FaultScore

Mazda Protege tire problems

54 of the 1,377 complaints filed about the Mazda Protege are about the tires — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

54

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

Tires complaints by model year

1991 Protege 1 1.9%
1993 Protege 1 1.9%
1994 Protege 1 1.9%
1995 Protege 1 1.9%
1996 Protege 1 1.9%
1997 Protege 3 5.6%
1998 Protege 3 5.6%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

1999 Protege 13 24.1%

Median failure at 66,500 miles

2000 Protege 7 13.0%

Median failure at 17,958 miles

2001 Protege 4 7.4%

Median failure at 29,500 miles

2002 Protege 9 16.7%

Median failure at 103,248 miles

2003 Protege 10 18.5%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

What owners said

2002 Mazda Protege at 123,000 miles Evansville, IN

TIRES

BULGES ON SIDEWALLS OF BOTH PASSENGER TIRES. TIRES ARE 6 MONTHS OLD AND ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11207135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege at 103,248 miles Chesapeake, VA

TIRES

TIRE: FIREHAWK GT BL 205/50R16 87V 50K MILE TIRE. TREAD SEPARATION WITH ONLY 13,582 MILES ON THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE TIRE WAS OBSERVED TO BE FLAT. ATTEMPTS TO INFLATE FAILED. REMOVED TIRE AND NOTICED TWO PLACES ON THE INWARD SIDE WHERE TREAD WAS SEPARATING - ONE SPOT WAS JUST OVER AN INCH AND THE OTHER WAS JUST UNDER AN INCH. FULL SET (4) ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AT FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE STORE, WHICH IS WHERE THE FAILED TIRE WAS TAKEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TIRE HAS SINCE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND WAS REPLACED BY A FALKEN ZIEX 912 BL 205/50R16 87V 40K MILE TIRE. HAD OTHER TIRES INSPECTED FOR SAME ISSUES THE NEXT DAY - SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATES THE OTHER THREE TIRES DO NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF THE PROBLEM. BASED ON TREAD DEPTH, WARRANTY COVERED CLOSE TO 90% OF REPLACEMENT TIRE. IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE, THE REPLACEMENT TIRE APPEARS TO BE FINE - NO OBSERVABLE MIS-MATCH ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10456753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege Chula Vista, CA

TIRES

I WAS DRIVING ON 905 WEST, CLOSE TO THE 805 N EXIT, AND THE ROAD WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS A HOLE ON THE ROAD AND MY CAR'S TIRE EXPLOTED WHEN I DROVE BY IT. MY CAR'S ALIGNMENT IS LOST. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD SPARE TIRE SO I HAD TO DRIVE TO MY HOUSE WITH THE EXPLOTED TIRE, AND SINCE IT HAPPENED AT 10PM I WILL HAVE TO MISS WORK TO FIX IT, AND BUY A NEW TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10448883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 50,284 miles Lake Oswego, OR Fire

