2000 Mazda Protege Owner Complaints

TODAY WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL AFTER MY GRANDAUGHTER'S FACE HIT THE WINDSHEILD.

NHTSA ID

11282740

Incident

Nov 27, 2019

Mileage

160 mi

MY CAR GOES IN AND OUT OF OD BY ITS SELF AND THE OD BUTTON DOES NOT WORK WHILE IM DRIVING AND THE OD LIGHT FLASHES WHEN IT GOES ON AAND STOP WHEN IT DEACTIVATES IT SELF

NHTSA ID

11085023

Incident

Apr 13, 2018

Mileage

167,980 mi

AFTER DRIVING 2 MILES OR LESS THE RIGHT UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND NOW THE ENGINE IS BLOWN.

NHTSA ID

11084383

Incident

Mar 19, 2018

Mileage

213,900 mi

I DROVE THE CAR FOR 2 MILES AND THE LEFT UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, NOW THE ENGINE IS DEAD AND IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE?

NHTSA ID

11084381

Incident

Mar 18, 2018

Mileage

213,000 mi

CAR DOES NOT START UNLESS YOU JIGGLE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING KEY OR PUMPING GAS PEDAL. HAD BATTERY CHECKED AS WELL AS STARTER AND IGNITIION SWITCH REPLACED BUT HAS NOT SOLVED PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11000340

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10652678

Incident

Oct 23, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE TOOK A LONG TIME TO START UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10484499

Incident

Sep 27, 2012

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. MY SPOUSE SPENT FIFTEEN MINUTES TRYING TO GET IT UNBUCKLED AND POPPED A BLOOD VESSEL IN HER THUMB TRYING TO RELEASE IT. GOING TO REPLACE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WILL CONTACT DEALER TO SEE IF IT CAN BE WARRANTIED. THEY SHOULD, IT IS A SAFETY ITEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10464467

Incident

Jul 5, 2012

Mileage

89,599 mi

ALL DOORS DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ACTIVATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10429252

Incident

Jan 4, 2010

PASSENGER VEHICLES LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE HOSES DAMAGED, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378644

Incident

Jan 23, 2000

THE DIM LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. FORTUNATELY THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WORKED, OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNAL/LIGHT CONTROL WAND WAS REPLACED. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM REPEATED. IT WAS LATE WITHOUT MUCH TRAFFIC AND I DROVE HOME FOR 30 MILES WITH ONLY BRIGHT LIGHTS. THIS TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALER. THE WIRE CONTROLLING THE LIGHTS HAD OVER HEATED WHICH CAUSED THE WAND TO BURNOUT AND A WIRE CONNECTOR TO WARP. A NEW WIRE WAS THREADED FROM THE CONNECTOR THROUGH THE FIREWALL TO THE CONTROL WAND. THE LIGHTS ARE NOW WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372369

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

89,500 mi

ON MAY 12, 2010 MY SON CALLED ME AT MY PHONE TO ADVISED ME THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING HIS 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE AND WITHOUT ANY REASON HIS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE GAVE UP ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE SIDE CENTER OF THE TIRE MAKING A BLOWOUT NOISE AND WENT FLAT. HE WENT TO A TIRE SERVICES CENTER AND THERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REPAIR THE TIRE AND ALSO THEY RECOMMENDED HIM TO CHANGE ALL THE TIRES (KUMHO SOLUS HP/4/PLUS-P195/55//15. I JUST BOUGHT TWO OF THEM IN DECEMBER. I WROTE TO KHOMO TIRES WEB-SITE ASKING IF THERE IS ANY RECALL FOR THE TIRES AND WHAT KIND OF GUARANTEE IS THERE. I NEVER GOT A REPLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330758

