM AT ABOUT 40MPH IN HEAVY SOUTHBOUND THREE LANE TRAFFIC. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE RUNNING ON LOW. TURNED WIPERS TO HIGH, THEY RAN FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO CENTER LANE U-TURN TURNAROUND AND SIT THERE WITH FLASHERS ON UNTIL RAIN SUBSIDED (THIS IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS). WIPERS WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL AFTER THAT. THERE WERE 1 ADULT AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. RETURNED HOME. CHECKED FUSE AND IT WAS OK. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR REVEALED THAT THE GROUND WIRE HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE LOOP WHERE IT HELD IN PLACE BY THE WIPER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLT (WITH WASHERS). I SUSPECT THAT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE STEEL WASHERS HAD CUT THE BRASS GROUND WIRE LOOP OVER TIME. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THIS LOOP HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THAT WHEN THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON HIGH, THAT THE MOTOR VIBRATES IN THE RUBBER MOUNT BUSHING, AND THE BRASS GROUND LOOP SHANK JITTERS OFF OF THE LOOP (WHERE IT IS NORMALLY JUST LYING UPON DUE TO GRAVITY), THUS CAUSING THE MOTOR'S GOUND CIRCUIT TO OPEN, AND THE WIPERS TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE IS A 5 CENT PART THAT HAS PUT OUT FAMILY IN HARMS WAY TWICE NOW. IF THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON MY VEHICLE, I PREDICT THAT THERE WILL BE DEATHS AND INJURIES CAUSED WHEN DRIVERS CANNOT SEE WHERE THEY ARE DRIVING. *TR

• 07/17/2003· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 07/16/2008· TIRES

  I STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT ON MY TIRES, BUT I ALREADY REPLACED 2 AND FOUND OUT TODAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER 2. ONE FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT AND I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. MY BACK TIRE HAVE A HUMP IN THEM. WHICH IS GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO WEAR FASTER . *TR

• 07/08/2004· POWER TRAIN

  WE PURCHASED A MAZDA PROTEGE5 IN JANUARY OF 2002. WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME, (~1000 MILES, MAYBE LESS), WE NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE. THIS NOISE OCCURS BETWEEN 50 AND 75 MILES PER HOUR ON AVERAGE. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO MAZDA, AND A MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY TIED THE PROBLEM TO THE TRANSMISSION. SO, IN VERY SHORT ORDER, THEY REPLACED OUR TRANSMISSION, (WHICH WORRIED ME A LITTLE). UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SO WE COMPLAINED ONCE MORE, AND WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO MAZDA APPARENTLY RELEASED A BULLETIN WHICH RELEASES THEM OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY. THIS BULLETIN APPARENTLY STATES THAT THE WHINING NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN MAZDA PROTEGE5 VEHICLES IS MERELY A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE OR ITS RESALE VALUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BUY AN OTHERWISE PRISTINE VEHICLE IF IT WHINED EVERY TIME I GOT ON THE FREEWAY...I HAVE TO TURN MY RADIO UP QUITE LOUD JUST TO DROWN IT OUT!!! MAZDA WILL DO NOTHING FOR US, WHICH IS SAD, BECAUSE I HAVE ENJOYED OWNING THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT NECESSARILY CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER. *AK