TIRES

THE CURRENT ISSUES ( WHICH WE BELIEVE ARE MAZDA CORPORATE ISSUES) AND INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS LOW, LOW, LOW MILES HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE, TWICE, ON THE FREEWAY: 1)FAULTY ELECTRICAL PARTS: THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST DAY WE BROUGHT IT AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL MODULE, BATTERIES, ALARM SYSTEM, AND OTHER ITEMS, WHICH HAVE PROVEN FAULTY BY MAZDA. 2)SHUTTER VALVE RECALL: OURS WAS INSPECTED, BUT NOT REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THINGS WERE OUT OF SORTS. IT WAS LATER DEEMED A PROBLEM. 3)FAULTY BELTS, DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING, WHICH TECHNICIANS HAVE TOLD US WAS FROM AN OVERHEATING ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY CREATED BY THE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 4)LEAKING RADIATOR TECHNICIANS HAVE INDICATED THIS IS DUE TO THE ONGOING OVERHEATING PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE INTERCHANGES WITH MAZDA PERSONNEL REGARDING A ?LEMON? VEHICLE WE PURCHASED IN 2003 OR 2004. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE DRIVE IT MINIMALLY AND IT ONLY HAD 30,000 PLUS MILES ON T WITHIN THE 4 YEAR, 50,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED. THAT SAID, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE, THE CAR HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IN AN ?OFF? POSITION, THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE ALARM SOUNDED ERRANTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR RAN HOT, AND HAD OTHER ISSUES WE MENTIONED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL MODULE AND/OR ALARM SYSTEM. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION MULTIPLE TIMES, AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE RESPONSES FROM SERVICE TECHNICIANS: 1)NOTHING WRONG 2)NEEDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, OIL, PLUGS, POINTS, ETC 3)MULTIPLE BATTERY REPLACEMENTS DUE TO DEAD BATTERIES AND DRAINING ISSUES 4)CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT ( THE CAR HAD 3 SETS OF TIRE REPLACEMENTS AT 40K) 5)FAULTY BELTS ( WE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT) 6)SHUTTER VALVE ( RECALL WAS NOT REPLACED) 7)WATER PUMP LEAK 8)ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOT DEFINABLE, BUT BATTERY DRAINS 9)ENGINE RUNS HOT AND ROUGH 10) FIRE IN ENGINE ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10384300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda Protege at 3,000 miles Orlando, FL

TIRES

ON MAY 12, 2010 MY SON CALLED ME AT MY PHONE TO ADVISED ME THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING HIS 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE AND WITHOUT ANY REASON HIS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE GAVE UP ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE SIDE CENTER OF THE TIRE MAKING A BLOWOUT NOISE AND WENT FLAT. HE WENT TO A TIRE SERVICES CENTER AND THERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REPAIR THE TIRE AND ALSO THEY RECOMMENDED HIM TO CHANGE ALL THE TIRES (KUMHO SOLUS HP/4/PLUS-P195/55//15. I JUST BOUGHT TWO OF THEM IN DECEMBER. I WROTE TO KHOMO TIRES WEB-SITE ASKING IF THERE IS ANY RECALL FOR THE TIRES AND WHAT KIND OF GUARANTEE IS THERE. I NEVER GOT A REPLY.

NHTSA complaint #10330758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege at 131,000 miles Oden, AR

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE -H TIRES 205/55/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE NOTICED A RUBBING, THUMPING SOUND. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BLISTERS ON THE SIDE OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. SHE INSTALLED THE SPARE AND WHEN SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION, SHE NOTICED 5 TO 6 ADDITIONAL BLISTERS ON THE TIRE. SHE NOTIFIED THE TIRE STORE WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY SPOKE WITH THE TIRE STORE ABOUT INSTALLING AN H SPEED RATED TIRE INSTEAD OF A V SPEED RATED TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE V RATED TIRE WOULD BE FINE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

NHTSA complaint #10289150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mazda Protege Ojai, CA

TIRES:VALVE

FAULTY TIRE VALVES (DILL ACP 123 TR 418) ON A 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE DEFLATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL RELATING TO THE VALVE STEMS BY DILL-ACP MODEL TR-418. RECALL# 08T0228000. *JB SEE ALSO 10496085 *SY UPDATED 06/23/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SINCE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TIRE FAILURE, DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE STEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE STEM WAS CRACKED AND THE REAR TIRE WAS SPLIT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REASON FOR THE SPLIT WAS DUE TO HEAT BUILD-UP, BECAUSE HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THE TIRE, BEFORE HE REALIZED THE TIRE HAD DEFLATED. UPDATED 10/24/12 UPDATED 02/07/13

NHTSA complaint #10264688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege RR #1 Kincardine, 00

TIRES

TWO GENERAL TIRES PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME .ONE TIRE BLEW OUT AND WHEN I WHEN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WAS TOLD THAT BOTH THE VALVE STEMS IN BOTH THESE TIRES WERE ROTTEN AND THE FIRST ONE GAVE WAY CAUSING A BLOW-OUT WHILE DRIVING .IN CHECKING THE OTHER TIRE THE VALVE STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TERRIFYING !!