Incident

Apr 12, 2010

Mileage

3,000 mi

MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE LX HAS HAD SOME "MAJOR SURGERY" LATELY. ABOUT A YEAR AGO (EARLY 2008), WHEN BACKING UP ESPECIALLY, THE CAR WOULD MAKE A STRESS THEN POP NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND TOWARDS THE MIDDLE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THIS AND THAT. I HAD NEW REAR STRUTS PUT ON, ALIGNMENTS, TIGHTENING OF THE SUSPENSION, ETC. SOME OF THESE WORKED TEMPORARILY. MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN "ACCIDENT" AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2008. WE HAD BAD SNOW AND ICE AND MY CAR'S LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT AN ICE RUT PRETTY GOOD. AFTER THAT, MY CAR POPPED AND POPPED. TURNS OUT, THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO WORK AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STICK SHIFT TURNED TO JELLO. I BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BUSHING HAD COME APART. WELL, NOW I HAVE BEEN BATTLING A CREAKY CLUTCH PEDDLE. WITH EACH RELEASE, IT CREAKS LIKE AN OLD HINGE AS IF IT'S TRYING TO GET BACK INTO POSITION. IT'S GETTING WORSE. I TALKED TO MECHANICS AND READ ON-LINE ABOUT IT. SOME SAY IT COULD BE THE FLUID RESERVOIR (HOW EMPTY IT IS) OR THIS SPRING THAT IS RUBBING ON ANOTHER COMPONENT. THE PEDAL FEELS OKAY, IT'S NOT LOOSE. I JUST NOW WONDER IF THIS IS COINCIDENTAL DUE TO THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING RACK AND WEAK BUSHING OF THE STICK SHIFT. AND FOR THE RECORD, THE MANUAL IN THE CAR IS FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NOT A 5SPD. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2001 WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265479

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN EARLY 2006 THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TYPE OF TIRE I HAD ON MY CAR SO ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I SPENT 600 FOR TOP OF THE LINE TIRES. ON 11/17/2006, I WAS BEHIND A CAR THAT SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND WHEN I APPLIED MINE THEY DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN SO I KEPT PUMPING THEM SO HARD I BRUISED MY FOOT AND CRASHED INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME TOTALING MY CAR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED, THE BELT REMAINED LOOSE AND MY HEAD SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERING IT. AFTER GIVING MY INFO TO THE DRIVER I HIT AND MAKING SURE THAT I WAS ALRIGHT, HE LEFT AND SAID NOT TO WORRY AS THE DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WAS MINIMAL AND HE COULD FIX IT HIMSELF. AN OFFICER DID ARRIVE AND NOTED THAT MY TIRE MARKS WERE EXTREMELY FAINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ALMOST UNDETECTABLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH SUPPORTED THE BRAKE FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW WHO I NEED TO CONTACT TO EXAMINE MY CAR TO DETERMINE THE BRAKE FAILURE BUT I NEED TO DO THIS BEFORE MY INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMS THE CAR. ANY ASSISTANCE OR DIRECTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173956

Incident

Nov 17, 2006

I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. I CRAWLED OUT UNDER IT AND EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO RELEASE. IT SEEMS TO WORK OK NOW BUT I'M NOW LEERY OF IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173189

Incident

Nov 11, 2006

Mileage

56,000 mi

I JUST SPENT 2200 ON REPAIRS TO MY TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN LUNGING FORWARD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FOUND MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS FIXED AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS LUNGING FORWARD AGAIN. IT JUST STARTED AGAIN TODAY. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING TOO CLOSE TO SOMEONE, I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS AND DO A RECALL. NOW I HAVE TO GO AND LET THE SHOP TRY TO SEE WHY THIS IS GOING ON. I MAY BE OUT MORE MONEY. I HATE THIS CAR AND I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND MAZDA. AND JUST NOTE THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10170090

Incident

Oct 6, 2006

Mileage

59,000 mi

I FEEL THAT MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE DX WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS SUCH LOW MILES ON IT TO BE GIVING ME ANY TROUBLE. WHEN I AM DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING INTO OVERDRIVE BY ITSELF AND THEN RETURNS BACK TO NORMAL. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE WHEN IT DOES THIS, IT LUNGES YOUR VEHICLE FORWARD. I HAVE NOT BEEN GOING VERY FAST WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT AT A HIGHER SPEED, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE SIMILAR AS MINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I HAVE NO WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE AND REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, MAZDA HAS PRODUCED A VERY POOR TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS ONLY THE START. I AM HOPING THIS WILL NOT LEAD TO ME PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP READ THE CODE AS SOLENOIDS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TO GET THE SOLENOIDS REPLACED. THIS WILL COST ABOUT 400.00. I AM HOPING THAT THIS WILL FIX MY VEHICLE AND GIVE ME PEACE OF MIND. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160172

