FaultScore report
Owners have filed 60 complaints about the 1991 Mazda Protege with NHTSA between 1995 and 2016. The largest single group is the seat belts.
60
Complaints
6
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 90,000 mi
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL
AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Electrical
On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could cause an electrical short to develop over time. This could result in smoke and/or fire, increasing the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10876750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN CRASHING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS RELEASED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED KNEE, HEAD, AND BACK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10819069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN CRASHING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS RELEASED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED KNEE, HEAD, AND BACK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10819069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TRUNK LID WAS IN THE UP POSITION AND TRUNK CAME DOWN AND HIT CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ON HEAD. *AK CONSUMER STATES NOTHING TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID IN UPRIGHT POSITION. A SLIGHT WIND OR ELEVATION COULD BLOW THE OPEN LID DOWN AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #8015782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
THIRD TIRE OF SET OF 4 THAT TREAD HAD SEPARATED - THIS ONE TOTALED THE CAR AND INJURED ONE PERSON. TIRE HAD 18,000 MILES WEAR. *AK (TIRESIZE: P185/60R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/60R14 )
NHTSA complaint #733496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WENT TO STOP AT STOP LIGHT, ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, UNABLE TO STOP. REARENDED STATIONARY VEHICLE AT LIGHT. OUR VEHICLE TOTALED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #704813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10876750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN CRASHING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS RELEASED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED KNEE, HEAD, AND BACK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10819069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN CRASHING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS RELEASED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED KNEE, HEAD, AND BACK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10819069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR STRUT TOWERS RUST RIGHT THROUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10236314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WOULD RETRACT SLOWER AND SLOWER UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED RETRACTING. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE: ON APRIL 18, 2005 I WAS GIVEN A FIX-IT TICKET FOR NOT WEARING MY SHOULDER HARNESS.*AK THE AUTOMATIC HARNESS NO LONGER FULLY RETRACTS, SO IT IS USELESS.
NHTSA complaint #10118142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE SEAT BELT CORD ON MY 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS BECOME INOPERABLE AND THEREFORE I HAVE NO TOP SEAT BELT ON MY CARS DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10066303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD DETACHED RESULTING IN THE HOOD HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.*MR *CB
NHTSA complaint #10051911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE RETACTOR, LEAVING THE OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED. DEALER NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8016199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMITION LOCKED UP GOING 65 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #765471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TRUNK LID WAS IN THE UP POSITION AND TRUNK CAME DOWN AND HIT CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ON HEAD. *AK CONSUMER STATES NOTHING TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID IN UPRIGHT POSITION. A SLIGHT WIND OR ELEVATION COULD BLOW THE OPEN LID DOWN AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #8015782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND BEEP GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WEARING THROUGH IN THE DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE. REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. PART IS NEARLY $300. SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #757436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND BEEP GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WEARING THROUGH IN THE DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE. REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. PART IS NEARLY $300. SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #737814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND BEEP GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WEARING THROUGH IN THE DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE. REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. PART IS NEARLY $300. SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #737814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKE PEDAL STINKS, DEALER HAS BLED THEM AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. NLM
NHTSA complaint #781607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKE PEDAL STINKS, DEALER HAS BLED THEM AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. NLM
NHTSA complaint #781607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE & AT A STANDSTILL, CAR VIBRATES HEAVILY, REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS BUT PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.* ET
NHTSA complaint #781607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
THIRD TIRE OF SET OF 4 THAT TREAD HAD SEPARATED - THIS ONE TOTALED THE CAR AND INJURED ONE PERSON. TIRE HAD 18,000 MILES WEAR. *AK (TIRESIZE: P185/60R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/60R14 )
NHTSA complaint #733496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CURRENT RECALL ON MAZDA 323 MOTORIZED SAFETY BELT DOES NOT COVER THE MAZDA PROTEGE WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL PART NUMBER. MY CAR'S BELT HAS FAILED DUE TO THIS DEFECT AND MAZDA REFUSES TOCOVER IT.
NHTSA complaint #727860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DATES ARE APPROXIMATE. HEADLIGHTS: BOTH LENS'S WERE FOGGED/YELLOWING LATER WHEN I WENT TO DEALER IN LEESBURG, VA (PATEROS); SERVICE MANAGE TRIED TO CLEAN.. MADE WORSE. THEN I REALIZED THAT LENS'S WERE PLASTIC! -- HIS CLEANING SOLUTION MELTED THAT PART OF THE LENS. I BELIEVE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD LAST THE DURATION OF THE CAR'S LIFE. --THAT I SHOULD GET REPLACEMENTS AS THEY ARE A SAFETY FEATURE. ENGINE: A YEAR AND A HALF AGO ENGINE WILL EMIT BLACK SMOKE WHEN ON TREADMILL FOR EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND SMOKES WHITE WHEN I SIT FOR LENGTH OF TIME IDLING. THREE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY YEARS AGO -- I THINK THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT THIS POINT AND EITHER THE NOW DEFUNCT SERVICE DEPT DID IMPROPER JOB OR HAVE A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. I HAVE FOLLOWED REGULAR SCHEDULE FOR OIL CHANGES. PASSENGER SEAT: THE SPRINGS HAVE FALLEN APART COMPLETELY, I THOUGHT PERHAPS ONE OF MY KIDS DID IT YEARS AGO BUT WENT TO SEE ABOUT REPAIR AND WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE WHOLE SEAT FRAME/SPRINGS IS FALLING APART!
NHTSA complaint #715060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE REAR SEAT BELT FELL APART WHILE MAKING A TURN. REPLACMENT COULD NOT BE DONE DUE TO NO WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #852370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK.THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS ON OR OFF ,AND THESE ARE MANUAL DOORS.DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #845681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SAFETY BELT HAS LOCKED UP IN THE RELEASE POSITION. IT APPEARS THE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR THE SAFETY BELT HAS JUMPED OFF TRACK.
NHTSA complaint #710427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE HORN GOES OFF RANDOMLY WITHOUT APPLYING IT DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #843237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT GAS STATION TO FUEL VEHICLE. REACHED FOR FUEL LID & A BURST OF FLAMES SHOT OUT. DRIVER'S ARM & HAIR WERE BURNED. FLAMES OVER GAS LID. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FLAMES OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT CAUSE OF FIRE WAS STATIC ELECTRICITY.
NHTSA complaint #840157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WENT TO STOP AT STOP LIGHT, ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, UNABLE TO STOP. REARENDED STATIONARY VEHICLE AT LIGHT. OUR VEHICLE TOTALED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #704813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.