FaultScore

2002 Mazda Protege airbag problems

10 of the 133 complaints about the 2002 Mazda Protege are about the airbag system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 42,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

8

Crashes

0

Fires

7

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 5 50.0%
AIR Bags 3 30.0%
Side/Window 1 10.0%
On-Off Switch Assembly 1 10.0%

Airbags across every Mazda Protege year

1995 50 30.3%
1996 25 15.2%
1997 12 7.3%
1999 21 12.7%
2000 26 15.8%
2001 11 6.7%
2002 10 6.1%
2003 10 6.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 112,000 miles Katy, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10368200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Laurel Springs, NJ

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

(1) BLINKING AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT OF MAZDA PROTEGE 5 - 2002 (2) DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ($116.) TOLD OF FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG (3) DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED SEAT, TOLD ENTIRE SEAT MUST BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF AN EST.$800

NHTSA complaint #10213996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Laurel Springs, NJ

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

(1) BLINKING AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT OF MAZDA PROTEGE 5 - 2002 (2) DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ($116.) TOLD OF FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG (3) DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED SEAT, TOLD ENTIRE SEAT MUST BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF AN EST.$800

NHTSA complaint #10213996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Haven, CT Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30 MPH YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED TWO SLIPPED DISK IN HER BACK. AFTER THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TESTED BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST THE AIR BAG. THE INDICATED THAT AS LONG AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WASN'T ON THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE RADIO SWITCHES STATIONS ON IT'S OWN. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 9/7/2004, 40561 MILES. THE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT WONT HOLD. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10122636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,000 miles SAN Jose, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

ON MARCH 15, 2005 I WAS INVOLVED IN A PILE-UP ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I HAD A FRACTURED RIB. MY CAR IS A MAZDA PROTEGE 5 AND THE VIN3 IS: [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10119942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Mcminnville, OR Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN SHE/HE HIT THE DASHBOARD. BOTH VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10065500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Palm City, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONT END COLLISION AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT END WAS TOTALLED AND ALTHOUGH THE INJURIES WERE MINOR, THERE IS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

NHTSA complaint #10057041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Connellsville, PA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

NHTSA complaint #10037677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethesda, MD Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT 60 MPH. VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A LOW CONCRETE STRUCTURE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CONSUMER SUFFERED A BROKEN NOSE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5000.00

NHTSA complaint #8006640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS PROCEEDING SOUTHBOUND ON A MAJOR STREET AT ABOUT 35MPH. A PICKUP TRUCK CAME OUT OF A SMALL SIDE STREET AND CROSSED MY PATH GOING EASTBOUND WITH THE INTENT OF TURNING LEFT. MY CAR BROADSIDED THE TRUCK AT THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS DOOR AND AT THE FRONT OF THE TRUCKBED. AS I DID NOT SEE THE TRUCK UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT, I ONLY LEFT ABOUT 3 FEET OF SKID. NEITHER MY DRIVER AIRBAG NOR MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #759708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Mazda Protege problems

← Full 2002 Mazda Protege report