Incident

May 20, 2006

Mileage

56,000 mi

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE NEW FROM THE DEALER I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPT. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CAR WOULD JERK AND BUCK AS IF I HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THIS. EACH TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. I ALSO CONTACTED MAZDA CORP. TO INQUIRE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OR RECALLS. I WAS ADVISED THAT MAZDA HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. JUST SHY OF THREE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM CONCERNING THE CAR'S ACCELERATION. THIS WAS MY THIRD REQUEST TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK INTO THE MATTER. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR'S ACCELERATION CONTINUED TO ACT UP. ON MAY 26, 2006, WITH 66097 MILES ON THE VEHICLE MY ACCELERATOR STUCK AND I STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A CEMENT BASE LIGHT POLE. EACH TIME I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE OR DRIVE, MY CAR WOULD TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN. I HAVE SENT THE NHTSA A DETAILED WRITTEN COMPLAINT VIA POSTAL MAIL. THAT COMPLAINT IS DATED JUNE 5, 2006. *NM THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE UPON ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER A EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE, HOWEVER UPON OPENING THE TRUNK SHE DISCOVERED THE TOOL KIT WAS NOT THERE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL THE TOOL KIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. UPDATED 07/10/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160055

Incident

May 28, 2006

Mileage

66,097 mi

2000 PROTEGE LX ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. *TS AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ON FEB 21, 2000 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A HIGH PITCHED PING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THE LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED AND JERK WHILE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID

10160511

Incident

May 26, 2006

Mileage

66,097 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PULLED OVER BUT CONTINUED TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED, THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG THROUGH THE MOTOR. THE SPARK PLUG WAS IN 3 PIECES, THE PLUG WIRES WERE STILL CONNECTED TO THE TOP OF THE PLUG, THE THREADED PORTION OF THE PLUG WAS STILL IN THE CYLINDER, AND THE THIRD PIECE WAS INSIDE THE ENGINE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 05/30/2006. *AK

NHTSA ID

10157465

Incident

May 7, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

AS I ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH, THE "O/D OFF" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT ZERO, EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING AS FAST AS THE OTHER CARS ON THE STREET. IT FELT LIKE NEUTRAL GEAR. THE MANUAL INDICATES THE FLASHING LIGHT IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I REMEMBERED THAT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THIS NEW CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO PECULIAR SOUNDS, SO I WORRY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THIS COMPONENT SINCE I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147190

Incident

Jan 7, 2006

Mileage

31,127 mi

CONSUMER TREAD ON REAR TIRE SEPERATED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10145394

Incident

Sep 17, 2005

Mileage

40,877 mi

FRONT END IMPACT OF AT LEAST 45 MPH WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. ALMOST DIRECT FULL CONTACT WITH FRONT END (SLIGHTLY MORE ON ONE SIDE). FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELT RESTRAINED FORWARD MOTION BUT INJURY WAS INCURRED TO NECK AND BACK DUE TO FORCE OF COLLISION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142480

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ABOUT A YEAR TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. THE BRAKES ARE NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140678

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

OWN A 2000 MAZDA PROTEGE DX W/AUTO & AIR, 41K MILES THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW. UPON DRIVING FOR 45 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE O/D TRANSMISSION LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. WHEN I BRING TO THE CAR TO A STOP, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART, THE LIGHT IS NO LONGER FLASHING. I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE O/D LIGHT STARTS FLASHING BEFORE LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ALSO GETS DIRTY AT AN ACCELERATED RATE VS. WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED FOR A CAR. LAST FULL FLUSH AT 38K MILES, AND THE FLUID IS NOW BROWNISH-RED. TRANSMISSION SHOPS TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $1,500, BUT I CAN IMAGINE I'D NEED THAT ON A WELL-MAINTAINED JAPANESE CAR WITH 41K MILES. AT THIS POINT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL (FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD) AT ANY MOMENT. I'VE HEARD THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN THE 626, AND ALSO HAPPENS IN THE PROTEGE. PLEASE HELP IN CREATING A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10139045

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

38,000 mi