10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Mazda Protege:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Oct 262004

Protege 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2002 Mazda Protege was involved in a head on collision at 30 mph yet the air bags did not deploy. 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.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #2

Mar 152005

Protege 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles
On March 15, 2005 I was involved in a pile-up accident. The airbag did not deploy and the seat belt did not restrain me from hitting the steering wheel with my chest. I had a fractured rib. My car is a Mazda Protege 5 and the vin3 is: [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 052004

Protege 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
Airbags did not deploy during a front end collision at 35 miles per hour. The front end was totalled and although the injuries were minor, there is a false sense of security.

- Palm City, FL, USA