ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1995 Mazda Protege
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 165 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mazda Protege, most frequently naming the airbags, exterior lighting and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 56 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 1997 | 1 | 56 |
| Jun 1997 | 1 | 57 |
| Jul 1997 | 2 | 59 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 60 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 61 |
| Jan 1998 | 2 | 63 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 64 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 65 |
| Jun 1998 | 2 | 67 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 68 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 69 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 70 |
| Nov 1998 | 2 | 72 |
| Dec 1998 | 2 | 74 |
| Jan 1999 | 2 | 76 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 78 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 79 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 81 |
| Jul 1999 | 4 | 85 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 87 |
| Sep 1999 | 3 | 90 |
| Oct 1999 | 4 | 94 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 95 |
| Jan 2000 | 2 | 97 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 98 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 100 |
| Jun 2000 | 5 | 105 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 106 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 107 |
| Sep 2000 | 3 | 110 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 111 |
| Dec 2000 | 3 | 114 |
| Jan 2001 | 2 | 116 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 117 |
| Mar 2001 | 3 | 120 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 121 |
| Jun 2001 | 2 | 123 |
| Aug 2001 | 2 | 125 |
| Nov 2001 | 3 | 128 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 129 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 130 |
| Feb 2002 | 3 | 133 |
| Mar 2002 | 2 | 135 |
| Apr 2002 | 5 | 140 |
| Jun 2002 | 2 | 142 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 144 |
| Aug 2002 | 4 | 148 |
| Jan 2003 | 2 | 150 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 151 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 152 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 153 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 154 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 156 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 157 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 159 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 161 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 162 |
| Jun 2008 | 1 | 163 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 164 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 165 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags4120.4%
- Exterior lighting2713.4%
- Engine2010.0%
- Interior & seats178.5%
- Seat belts136.5%
- Electrical126.0%
- Brakes126.0%
- Transmission115.5%
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
5 campaigns 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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
HEADLIGHT WIRE BREAKAGE
IN ITS LETTER DATED APRIL 21, 2000, MAZDA STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MODEL YEAR 1995 AND 1996 MAZDA PROTEGE VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 1994 THROUGH JULY 1995.MAZDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLE
LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS
BASED ON THE REVIEW OF MAZDA'S INVESTIGATION AND TESTING, EXAMINATION OF TWO FAILED FIELD UNITS (A HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND A COMBINATION SWITCH), AND TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS OF SEVERAL COMPLAINANTS, IT APPEARS THAT THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AND LOCATED JUST BELOW THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, CAN BE STRESSED FROM CYCLING THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AND RESULT IN FATIGUE BREAKAGE OF THE WIRE.COMPLAINTS STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF DURINGOPERATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1995 PROTEGE VEHICLES WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL AND/OR WHILE JUST DRIVING (E.G., GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP).SEVERAL COMPLAINANTS CONTACTED BY ODI STATED THAT SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON AFTER GOING OFF UNTIL THE DRIVER SUCCESSFULLY JIGGLED THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER OR THE HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNES (I.E., RE-MAKE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF A PARTIALLY BROKEN WIRE).PERMANENT LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS CAN OCCUR WHEN THE WIRE IS COMPLETELY BROKEN.IN JULY 1995, ABOUT THE START OF MY 1996 PRODUCTION, MAZDA CHANGED THE MATERIAL OF THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE TO INCREASE DURABILITY.NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON MY 1996 PROTEGE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ODI OR MAZDA.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED WHILE I WAS OUT SIDE THE CAR , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS & I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY EITHER MAZDA CORP OR THE DEALER & I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER , THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THE 1995 PROTEGE & AT NO TIME I WAS EVER CONTACTED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PERIOD. IN 1997 THE ENGINE DIED & I HAD TO PAY THE SUM OF $1500.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE & THERE WERE RECALLS I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF. I CONTACTED BOTH MAZDA OF NORTH AMERICA & THE DEALER PLAZA AUTO MALL WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1995 & BOTH REFUSED MY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, DUE TO CORROSION. UPDATED 08/27/14
- NHTSA ID
- 10587776
- Incident
- Apr 17, 2014
- Mileage
- 49,000 mi
I WAS OUT OF THE CAR & BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS , BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY MAZDA CORP ,I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL AFTER THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED. *JS
- NHTSA ID
- 10585596
- Incident
- Apr 17, 2014
- Mileage
- 49,000 mi
1995 MAZDA PROTEGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10230884
- Incident
- Apr 14, 2008
- Mileage
- 125,000 mi
TL* - THE CONTACT HAD A 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE WHICH WAS IN A HEAD ON CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. THAT CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY SKID MARKS IN THE ROAD TO INDICATE THAT EITHER VEHICLE TRIED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS A POLICE REPORT FROM THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS THE STEERING SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG. *NM THE DECEDENTS GRANDMOTHER WROTE IN. UPDATED 02/26/07.*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10178813
- Incident
- Sep 3, 2006
- Mileage
- 12,546 mi
AT 5000 MILES THE REAR DEFROST DID NOT WORK. IN THE WINTER IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. IT WAS NOT FIXED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MAZDA WOULD NOT REPAIR. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10143714
- Incident
- Oct 6, 1999
- Mileage
- 5,000 mi
MY 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS THE GAS AND BRAKE PETALS SO CLOSE IN HEIGHT AND LITTLE SEPARATION THAT IT IS VERY EASY TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND STILL BE APPLYING THE GAS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT HAVE HAD SOME VERY NEAR MISSES. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10143712
- Incident
- Jun 9, 1999
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT SWITCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER REPAIR OF RECALL 91007. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10115143
- Incident
- Mar 19, 2002
- Mileage
- 127,066 mi
DRIVER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ,THEN PUSHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10113499
- Incident
- Mar 4, 2005
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN THE 1995-1998 PROTÉGÉ IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN, THE REPAIR PROCEDURE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION FOR RECALL 8715J HAS BEEN UPDATED.
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
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.