Mazda Protege problems by year
1,074 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across 14 Mazda Protege model years. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaint totals are lifetime counts — years that have been on the road longer accumulate more reports.
Years with the most complaints
1995 (165)
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most reported problem | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 120 | 0 | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2002 | 98 | 0 | Seat Belts | |
| 2001 | 50 | 1 | Air Bags | |
| 2000 | 102 | 1 | Power Train | |
| 1999 | 88 | 1 | Power Train | |
| 1998 | 46 | 1 | Power Train | |
| 1997 | 66 | 1 | Air Bags | |
| 1996 | 70 | 1 | Air Bags | |
| 1995 Most complained | 165 | 2 | Air Bags | |
| 1994 | 74 | 1 | Seat Belts | |
| 1993 | 44 | 1 | Seat Belts | |
| 1992 | 63 | 1 | Seat Belts | |
| 1991 | 51 | 1 | Seat Belts | |
| 1990 | 37 | 1 | Seat Belts |
How to read this. Complaints are unverified reports owners file with NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, counted once per case number. Raw totals are not adjusted for sales volume, and recent model years have had less time on the road. “Most complained” flags years well above the model’s median; treat it as a signal for deeper research, not a verdict. This page is not affiliated with Mazda.