FaultScore

2002 Mazda Protege brake problems

11 of the 133 complaints about the 2002 Mazda Protege are about the braking system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 22,000 miles.

D

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 4 36.4%
Service Brakes 2 18.2%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 1 9.1%
Pedals AND Linkages 1 9.1%
Rotor 1 9.1%
Caliper 1 9.1%
Rotor 1 9.1%

Brakes across every Mazda Protege year

1995 13 22.8%
1996 10 17.5%
1997 13 22.8%
2000 10 17.5%
2002 11 19.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 67,000 miles Louisville, KY

SERVICE BRAKES

I'VE OWNED MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 FOR 7 YEARS NOW. IT'S ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. EVEN AFTER HAVING OUT BRAND NEW BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. I'M VERY ANAL ON HOW MY CAR LOOKS AND DRIVES. IF I FEEL SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, I KNOW SOMETHING IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. IT DOES CAUSE ME TO DRIVE MORE CAUTIOUSLY ESPECIALLY IN THE BACK ROADS ALONG WITH WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE BRAKING AS WELL. AS FOR THE BODY OF THE CAR, THE PAINT IS FAIDING FAST. IT'S YELLOW, AND I HAND POLISH AND WAX IT ONCE BEFORE SPRING, SUMMER, AND WINTER. I USE MAGUIRES WAX AND POLISH EVERY TIME. AND IT'S ALSO GOT A RUST SPOT ALONG THE BACK LEFT WHEEL LIP. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAINTED AFTER I PLAYED FOR THE CAR. IT WAS MAGICALLY ONLY 24 HOURS FROM THE WARRANTY COVERING IT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAR. I WOULD PURCHASE ANOTHER IF I CAN FIND ONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT BOTH OF THESE CONCERNS. PLEASE FIX AND I WOULD DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL IT HITS 1 MILLION MILES. AS LONG AS YOU KEEP MAINTENANCE UP ON IT, IT LAST FOREVER.

NHTSA complaint #10863216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Mahoneycity, PA

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

NHTSA complaint #10775971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas City, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10143965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Haven, CT Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 55,200 miles Cheney, WA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

SNOW WOULD BUILD UP INSIDE THE WHEELS. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE BRAKE ROTOR TO FREEZE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10109261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,200 miles Chicago, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10095122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,000 miles Conroe, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. *MR THERE WAS DIFFICULTY WITH PLACING SUITCASES OR BOXES INTO THE TRUNK OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, THE CD PLAYER SKIPPED, THE TRANSMISSION DISPLAYED A LOUD CLUNK NOISE, THERE WAS A SPARE TIRE PROBLEM, THERE WAS A NAIL IN THE TIRE WHICH COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE TIRE, 50% OF TREAD REMAINED, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE WHEEL NEEDED TO HAVE FIVE HOLES FOR BOLTS (SPARE WHEEL), AND THE BRAKES HAD 50% REMAINING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT A MEMORANDUM BE SENT TO ALL MAZDA DEALERS EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM, ENSURE THAT ONE OR TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES SHOULD BE STOCKED DUE TO THE EXTREME DIFFICULTIES IN LOCATING THE CORRECT INFORMATION OF THE TIRE AND WHEEL. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10079850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Chesapeake, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND FOUND THE REAR CALIPERS WERE WARPED. DUE TO THE WARPED CALIPERS, THE REAR PADS CAN NOT BE REPLACED WITH OUT NEW CALIPERS.

NHTSA complaint #10065478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Ashburnham, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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%

NHTSA complaint #10041221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Ashburnham, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

THE DISC BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, WHEN IT WAS APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #10006910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wamego, KS

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

NHTSA complaint #8022109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Mazda Protege problems

← Full 2002 Mazda Protege report