Worst years for a Mazda Protege
Owners have filed 1,377 complaints about the Mazda Protege with NHTSA across model years 1989 to 2003. More of them are about the seat belts than anything else.
Every Mazda Protege year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | D | 145 | 18 | 3 | 69,900 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2002 | D | 133 | 19 | 3 | 65,000 | Seat Belts |
| 2001 | C | 68 | 18 | 1 | 50,925 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2000 | D | 126 | 33 | 3 | 49,800 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1999 | D | 102 | 26 | 1 | 60,500 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1998 | C | 53 | 11 | 0 | 82,100 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1997 | C | 103 | 20 | 2 | 108,000 | Brakes |
| 1996 | D | 91 | 31 | 2 | 42,000 | Airbags |
| 1995 | F | 232 | 42 | 5 | 70,000 | Airbags |
| 1994 | C | 89 | 6 | 2 | 95,000 | Seat Belts |
| 1993 | C | 56 | 1 | 3 | — | Seat Belts |
| 1992 | — | 72 | 6 | 1 | — | Seat Belts |
| 1991 | — | 60 | 6 | 2 | — | Seat Belts |
| 1990 | — | 45 | 5 | 1 | — | Seat Belts |
| 1989 | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | — | Engine & Cooling |
What breaks on a Mazda Protege
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Exactly what failed on a Mazda Protege
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Mazda Protege, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Mazda Protege problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the Mazda Protege
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.