Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 9 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 reports2 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

98 reports

17,000 miles · Jul 17, 2003

Power Train

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THERE IS A DISTINCT TRANSMISSION WHINE/SQUEAL THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES BEYOND 50 MPH. THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR AFTER ABOUT 17000 MILES. IT WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. MAZDA CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL' AND CAUSED BY THE RESONANCE OF PARTS WHICH OCCURS ONCE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN BROKEN IN. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND I FEEL IT IS BIZARRE THAT A NEW CAR WOULD HAVE SUCH AN INHERENT FLAW THAT MAZDA FEELS IS NORMAL AND THAT CUSTOMERS ACCEPT THE NOISE FACTOR ONCE THE CAR IS 'BROKEN IN'.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028496

8,934 miles · Jun 11, 2003

Power Train

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ESPECAILLY HIGH, VEHICLE LETS OFF A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE. NOISE IS VERY DESTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN HEADACHES AS A RESULT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022823

1 miles · May 13, 2003

Electrical System

METAL FACE PLATE OF IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP WHILE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION ALSO NOTICE ACCUMULATION OF A STATIC CHARGE WHEN REMOVING IGNITION KEY. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018620

500 miles · Apr 16, 2003

Power Train

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WE PURCHASED A NEW 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE LX IN 08/2002. WITHIN DAYS WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES JUST HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND SHIFTING. FREQUENT FAILURE TO SHIFT AT ALL OR FAILURE TO SHIFT FOR PROLONGED INTERVALS (SOMETIMES MILES). OCCASIONAL SLAMMING INTO GEAR AND CAR LURCHING FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS THAT ALMOST LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR REPAIRS ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LETTER OF NOTIFICATION OF DEFECT TO MANUFACTURER SENT TO MAZDA CORPORATE ON 3/22/03. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER FOR FINAL CHANCE TO REPAIR. DEALER STILL SAYS THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE PURCHASED A 2ND MAZDA PROTEGE LX AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH ITS TRANSMISSION AND IT SHIFTS SMOOTHLY AND PROPERLY. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND THIS CAR IS CLEARLY A LEMON, MAZDA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPLACE THIS CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10014468

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003

Wheels

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A COUPLE POT HOLES WHICH BENT TWO RIMS (MATERIAL VERY SOFT). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015348

8,900 miles · Mar 25, 2003

Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS STREAMING FROM LEAKING GAS TANK FROM 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. SECOND INCIDENT, FIRST OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER INITIAL DELIVERY ON NOV 2, 2001.

NHTSA ODI #10011005

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2003

Power Train

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CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE THAT THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION MADE. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT IT GAVE HIM AND ANYONE THAT RODE WITH HIM A HEADACHE. HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO STOP THE NOISE. HE STATED HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE NOISE IS MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH AND HIGHER. THE MAZDA REPAIR INFORMATION STATED THAT THE WHINE NOISE IS A RESULT OF A RESONANCE THE IS GENERATED AT VARYING LEVELS BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GEARS AND DOES NOT AFFECT THE USE, SAFETY OR VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10012242

12,000 miles · Feb 10, 2003

Service Brakes, Air

THE DISC BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, WHEN IT WAS APPLIED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10006910

41,000 miles · Feb 2, 2003

Seat BeltsInjury

THE REAR SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED. WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR MY DAUGHTER FELL ASLEEP. WHEN SHE SAT UPRIGHT THE SEAT BELT HAD TWISTED AROUND HER MIDDLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE LATCH BUT THE SEAT BELT WAS FEEDING BACK IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I TRIED TO PULL THE SEAT BELT AND WAS UNABLE TO ADVANCE THE BELT. IT WOULD RET…

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NHTSA ODI #10005127

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2002

Structure

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HARD PLASTIC PIECE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. IF THE PIECE IS IMPACTED IN A CRASH, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER INDICATES "THE PLASTIC PIECE COULD BREAK OFF BECOMING A HAZARDOUS WEAPON". TS

NHTSA ODI #8022932

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.