← New search

2001 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Mazda Protege do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 66.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Protege years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

22 reports with mileage · 28 unknown

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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
153,000 miles · Feb 12, 2017
EngineStructureWheelsCrash

TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT BY 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND WAS NEVER SENT ANYTHING ABOUT ANY RECALLS. AFTER PULLING A CAR FAX REPORT THERE IS 5 RECALLS ALL HAVING TO DO WITH HEADLIGHTS. I'VE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR NO HEADLIGHTS ON WHEN THEY WERE ON AND WAS RECENCTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT SEEING THE OTHER VEHICLE .…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT BY 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND WAS NEVER SENT ANYTHING ABOUT ANY RECALLS. AFTER PULLING A CAR FAX REPORT THERE IS 5 RECALLS ALL HAVING TO DO WITH HEADLIGHTS. I'VE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR NO HEADLIGHTS ON WHEN THEY WERE ON AND WAS RECENCTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT SEEING THE OTHER VEHICLE . THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS ON THE FRONT END INCLUDING DAMAGING MY RADIATOR WHICH NEEDS TO REPLACED, BUMBER AND GRILL. I HAD ONLY LIABILITY INSURANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND THEY ONLY WOULD PAY FOR THE OTHER CAR THAT WAS HIT. WHY WAS I NEVER INFORMED OF RECALL ISSUES? I'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THE NO HEADLIGHT TICKET AT NIGHT AND I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY WERE ILLUMINATED. PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME I HAVE NO RECALL ISSUES BECAUSE I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND HAVE 5 RECALLS ALL TO DO WITH LIGHTS WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TURNING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10954122

22,000 miles · Oct 25, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED MODEL YEAR 2003 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURER. BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR MODEL YEARS 2001-2002. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS CONDITION DOES NOT KEEP THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. IT CAN AND HAS CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. UPDATED 05/29/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10549544

Official recalls

1

01V024000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Feb 1, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE HOSES WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE DEGRADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE HOSE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.