NHTSA complaint #10237237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege Chicago, IL

TIRES

I STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT ON MY TIRES, BUT I ALREADY REPLACED 2 AND FOUND OUT TODAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER 2. ONE FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT AND I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. MY BACK TIRE HAVE A HUMP IN THEM. WHICH IS GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO WEAR FASTER .

NHTSA complaint #10234557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 59,000 miles Berkeley, CA

TIRES

WITHIN 15 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES OF PURCHASE, MICHELIN PILOT PRIMACY 195/55R15 TIRE SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MICHELIN ONLY OFFERED TO REFUND 25% OF TIRE COST (AND ONLY FOR A NEW MICHELIN TIRED).

NHTSA complaint #10230334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda Protege at 120,000 miles Tewksbury, MA Crash

TIRES

I WAS DRIVING ALONE MY 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE ALONG A LOCAL ROUTE IN TEWKSBURY MA IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN A CAR A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME MADE A QUICK STOP FOR A LEFT TURN. SEVERAL CAR BEHIND STOPPED WITHOUT PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND SKID ALL THE WAY INTO THE CAR AT FRONT WHICH WAS A 2002 CAMRY. AT THE TIME THE CAR AT FRONT OF ME HIT THE BRAKE I TAPPED ON MY BRAKE ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE WERE ABOUT 10 CAR LENGTH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE 2002 CAMRY THAT I HIT EVENTUALLY. THE TRACTION PROVIDED BY MY TIRES ARE EXTREMELY LOW ESPECIALLY IN WET. THE TIRES I WAS RIDING ON ARE 4 GOODYEAR INTEGRITY P175/70R13 THAT I INSTALLED IN MAY 2005 IN ALLIED TIRES AND SERVICE IN GAINESVILLE, FL 32607. I HAD ABOUT 40K MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. MY CAR PASSED THE MA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN JAN 2008, AND MY MOST RECENT VISUAL CHECK ON THE TIRES SHOWED THERE WERE ENOUGH TREAD LEFT. FROM DAY ONE I NOTICED THESE TIRES WERE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY COMPARED TO OTHER TIRES, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THROTTLE OR BRAKE COULD CAUSE TIRE SPIN IN EVEN DRY CONDITION, IN WET IT'S MUCH WORSE. AS A SAFETY DRIVER I CONSIDERED MYSELF, I ALWAYS DROVE WELL UNDER SPEED LIMIT WITH EXTREME CAUTION, AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T CONSIDER THESE TIRES AN IMMINENT HAZARD SO I TOOK NO ACTION AND CONTINUED USING THEM UNTIL THIS ACCIDENT. I DEEPLY REGRETTED THIS. I SINCERELY REQUEST YOUR FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE GRIP PERFORMANCE ON THIS LINE OF TIRES. I AM A SAFE DRIVER WITH 7 YEAR OF CLEAN RECORD BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. BEFORE I MADE THIS COMPLAINT I FOUND MANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ALSO ADDRESSED THE GRIP ISSUE. AND THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS LINE OF TIRES ON THE GRIP PERFORMANCE ON INTERNET. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1:30 PM, MAY 31, 2008, AT MAIN ST RT. 38 IN TEWKSBURY, MA 01876. SHOULD YOU REQUIRE MORE DETAILS YOU COULD CONTACT ME OR THE TEWKSBURY MA POLICE. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORT ON THIS. THANK YOU, WING-HIN WONG

NHTSA complaint #10229940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege Bronx, NY

