1.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
95,000 miles

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problem #1

Feb 222011

Protege 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
Mazda headlight harness - the lights are constantly going out (during the past 4 years). I went to replace the bulb years ago and it came back on as I wiggled the harness to pull the bulb out. Over 80 times since then I've had to smack the headlight to get it to come back on. This happens predominantly when the temperature is below 0 celsius (freezing). This has occurred on my 2001 Mazda MPV (which I got rid of this year) and my 2003 Mazda Protege which I still have. Once it happened on my Protege I knew it wasn't an MPV situation, it must be a Mazda problem and likely relates to the supplier that makes the harness for the headlights. Many times my wife and I have been 'flashed' by other drivers for not having lights on.

- Burlington, 00, USA