39 of the
1,377 complaints filed about the Mazda Protege
are about the fuel system —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
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.
THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND DROPPED FROM 50 TO 25 IN SECONDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CIL) STARTING FLASHING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR DIED. STARTED CAR AGAIN THE CIL CONTINUED TO FLASH, IT ONLY WOULD ACCELERATE TO 25 MILES AN HOURS EVEN WITH MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS. I TOOK IT TO THE A MECHANIC AND THE CODES WERE P0421, 171, 300. THE MECHANIC DID EVERYTHING FROM ENGINE FLUSH, SPARK PLUGS, OIL, AIR FILTERS AND INSTALLED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ITS NOW A YEAR LATER AND THE CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.
NHTSA complaint #10448859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL VAPOR ODORS BEGAN ACCUMULATING IN THE GARAGE DURING AN OVERNIGHT PARK. WHEN VAPORS BECAME EXCESSIVE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE. EVENTUALLY, THE VAPORS BECAME NOTICEABLE WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CAR CARE CLINIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH A SEVERELY RUSTED FUEL TANK. I AM GRATEFUL THERE WAS NO FIRE FROM A SPARK.
NHTSA complaint #10427966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETAINING BRACKET IN THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION PUNCTURED HOLES IN THE SENDING UNIT AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,502 UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/09.
NHTSA complaint #10275665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CAR FOR MAYBE 2 YEARS AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS BEEN MISFIRING ON CYLINDER 3. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL AND NOW I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. ALSO THE SEAT BELT WOULD STAY LOCKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR SO.
NHTSA complaint #10253641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 MAZDA PROTEGE I BOUGHT NEW. NOW ABOUT 64,000 MILES. NEVER BEEN WRECKED. IN 09/07 I STARTED TO SMELL GAS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. SINCE THE DEFECT WAS MOST LIKELY A PROBLEM W/ THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SUGGESTED I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER & MAZDA TO LET THEM KNOW & DISCUSS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. I SPOKE WITH A REP AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE & HE WAS EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL. HE DID NOT OFFER TO HELP IN ANY MANNER & SHOWED NO CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. HE REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. HE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME IT WAS TOO OLD. I REQUESTED THAT A MAZDA REP LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TO WHICH HE SAID HE WOULD CALL THEM. HE CALLED ME BACK SAYING THAT HE SPOKE WITH MAZDA & THEY TOO SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA TWICE ON THE PHONE. AGAIN THEY OFFERED NO HELP NOR ANY CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, NO LEMON LAW, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING. AGAIN, I REQUESTED THAT A REP PLEASE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE & AGAIN THEY REFUSED SAYTHING THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO GET THE GAS TANK, FUEL PUMP, ETC. REPLACED LATER THIS WEEK AS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (I.E. TUNE UPS, OIL CHANGES, BRAKES, TIRES, ETC.). THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE GAS TANK. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH MAZDA & THEIR LACK OF CONCERN, THEIR AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEIR GENERAL DISREGARD FOR MY SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT & THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND/OR OWN UP TO IT AND AT LEAST HAVE A QUALIFIED MAZDA PROFESSIONAL LOOK AT THE CAR TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A MAZDA AGAIN. I WANT TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF HOW MAZDA TREATED ME & THAT THERE COULD BE A REAL SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THEIR VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10207552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK/SENDER UNIT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF MY MAZDA PROTEGE5. GIVEN AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A RECALL IN THE MAZDA6, 2003 MODEL YEAR. MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY IN MY VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $900. I AM LOOKING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT TANK. I FEEL MAZDA SHOULD REPLACE THE TANK UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A KNOWN PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10201156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR LAST YEAR. PROBLEM IS WITH ENGINE MISFIRE/CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING SUGGESTED: SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ENGINE TUNE UP, NEW TIRES, ETC. PROBLEM WORSENING. CAR RIDING ROUGHER, WORSENING GAS MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10140948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD TWO OCCURRENCES OF SCREWS FROM THE BUTTERFLY VALVES ON THE VTCS SYSTEM FROM THE INTAKE OF MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 COMING LOOSE AND BEING SUCKED INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF THE VEHICLE. EACH INSTANCE HAS CAUSED THE PISTON TO KNOCK THE SCREW INTO THE SPARK PLUG, THEREBY CAUSING FAILURE OF A SPARK PLUG, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNDRIVABLE, THEREBY LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS MISDIAGNOSED (SPARK PLUG REPLACED). THE SECOND WAS DIAGNOSED CORRECTLY AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2.0L FS-ZE MAZDA ENGINE. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. FOR MORE INFORMATION TO DEMONSTRATE THE PREVALENCE OF THE PROBLEM, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.MSPROTEGE.COM AND SEARCH USING THE KEYWORDS "VCTS" AND "SCREW". YOU WILL SEE MANY THREADS WHERE PEOPLE ARE DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10130728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, ROAD DEBRIS RUPTURED THE VEHICLE FUEL TANK WHICH RESULTED ON A FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BURNED ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF HER BODY.
NHTSA complaint #10071927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT WHEN EVER IT RAINS (HARD WITH WIND) MY AIR FILTER SOMEHOW GETS SOAKED IN WET. WHEN I EXPLAIN THIS TO A MECHANIC OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, THE FIRST QUESTION THEY ASK ME IS WHETHER I DROVE ON PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ROAD. THE ANSWER IS "NO!" WHEN IT IS RAINING THAT HARD I DON'T GO ANYWHERE AND THEREFORE THE CAR IS JUST PARKED ON THE PARKING LOT. I'VE TAKEN TO MAZDA ONE AND THE RAN A TEST AND FOUND NOTHING. MEANWHILE "MY ENGINE" LIGHT STAYS ON. I HAVE A SPARE AIR FILTER THAT I USE. IN THE MEANTIME WHAT CAN I DO? .
NHTSA complaint #742735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE LOSES POWER SIGNIFICANTLY OR SOMETIMES GOES UPTO 5000RPM IN 5 MPH SPEED WITHOUT ANY SIGN. STALLS MIDDLE OF A STREET WITHOUT ANY SIGN, AS WELL. AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA'S EXPENSE ON AUGUST 15. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM REPEATED TO OCCUR AGAIN IN TWO MONTH; AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER (IN MI) THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE PROBLEM OCCURANCE. COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, AND IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #734181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE FILLING TANK, FLAMES CAME OUT OF TANK, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #856490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN STARTING/ DEALER REPLACED FLYWHEEL. ALSO, FUEL TANK WAS DISCONNECTED, AND DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, RPMS INCREASED BY 500 RPMS, AND REPAIRED WIRING IN JAMME DDOOR. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES MALFUNCTIONED/ FUSE SHORTED OUT , CAUSING RADIO, CD, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL, AND REPLACED CANISTER.
NHTSA complaint #852010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN STARTING/ DEALER REPLACED FLYWHEEL. ALSO, FUEL TANK WAS DISCONNECTED, AND DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, RPMS INCREASED BY 500 RPMS, AND REPAIRED WIRING IN JAMME DDOOR. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES MALFUNCTIONED/ FUSE SHORTED OUT , CAUSING RADIO, CD, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL, AND REPLACED CANISTER.
NHTSA complaint #852010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.