1997 Mazda Protege Owner Complaints

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THERE WAS A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER. *AK THE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

NHTSA ID

8012946

Incident

May 7, 2002

OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE WILL KICK. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008186

Incident

May 1, 2001

LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON, OVERDRIVE SENSOR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT FUSE WAS BLOWN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8007646

Incident

Mar 27, 2002

POWER LOCKS WERE REPLACED TWICE BY COVINGTON PIKE MAZDA (TN) AND ONCE BY CASCADE MAZDA DEALER(OH, 44221). THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME, MY LOCKS HAVE DETERIORATED.

NHTSA ID

755816

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

BRAKE CALIPER PINS RUSTED OUT DUE TO MOISTURE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE PINS, AND CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO WORK ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER ADDED THAT CALIPERS WERE EXHIBITING A CLICK AND POPPING NOISE, DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS. CUSTOMER STATES DOME LIGHT FAILED. *TT

NHTSA ID

8000869

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFT/FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS TOTALLING $576.44 IN REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID

755095

Incident

Sep 13, 2001

ENGINE IDLED UP OR DOWN AT STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES RACE UP OVER 300 RPMS SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT FROM GOING HIGHER THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALMOST GOING THROUGH BACK OF MY GARAGE ALSO SURGED WHEN TRYING TO PARK AND CAUSING CAR TO JUMP FORWARD CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS TWICE THEY CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WIRE HARNESS UNDER HOOD GROUNDS ALTERNATOR VACUUM LINE ENGINE MOUNTS WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED TO BE WORSENING ON SURGING AND GOT A NUMBER FOR MAZDA TECH CENTER BY MISTAKE AND THE MAN I TALKED TO SAID HE FELT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH MAZDA REP FOR THIS AREA AND THEY SAID HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO LOOK INTO ANY FURTHER HOLIDAY DEALER SERVICE REPS DID NOT HELP ME MUCH WITH ANYTHINGI WOULD HAVE TO ASK AROUND WITH FRIENDS TO FIND WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE CAUSING SURGES AND IDLING DOWN TO STALLING EACH HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS WHICH I WOULD TAKE TO HOLIDAY AND I WOULD BE PUT OFF AS THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD DIFFERENT MECHANICS SEE THE IDLE SURGES ANDCOULD NOT FIGURE WHAT CAUSED ITBESIDES THE THINGS I MENTIONED I HAD A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH DOOR NOT UNLOCKING OR WINDOW GOING UP OR DOWN TOOK IT IN 2 TIMES AND THEN THE SERVICES REP SAID I SHOULD JUST LIVE WITH IT AND WALKED AWAY ON ME WHICH I HAVENT BEEN BACK SINCE BUT KEEP CALLING MAZDA AND THEY KEEP PUTTING ME OFF THEY SUGGESTED I GO ONLY TO MAZDA CERTIFIED PLACES WHICH THERE ARE NOT ANYMORE AROUND HERE WITHOUT DRIVING 45 MILES TO APPLETON SO A GUY AT A SHOP I WAS AT SAID I SHOULD CONTACT YOU PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I COULD GET HELP I WILL NOT TALK TO THAT IGNORANT SERVICE REP AGAIN DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO A DIFFERENT PLACE TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED I FOUND A COUPLE GOOD LEADS TO MY PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET WHICH SEAMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE ON MAZDA AND A FEW OTHER CARS THAT WHERE FIXED BY THESE MECHANICS WHICH WAS SOME CENSOR OR VACUUM GAUGE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEMSOR AMAIN COMPUTER PROBLEMTO IGNITIONCCAN

NHTSA ID

752047

Incident

Jan 14, 1999

BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION PUT 3 DENTS IN THE HOOD, MAZDA BATTREY. *AK

NHTSA ID

751239

Incident

Aug 20, 2001

CAR ALWAYS WOULD SPEED UP OR IDLE DOWN AT DIFF. TIMES ONCE WENT TO 3000 RPMS HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF KILLED AT STOP SIGNS HOLIDAY CHANGED DIFF COMPONENTS BUT COULD NOT STOP THE IDLING AND LURCHING FORWARD PROBLEM ALSO AT DIFF TIMES IT WOULD IDLE DOWN AND STALL OR JUST IDLE UP AND DOWN TIL I WOULD SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART OR JUST STOP ON THE GAS THIS IDLING UP AND LURCHING FORWARD HAS AT DIFF TIMES ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY GOING FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

746998

Incident

Jan 14, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED, CAUSING INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER PURCHASED REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *YH

NHTSA ID

888802

Incident

May 19, 2001

MAZDA PRO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING IN 2 ENGINE FIRES IN 3-4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ID

727932

Incident

Mar 20, 1999

1) AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY DURING A RIGHT ANGLE (T BONE) ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION .. THE DRIVER (ME) SYSTAINED HEAD AND FACE / CHEST INJURIES. 2) SINCE NEW THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ON MY NON ABS CAR LOCKES UP VERY EASILY, AND HAS CAUSED A SPIN OUT IN SEVERAL CASES, ON WET SURFACES. A DEALER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, WHEN I WROTE MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE HQ, THEY SIMPLY SAID TO GO BACK TO A DEALER FOR THEIR JUDGEMENT / ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

727784

Incident

Sep 15, 1997

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXETENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

864382

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT CABLE WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CABLE OF BELT IS STICKING OUT OF TRACK AND MOTORS HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE RUNNING ALL THE TIME AND RAN DOWN THE BATTERY. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

864152

Incident

Sep 30, 1997

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

862633

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE AND THEN SWITCHES TO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL JUMP WITHOUT A WARNING. ONE TIME RESULTED IN CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL, DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

860617

Incident

Apr 19, 2000

ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER TIGHTENED ENGINE VALVES. 2 MONTHS LATER, WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER DISMANTLED ENGINE AND HAD TO REMACHINE THE VALVES. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

860309

Incident

Apr 11, 1999