RoadVitals

1993 Mazda Protege

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
44
Latest Aug 18, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 19, 2015
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 44 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mazda Protege, most frequently naming the seat belts, brakes and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 20 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts2346.0%
  • Brakes510.0%
  • Fuel system48.0%
  • Engine48.0%
  • Electrical36.0%
  • Visibility24.0%
  • Driver assistance24.0%
  • Interior & seats24.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Oct 19, 2015
1,368,500 units potentially affected
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
The risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
The remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
Mazda North American OperationsManufacturer number 8715JView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA94039ClosedEngineering Analysis

AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL

Opened Nov 30, 1994
Closed Nov 26, 1997

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 97V211000
PE94059ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL

Opened Jul 28, 1994
Closed Nov 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS
PE94029ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION

Opened Mar 24, 1994
Closed Jul 28, 1994

There is no summary currently available

EQUIPMENT

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Aug 18, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND REMAINED STUCK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND INQUIRED AS TO WHY OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THE SEAT BELTS BUT NOT THE PROTEGE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 237,000.

NHTSA ID
10420026
Incident
Aug 2, 2011
Mileage
237,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 6, 2009

1) I HAVE A 93 MAZDA 323/PROTEGE AND THE SEAT BELT WERE RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE WEB SIT SAFERCARS.GOV. NHTSA ID NO.97V211000 2)THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON MY VEHICLE AND THE BELT REFUSES TO MOVE ON THE RAIL SOME TIMES. IN ADDITION THE BUZZER COMES ON WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE BELT TENDS TO MOVE SLIGHTLY UP AND DOWN WHILE I AM DRIVING. 3) I TOOK THE CAR INTO MAZDA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT ITS GOING TO BE $ 98.95 TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. IF THEY FIND A PROBLEM THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PARTS ON THE RECALL THEY WOULD REPAIR IT. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 3 FULL DAYS AND THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FROM THE RAILING, AND ALSO THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS BUT INSTEAD IT WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM BY MAZDA. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT RETRACTION UNIT HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO THAT THE DOOR SWITCH FOR THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT IS STARTING TO GO BAD. I CALLED MAZDA HEAD QUARTER UNIT AND SPOKE TO STEVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AND HE FIRST SAID THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DOOR SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE EVEN THOUGH THE 12 YR EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP 2 DAYS LATER TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROGRESS AND TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. I CALLED STEVE AND HE SAID THAT AFTER AGAIN TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEIR FAULT. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR I ASKED TO SERVICE MANAGER WHAT COULD HAPPEN IT THE PARTS ARE NOT REPLACED AND I GET IN A CRASH, HE ANSWERED THAT IF I DON'T PAY THEM TO FIX THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE SEAT BELT UNIT WILL NOT LOCK IN TIME TO KEEP THE FRONT OCCUPANTS SEATED. SO IN CONCLUSION THE MAZDA DEALER DOES NOT GUARANTY THE SEAT BELTS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. CHARGED ME 99 DOLLARS TO INSECT THE BELTS WHICH THEY THEM SELF SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA BASE WERE NEVER INSPECTED. AND SAID THAT ITS GOING TO COST MINIMUM $ 900 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279574
Incident
Aug 5, 2009
Seat belts
Filed Aug 9, 2004

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK AND WOULD NO LONGER HOLD THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT PROPERLY AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SEATBELT IS FAR TOO COSTLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086458
Incident
Mar 12, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Aug 4, 2004

NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE, ONE DAY THE PASSIVE SEATBELT JUST WENT ABOUT HALF-WAY UP THE TRACK, THEN IT STOPPED AND A GREASY CABLE POPPED OUT OF IT. WORST OF ALL, MAZDA'S EMERGENCY HANDLE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO TURN AN INTERNAL HEX NUT TO MOVE THE SEATBELT REARWARD ONLY MADE ABOUT ONE TURN UNTIL IT GOT STIFF AND PUTTING ANY MORE FORCE ON THE EMERGENCY HANDLE CAUSES IT TO SLIP AND ROUND OFF. TRYING TO FORCE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE REARWARD BY HAND DOESN'T WORK EITHER, IT'S EXTREMELY STIFF AND WHEN IT WILL MOVE (WHICH IS ONLY SLIGHTLY) THE CABLE COMES OUT EVEN FURTHER. THIS LEAVES THE SEATBELT IN A POSITION WHERE IT WON'T HOLD THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT INCASE OF A CRASH, AND IF THE SEATBELT IS LEFT PLUGGED IN IT DRASTICALLY REDUCES VISIBILITY OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I TOOK THE CAR TO MAZDA DEALER NUMBER 10158 ABOUT THE NHTSA RECALL ID NUMBER 97V211000 BUT THE DEALER SAID IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY CAR AND THEY QUOTED A PRICE OF NEARLY $800 TO FIX THE SEATBELT. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ALSO HAS A 93 PROTEGE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PASSIVE SEATBELT THREE YEARS AGO. SHE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY ALSO WOULD NOT HANDLE THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086136
Incident
Jul 21, 2004
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 2003

THE HORN GOES OFF ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ID
10007623
Incident
Feb 7, 2002
Mileage
129,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10002359
Incident
Aug 15, 2002
Electrical
Filed Jan 2, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF.DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10001827
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
Seat belts
Filed May 16, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT ANY MORE. CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

NHTSA ID
8009984
Incident
Apr 25, 2002

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

00-003-19-3583

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be revised gradually.

09-009-19-3566

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

09-034-18-3430a

EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

09-034-18-3430

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

09-035-17-3080

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometerand related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the ?SpeedometerReplacement Label?.Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda?s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service.With the use of SPECMO?s services, a Mazda dealer can get the odometer setting updated to reflect the correct mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs, therefore resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

0900716

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Speedometer replacement procedure

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mazda Protege by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006010
2005010
2004010
20031204054.1
2002984054.0
2001505057.2
20001023058.1
1999883056.8
1998462052.3
1997662055.3
1996702060.2
19951655264.9
1994741149.5
1993Viewing441353.4
1992631250.2
1991511254.6
1990371253.2
1989200
1982000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.