11 of the 68 complaints about the 2001 Mazda Protege are about the airbag system — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 48,000 miles.
11
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AT INTERSECTION , AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK , AS A RESULT I HAVE SERIOUS CHEST PAINS . VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT WHILE A VEHICLE AT INTERSECTION WAS TURNING LEFT ACROSS MY ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10789026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
FRONT END COLLISION, AIR-BAG FAILED RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10188539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END IMPACT OF AT LEAST 45 MPH. THIS WAS ALMOST A DIRECT FRONT COLLISION, THOUGH DAMAGE WAS SLIGHTLY GREATER ON ONE SIDE OF FRONT END THAT THE OTHER. BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED SO FORCE OF HIT WAS AT FULL SPEED. AVAILABLE FRONT END AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CHEST (STERNUM) IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL WITH EXTREME FORCE, BODY WAS PROPELLED FORWARD IN A TWISTING MOTION AND NECK AND SPINE UNDERWENT SEVERE TRAUMA. I AM STILL SUFFERING FROM THE INJURY AFTER OVER 7 MONTHS. I CALLED MAZDA LOCAL OFFICES AND MAIN HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DO NO INVESTIGATION AS IT WAS TIME AND COST PROHIBITIVE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10142477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 3 CAR FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER HEAD IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING SEVERE HEADACHES.
NHTSA complaint #10075535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD RUN A STOP SIGN AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON WHILE PASSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10067316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALER STATES THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *NM
NHTSA complaint #10065514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF A HEAD ON CRASH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10024845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATS BELT UNLATCHED.
NHTSA complaint #10015803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CONSUMER STATES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG. TS
NHTSA complaint #8021251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
3RD CAR IN 3 CAR COLLISION. FULLY RESTRAINED IN 3 POINT BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS. UPON FRONTAL IMPACT, AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER AND 7 1/2 MONTH OLD FETUS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #760818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE OCCURRED ON 11/01/2001 IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I'M THE PASSENGER WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SOUTHBOUND ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN SUDDENLY I COULDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES, SO I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES, AND THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD, LANDING IN A DITCH AFTER CRASHING INTO 4 OR 5 TREES. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY SEAT BELT DETACHED AT SOME POINT DURING THE IMPACT. AS A RESULT CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS SMASHED IN. PASSENGER'S SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER WAS PUSHED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, AND THE TRUCK SAT IN THE BACK SEAT. THROUGH ALL OF THE IMPACT I COULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THROWN OUT OF MY SEAT BECAUSE MY SAT BECAME UNATTACHED, THEREBY CAUSING EXTREME DAMAGE TO MY CHEST, AND LEAVING ME WITH FRACTURED RIBS WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIR BAGS SIMPLY DEPLOYED. *AKFURTHERMORE, THE WHOLE THING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD CONTROL OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION.
NHTSA complaint #755364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.