TIRES

ON JANUARY 22, 2008 I BROUGHT A MAZDA PRETEGE5 YEAR 2002 58,000 MILES $ 12,000.00 FROM CITY WORLD 3305 BOSTON ROAD BRONX, NEW YORK 10469 (718) 655-7000. THE SALE MANAGERS TOLD ME THIS CAR IS EXCELLENT FOR ME. ?NICE, GOOD AND EVERYTHING SO I SETTLE FOR THE MAZDA PRETEGE5.? HOWEVER, SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR I FIND MYSELF GOING TO THE USED AUTOMOBILE DEALER EVERY OTHER DAY BECAUSE THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. DURING THE WEEK I GOT TO SEXUALLY HARASSED, BY SALES INDIVIDUAL, THEY WERE TOUCHING ME. FIRST, SUN ROOF ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPS WORKING. BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA SERVICE IN THE BRONX. THEY TOLD ME TWO DAYS LATER THEY DON'T HAVE THE BUDGETARY PARTS. I MISS MY CLASS THAT WEEKEND BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR TO GET TO CLASS. SECONDLY, THE CAR WAS GETTING OVER HEATING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I DON'T KNOW WHY, I DON'T EVEN DRIVE MUCH SCHOOL AND WORK IS 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. I BROUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE A CLASS AT DOBBS FERRY. THIRDLY, TODAY FEBRUARY 05, 2008 THE CAR COULDN'T START NEXT TO MY JOB IN NEREID AVENUE, SO I CALLED THEM, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE TOWING GUY I CALL THEM. THE TOWING GUY TOLD ME MY TIRE IS FLAT. MY POINT IS I ONLY BROUGHT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. I ONLY DRIVE FOR TWO DAYS ONLY IN GENERAL. MOST OF THE TIME THEY HAVE THE CAR IN THEIR POSSESSION. I AM PAYING INSURANCE FOR THE CAR, WHEN I DON'T EVEN DRIVE IT. WHY THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME. I M A STUDENT TRYING TO GET BY IN SCHOOL. I AM A SINGLE WOMAN ALL ALONE TRYING TO SURVIVE. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO CALL TO GENEROUSLY HELP ME. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME? NOW THE CAR DEALER PLACE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. THEY REFUSE TO TALK TO ME. THEY GIVE ME A RUN AROUND. PLEASE, I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE I WORK AT NIGHT TRYING TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING. I PRESENTLY WORK WITH THE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN, AND I DO NOT HAVE TO COME TO THE CAR DEALER PLACE EVERY OTHER DAY, BECAUSE THEIR SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, IT JUST NOT FAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10217314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege at 47,290 miles Baltimore, MD

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE VEHICLE HAS KUMHO (P195/55R15) TIRES. WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW TIRE. THE DEALER NOTICED A SPLIT AND WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE. SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF THE OTHER TIRES HAVE THE SAME FAILURE AS WELL. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,022. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,290.

NHTSA complaint #10203647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda Protege Rockford, IL

TIRES

THE TIRE WAS SIX WEEKS OLD AND BLEW UP FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. DUNLOP AND TIRES PLUS REFUSED TO HONOR A WARRANTY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT RETURN THE ENTIRE TIRE TO THEM. THE TIRE WAS BLOWN INTO 2 INCH PIECES AND ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. PERHAPS THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RISKED OUR LIVES RUNNING AROUND THE HIGHWAY PICKING UP THE PIECES. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT OUR LIVES WERE PUT INTO ENOUGH DANGER DUE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE DUNLOP MADE.

NHTSA complaint #10197387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege Milwaukee, WI

