FaultScore

Mazda Protege airbag problems

171 of the 1,377 complaints filed about the Mazda Protege are about the airbag system — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.

171

Complaints

12%

Share of all complaints

128

Crashes

2

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

1991 Protege 1 0.6%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

1992 Protege 1 0.6%
1994 Protege 1 0.6%
1995 Protege 50 29.2%

Median failure at 49,000 miles

1996 Protege 25 14.6%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

1997 Protege 12 7.0%
1998 Protege 3 1.8%
1999 Protege 21 12.3%

Median failure at 75,833 miles

2000 Protege 26 15.2%

Median failure at 41,500 miles

2001 Protege 11 6.4%

Median failure at 48,000 miles

2002 Protege 10 5.8%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

2003 Protege 10 5.8%

Median failure at 17,750 miles

What owners said

1998 Mazda Protege Mckeesport, PA Crash

AIR BAGS

Straight-on, front-end collision occurred, that destroyed radiator and folded hood. Air bag did not deploy.

NHTSA complaint #11437046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda Protege at 160 miles Highland, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TODAY WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL AFTER MY GRANDAUGHTER'S FACE HIT THE WINDSHEILD.

NHTSA complaint #11282740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 112,000 miles Henrico, VA

AIR BAGS

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE WOULD NOT PASS 2019 VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER CANNOT REPLACE BECAUSE MAZDA HAS DISCONTINUED THAT PART. UNDER VIRGINIA LAW, CAR CANNOT BE OPERATED WITHOUT VALID INSPECTION CERTIFICATE. INSPECTION DISCLOSED NO OTHER DISQUALIFYING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #11252460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 150,000 miles Bokeelia, FL 1 injured

AIR BAGS

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND STRUCK A MOVING VEHICLE IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. NO AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED IN THE MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE OTHER VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10840175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Mazda Protege at 90,000 miles Alberta, AL Crash 1 injured

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.

2001 Mazda Protege at 168,000 miles Bedford, TX Crash 1 injured

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.

2000 Mazda Protege Cullman, AL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10652678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mazda Protege at 49,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED WHILE I WAS OUT SIDE THE CAR , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS & I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY EITHER MAZDA CORP OR THE DEALER & I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER , THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THE 1995 PROTEGE & AT NO TIME I WAS EVER CONTACTED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PERIOD. IN 1997 THE ENGINE DIED & I HAD TO PAY THE SUM OF $1500.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE & THERE WERE RECALLS I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF. I CONTACTED BOTH MAZDA OF NORTH AMERICA & THE DEALER PLAZA AUTO MALL WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1995 & BOTH REFUSED MY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, DUE TO CORROSION. UPDATED 08/27/14

NHTSA complaint #10587776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mazda Protege at 49,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

AIR BAGS

I WAS OUT OF THE CAR & BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS , BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY MAZDA CORP ,I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL AFTER THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED.

NHTSA complaint #10585596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege 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.

1999 Mazda Protege at 127,000 miles Columbia, SC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE SUSTAINED MODERATE HEAD INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 217,000.

NHTSA complaint #10284876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege 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.

2002 Mazda Protege 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.

2001 Mazda Protege at 85,000 miles Hammond, IN Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

FRONT END COLLISION, AIR-BAG FAILED RESULTING IN INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10188539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mazda Protege at 12,546 miles Raleigh, NC Crash 1 injured 1 killed

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* - THE CONTACT HAD A 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE WHICH WAS IN A HEAD ON CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. THAT CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY SKID MARKS IN THE ROAD TO INDICATE THAT EITHER VEHICLE TRIED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS A POLICE REPORT FROM THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS THE STEERING SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG. *NM THE DECEDENTS GRANDMOTHER WROTE IN. UPDATED 02/26/07.

NHTSA complaint #10178813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 45,000 miles Blachly, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS TAKING A CORNER ON HWY 36 AND HIT GRAVEL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD DID A NOSE DIVE INTO A DITCH FLIP FORWARD END OVER END, SLID AND ROLLED TWICE. NON OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER. I AM NOT POSITIVE BUT MY CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS BUT THEY DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.

NHTSA complaint #10149590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda Protege at 42,000 miles ST. Augustine, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONT END IMPACT OF AT LEAST 45 MPH WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. ALMOST DIRECT FULL CONTACT WITH FRONT END (SLIGHTLY MORE ON ONE SIDE). FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELT RESTRAINED FORWARD MOTION BUT INJURY WAS INCURRED TO NECK AND BACK DUE TO FORCE OF COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #10142480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mazda Protege at 48,000 miles ST. Augustine, FL Crash 1 injured

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.

2000 Mazda Protege Boiling Springs, SC

AIR BAGS

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON IN JUNE 2003 AND THEY REPLACED AN OXYGEN SENSOR. MY CAR WAS FINE UNTIL RECENTLY. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE IN APRIL AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, BUT IT ONLY LASTED A FEW DAYS. TWO WEEKS I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND RIGHT AFTER THE SERVICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED THAT THE LIGHT CAME AGAIN AFTER THEY SERVICED IT. THIS MAKES IT TWICE THAT I HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND THE LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO, I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL IN JANUARY 2001 ABOUT THE BREAKS. I HAD BRAKE SERVICE DONE LAST YEAR AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED BRAKE SERVICE AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10127706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege 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.

Other Mazda Protege problems