ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1997 Mazda Protege
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 66 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Mazda Protege, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 83 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 2 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 1997 | 2 | 7 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 8 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 9 |
| Mar 1998 | 3 | 12 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 1998 | 2 | 15 |
| Jul 1998 | 2 | 17 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 18 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 19 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 21 |
| Mar 1999 | 3 | 24 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 25 |
| May 1999 | 3 | 28 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 29 |
| Jul 1999 | 5 | 34 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 36 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 37 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 38 |
| Feb 2000 | 3 | 41 |
| Apr 2000 | 2 | 43 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 44 |
| Jun 2000 | 2 | 46 |
| Aug 2000 | 2 | 48 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 49 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 50 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 51 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 52 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 53 |
| Dec 2001 | 2 | 55 |
| Apr 2002 | 2 | 57 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 58 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 60 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 61 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 62 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 63 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 64 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 65 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 66 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags1212.9%
- Brakes1111.8%
- Engine99.7%
- Transmission99.7%
- Driver assistance88.6%
- Seat belts66.5%
- Visibility55.4%
- Body & structure55.4%
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
2 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
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA PROTG DX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. UPDATED 02/11/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN
- NHTSA ID
- 10367075
- Incident
- Oct 24, 2010
- Mileage
- 99,000 mi
AFTER FIXING THE CATALYST CONVERTER, IT THEN GOES OUT AGAIN REQUIRING ME TO HAVE IT FIXED AGAIN
- NHTSA ID
- 10068748
- Incident
- Oct 15, 2003
- Mileage
- 108,000 mi
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ACCELERATION IS POOR.*MR ENCLOSED ARE COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS AND SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY IDENTIFIED AS A FAULTY VALVEIN CYLINDER #1. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10043933
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2003
AFTER INVESTIGATING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" OVER A PERIOD OF 5 MONTHS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A VALVE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST CYLINDER WAS CAUSING A LACK OF COMPRESSION AND POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE. 2 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS 8 VALVES AND OTHER PARTS, TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE SPENT A TOTAL OF $1791.78 BEFORE THE CAR WAS FIXED. WE LEARNED FROM OUR MAZDA DEALER THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED 6/10/98 THAT COVERED THIS PROBLEM. WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MAZDA AREA REP, AND NO REIMBURSEMENT WAS ISSUED. *PH
- NHTSA ID
- 10038858
- Incident
- Apr 22, 2003
- Mileage
- 83,068 mi
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *MR *PH
- NHTSA ID
- 10020404
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON BOTH SIDES AT 35MPH WHILE REAR ENDING A VAN. TORE OFF BUMPER WITH AIRBAG SENSORS CLEARLY IN VIEW AIRBAG LIGHT INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS NOT ON EITHER. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 765324
- Incident
- Aug 4, 2002
FAILURE OF THE LATCHES ON BOTH FRONT SEAT ALLOWING THE SEAT TO RECLINE. DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN REAR CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO RECLINE. THE ACTION TRAPPED MY WIFE'S LEFT FOOT UNDER THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED SEVERE CONTUSION AND ABRASIONS.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 764163
- Incident
- Jul 2, 2002
THERE WAS A SEVERE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA, DEALER FOUND THE G1 BEARING WAS WORN ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER AND THE DEALER FOUND THE SWAY BAR LINKS TO BE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS MADE. *SLC
- NHTSA ID
- 566438
- Incident
- Sep 13, 2001
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, inspect and maintain the battery periodically according to the repair procedure.
EQUIPMENT
This service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the driverâÂÂs floor mat to avoid any potential interference with the foot pedals. The following are possible causes of floor mat interference, which can be avoided with proper usage.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, inspect and maintain the battery periodically according to the repair procedure.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Mazda DCA-8000PM is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000PM is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this Service Bulletin to test Mazda vehicle batteries and to generate a Warranty Code.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
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 dealerâÂÂs responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. ï· Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. ï· When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. ï· This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. ï· Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the âÂÂSpeedometer Replacement LabelâÂÂ. Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. ï· In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of MazdaâÂÂs 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 SPECMOâÂÂs 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.
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.