POWER TRAIN
WHEN ENGAGING SEAT BELT INTO LOCKING MECHANISM, THE MECHANISM BROKE INTO ABOUT SEVEN PIECES. IT WILL NO LONGER HOLD THE SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10489215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mazda Protege transmission problems
170 of the 1,377 complaints filed about the Mazda Protege are about the transmission — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.
170
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
1990 Protege
2
1.2%
1991 Protege
4
2.4%
1992 Protege
4
2.4%
1993 Protege
2
1.2%
1994 Protege
10
5.9%
1996 Protege
8
4.7%
1997 Protege
12
7.1%
What owners said
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE TOOK A LONG TIME TO START UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
NHTSA complaint #10484499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
THE 2003-2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE POORLY DESIGNED LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEEN A FAILURE RATE OF OVER 125 DOCUMENTED CASES ONLINE. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND RESIDENTIAL SPEEDS. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS TO BE AT RISK FOR ROADSIDE REAR END CRASHES DUE TO LOSS OF POWER ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER IS CHANGING LANES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND MAZDA USA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISSUING A RECALL. 2003-2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THE ISSUE RE-APPEAR AND FAIL AGAIN. HERE IS A LINK TO THE DOCUMENTED LIST OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAIL. (HTTP://WWW.MSPROTEGE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=64821&PAGE=29). SOME FAILURES HAVE EVEN BEEN DANGEROUS. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA LOOK DEEPLY INTO THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10263194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE 2003-2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE POORLY DESIGNED LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEEN A FAILURE RATE OF OVER 125 DOCUMENTED CASES ONLINE. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND RESIDENTIAL SPEEDS. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS TO BE AT RISK FOR ROADSIDE REAR END CRASHES DUE TO LOSS OF POWER ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER IS CHANGING LANES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND MAZDA USA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISSUING A RECALL. 2003-2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THE ISSUE RE-APPEAR AND FAIL AGAIN. HERE IS A LINK TO THE DOCUMENTED LIST OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAIL. (HTTP://WWW.MSPROTEGE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=64821&PAGE=29). SOME FAILURES HAVE EVEN BEEN DANGEROUS. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA LOOK DEEPLY INTO THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10263194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED MY 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE BRAND-NEW. AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. GOING FROM SECOND GEAR INTO THIRD, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BUCK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, SO I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. NOW AT 154,000 MILES, IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. MAZDA REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANUFACTURING FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10259137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM MAZDA TRANSMISSION FAILURE .MAZDA PROTEGE 1999 THIS CAR HAD A MAJOR ENGINE OVERHAUL RECENT ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW. ONE MONTH AFTER OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION FAILED. MAZDA REFUSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS FIXED FAILURE AGAIN . AGAIN TRANSMISSION NOT COVERED OUT OF WARRANTY. ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT SO FAR $3,500. AS OF NOW I CANT DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE THE CAR CANT BE MOVED DUE TO MALFUNCTION. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS VIN NUMBER ON THIS MAZDA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT OFF LAMP FLASHING NO SHIFT CONDITION 3RD GEAR SHIFT RATION SET ERRATIC SHIFTS ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES ETC. I PERSONALLY FEEL THEY SHOULD COMPENSATE OR AT LEAST TRY AND HELP TO GET THIS RESOLVED AND THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS CAR VIN VERY BAD PRACTICE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR AT LEAST TRY AND HELP PAY FOR ALL THESE DAMAGES I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO BUY A CAR TRANSMISSION EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT OR TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS "KNOWN ISSUE" I CALLED MAZDA THEY SAID I HAVE TO PAY ALL DAMAGES ON TRANSMISSION I DON'T DRIVE ALOT CAR IS DRIVEN VERY MINIMAL WORK AND BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10249753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1995 MAZDA PROTEGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10230884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 WAS BEING DRIVEN AT SPEED NO GREATER THAN 40 MPH AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 3RD GEAR. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72,200 MILES ON IT. IN NOVEMBER 2006 THE ENGINE COIL FOR CYLINDERS 2 AND 3 HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE WHICH FLOODED THE SPARK PLUGS AND MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AT THAT TIME AS WELL. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO SEE IF EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL COVER WHAT I AM SURE WILL BE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHICH IF THE SAME KIND AS ALREADY IN THE VEHICLE WILL MOST LIKELY FAIL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10218641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY DAUGHTER DROVE MY MAZDA PROTEGE 5 TO PICK UP MY SON AND TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM A FRIEND'S HOUSE. SHE PARKED THE CAR ON THE FRIEND'S FLAT DRIVEWAY, PLACING IT IN FIRST GEAR. WHILE SHE WAS INSIDE OF THE HOUSE, THE CAR SOMEHOW POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND PICKED UP ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO ROLL ONTO THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS A HILL, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR ENDED UP STRIKING A HOUSE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SHRUBBERY OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. NOBODY COULD FIND ANY APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR/TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10213701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE PERFORMING AN EMISSIONS INSPECTION, THE DEALER NOTICED A LEAK CAUSED BY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION SEAL AND STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,000.