TIRES

I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TIRES ON MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. FIRST THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET USED TO THE LOW-RISE TIRES. I DIDN'T DRIVE IN ANY SNOW THAT FIRST WINTER, BUT THE WINTER OF 2004-2005 I WAS DOING DOUGHNUTS ON OVERPASSES & STREETS. THE DEALER GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER CARE PHONE # BECAUSE "THEY DON'T HANDLE TIRES". CUSTOMER CARE SAID, "I CAN'T HELP IF YOU LIVE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS." ALL HE COULD OFFER ME FOR A SOLUTION WAS TO BUY WINTER TIRES & RIMS (AS THEY AREN'T INTERCHANGEABLE) FOR ABOUT $2,000. A MAN IN MY OFFICE SAID HIS FAMILY WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIRS. I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH MAZDA TO NO AVAIL. I THOUGHT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECOURSE, BUT RECENTLY I WAS IN FOR SERVICE TWICE & A SERVICE REP TOLD ME HE HAS THE SAME MODEL CAR & IT IS SO UNSAFE HE WON'T LET HIS WIFE DRIVE IT. HE ENDED UP PUTTING ON OVERSIZED TIRES TO MAKE IT SAFER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER A SALESPERSON WHO SAID HE WAS IN SERVICE PRIOR TO SALES SAID THAT THEY KNEW THEY PUT THREE-SEASON TIRES ON THAT MODEL. HE ALSO RECOMMENDED BUYING A SET OF WINTER TIRES/RIMS AS THEY DON'T MAKE ALL-SEASON TIRES FOR THAT CAR. BOTH OF THESE MEN SAID I SHOULD CALL THE CUST CARE LINE AGAIN & NOTIFY YOU IF THEY WOULDN'T HELP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE CC #. I AM A GOOD DRIVER MY DAD TAUGHT DRIVING SCHOOL & LEARNED TO DRIVE FROM HIM. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS. I SHAKE EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW & AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. I HAVE LEARNED TO PROTECT MYSELF IN THE RAIN (THE CAR SLIPS); I WATCH THAT NO CARS ARE CLOSE WHEN I PULL OUT OF A STOP SO I DON'T SLIDE INTO THEM. I ALSO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ABOUT OTHER DEFECTS (IT'S VERY HARD TO PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE; THEY TOLD ME TO JUST PLAY WITH IT, TRY PUTTING IT IN 1ST GEAR, THEN TRY REVERSE. THEY SAID IT WOULD LOOSEN IN TIME, BUT IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN HARDER). PLEASE HELP ME. I AM A WOMAN ALONE & NEED ASSISTANCE IN THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10163517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda Protege at 66,097 miles Wichita, KS Crash 1 injured

TIRES

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE NEW FROM THE DEALER I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPT. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CAR WOULD JERK AND BUCK AS IF I HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THIS. EACH TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. I ALSO CONTACTED MAZDA CORP. TO INQUIRE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OR RECALLS. I WAS ADVISED THAT MAZDA HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. JUST SHY OF THREE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM CONCERNING THE CAR'S ACCELERATION. THIS WAS MY THIRD REQUEST TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK INTO THE MATTER. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR'S ACCELERATION CONTINUED TO ACT UP. ON MAY 26, 2006, WITH 66097 MILES ON THE VEHICLE MY ACCELERATOR STUCK AND I STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A CEMENT BASE LIGHT POLE. EACH TIME I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE OR DRIVE, MY CAR WOULD TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN. I HAVE SENT THE NHTSA A DETAILED WRITTEN COMPLAINT VIA POSTAL MAIL. THAT COMPLAINT IS DATED JUNE 5, 2006. *NM THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE UPON ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER A EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE, HOWEVER UPON OPENING THE TRUNK SHE DISCOVERED THE TOOL KIT WAS NOT THERE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL THE TOOL KIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. UPDATED 07/10/06.

NHTSA complaint #10160055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda Protege at 40,877 miles Austin, TX

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER TREAD ON REAR TIRE SEPERATED. *TS

NHTSA complaint #10145394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege Loma Linda, CA

TIRES

THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIRE HAD BLOWNED. THE DRIVER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER.

NHTSA complaint #10111406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 25,000 miles Glenmoore, PA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH BACK RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING. TIRE MAKE: BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P195/55R15. THE TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR DAMAGE AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN ON FOR 25,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP (PEPBOYS) AND THEY FOUND THAT THE INSIDE STEEL BELT HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. I REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH ANOTHER BRAND (COST $100), AND STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED BRIDGESTONE TIRE FOR EVIDENCE.

NHTSA complaint #10110122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mazda Protege at 100 miles Joshua Tree, CA

TIRES

THE CLUTCH HAD GONE OUT. THEN TWO OF THE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT. ONE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT FROM THE INNER WALL AND THE OTHER BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10101949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mazda Protege problems