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1995 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Protege years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Mazda Protege are substantially higher than the model-year median of 66.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 165 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports4 fire reports31 injury reports

Suspension complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2002
Power TrainSuspension

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THERE'S A HARD POPPING/CLUNKING NOISE. WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWICE & THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME WE HAD IT LOOKED AT WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE MIGHT BE A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE FRONT AXLE AND THAT THE CV BOOT/JOINT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE ALREADY R…

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WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THERE'S A HARD POPPING/CLUNKING NOISE. WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWICE & THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME WE HAD IT LOOKED AT WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE MIGHT BE A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE FRONT AXLE AND THAT THE CV BOOT/JOINT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE CV BOOT/JOINT ONCE BEFORE AND REPLACED THE STRUTS ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR TWICE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. WE ARE NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE STRUTS AGAIN (ON THE ADVICE OF AN ASE MECHANIC) AND FIND OUT THAT THESE HAVE BEEN ON FACTORY BACKORDER FOR MONTHS (WHICH TELLS ME THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THESE CARS). THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION FOR FEAR THAT THE FRONT AXLE MAY SNAP AND CAUSE A SERIOUS FATAL ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760019

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING THEN STOPPING COULD FEEL HARD VIBRATION COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUTIT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003991

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Suspension

WHEN STARTINGVEHICLE OR STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT/ STOP SIGN, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE SEVERELY. VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS AND AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899670

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Suspension

VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY AFTER STARTING/ SITTING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STOP SIGN. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND STILL PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899656

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1999
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND THERE IS VIRBRATION/ SHAKING WITHIN VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846739

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1997
Air BagsPower TrainSuspension

FRONT/REAR DEFROSTERS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY; ALSO, AIR BAGS/FRONT AND REAR STABILIZER BARS/STRUTS AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #516010

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Suspension

WHEN YOU ARE MAKING A TURN THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT END . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ODI #801396

Official recalls

4

15V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 19, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

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.

00V118000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Apr 21, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE RUNNING THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE SOLDERED CONNECTION TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FAILURE OF THE WIRE CONNECTION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

95V184000 · Air Bags

Oct 3, 1995

THE TIE DOWN HOOKS CAN CAUSE UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT IN UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TIE DOWN HOOKS WITH MODIFIED TIE DOWN HOOKS.

95V033000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Feb 21, 1995

THE WIRE ROD USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS CAN DEVELOP MINUTE CRACKS CAUSING BREAKAGE OF THE SPRINGS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS BREAKAGE CAN CAUSE ENGINE CHATTER, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE PISTONS, AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL SIXTEEN (16) VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA99029 · Headlight Wire Breakage

Opened Sep 30, 1999 · Closed May 10, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

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

PE99038 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened May 20, 1999 · Closed Sep 30, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

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.