NHTSA complaint #10202066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS 61,000. THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE IF THIS WAS 'NORMAL' BECAUSE I HAD ONLY ONCE BEFORE HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AT 120,000 SHE SAID, "OH YEAH WE GET THEM ALL THE TIME. THEN WANTED TO CHARGE ME $4,500 TO FIX IT." I WENT INTO THE MAZDA DEALER TO TRY AND REPLACE THE SAID CAR AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT MY SITUATION AND HE ALSO SAID, "YEAH, 61,000 MILES, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, THEY TIMED THAT RIGHT." I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT SO SOON.
NHTSA complaint #10179398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I JUST SPENT 2200 ON REPAIRS TO MY TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN LUNGING FORWARD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FOUND MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS FIXED AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS LUNGING FORWARD AGAIN. IT JUST STARTED AGAIN TODAY. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING TOO CLOSE TO SOMEONE, I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS AND DO A RECALL. NOW I HAVE TO GO AND LET THE SHOP TRY TO SEE WHY THIS IS GOING ON. I MAY BE OUT MORE MONEY. I HATE THIS CAR AND I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND MAZDA. AND JUST NOTE THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10170090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 Mazda Protege
Medford, OR
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A USED 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE 5TH GEAR STARTED POPPING OUT OF GEAR ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THEN ACTS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU PUT IT IN 5TH GEAR. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $2500. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS NEW OF A CAR. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE, WHY ISN'T A RECALL BEING MADE?
NHTSA complaint #10165204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2000 PROTEGE LX ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. *TS AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ON FEB 21, 2000 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A HIGH PITCHED PING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THE LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED AND JERK WHILE ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #10160511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I FEEL THAT MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE DX WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS SUCH LOW MILES ON IT TO BE GIVING ME ANY TROUBLE. WHEN I AM DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING INTO OVERDRIVE BY ITSELF AND THEN RETURNS BACK TO NORMAL. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE WHEN IT DOES THIS, IT LUNGES YOUR VEHICLE FORWARD. I HAVE NOT BEEN GOING VERY FAST WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT AT A HIGHER SPEED, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE SIMILAR AS MINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I HAVE NO WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE AND REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, MAZDA HAS PRODUCED A VERY POOR TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS ONLY THE START. I AM HOPING THIS WILL NOT LEAD TO ME PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP READ THE CODE AS SOLENOIDS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TO GET THE SOLENOIDS REPLACED. THIS WILL COST ABOUT 400.00. I AM HOPING THAT THIS WILL FIX MY VEHICLE AND GIVE ME PEACE OF MIND.
NHTSA complaint #10160172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:THERE ARE TWO SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. 1)WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY FAILS TO ENGAGE. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FROM A STOP RESULTS IN A RACING ENGINE AND ALMOST NO FORWARD MOVEMENT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING ONTO A HIGH-SPEED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH OTHER CARS BEHIND AND AROUND YOU. DEALER MECHANICS OFFER EXPLANATIONS SUCH AS NOT REALLY A PROBLEM, DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS. THIS DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK. ANOTHER DEALER (SUGGESTED BY MAZDA AFTER CONTACTING THEM) SAYS WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT OUR EXPENSE. THIS PROBLEM IS WORSENING. 2)OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ON DASH BLINKS ON WITH NO APPARENT REASON. WHILE THIS SITUATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS LOCKED IN HIGH GEAR. ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IS ONCE AGAIN A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10158936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
ON THE 2003 AND 2003.5 MAZDA MAZDASPEED PROTEGE, OF WHICH ONLY 4750 CARS WERE PRODUCED. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 46 WEB DOCUMENTED FAILURES OF THE DIFFERENTIAL BREAKING ON THESE CARS. THE 47TH KNOWN FAILURE WAS RECENTLY MY NEPHEW. SEE LINK FOR A LIST OF FAILURES. HTTP://WWW.MSPROTEGE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=64821&HIGHLIGHT=LSD+FAILURE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE IF THIS DECIDES BREAK WHILE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF A SEMI OR ANYTHING ELSE. AS AN OWNEROF ONE OF THESE CARS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, BEFORE MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE IS HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10149927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AS I ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH, THE "O/D OFF" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT ZERO, EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING AS FAST AS THE OTHER CARS ON THE STREET. IT FELT LIKE NEUTRAL GEAR. THE MANUAL INDICATES THE FLASHING LIGHT IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I REMEMBERED THAT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THIS NEW CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO PECULIAR SOUNDS, SO I WORRY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THIS COMPONENT SINCE I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH.
NHTSA complaint #10147190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 Mazda Protege
Kansas City, MO
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ABOUT A YEAR TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. THE BRAKES ARE NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10140678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.