Mazda Protege Complaints

1,077 consumer complaints on file.

#10247780November 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULB (HEADLIGHT) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MAZDA RECENTLY BURNED OUT. > FIRST COMPLAINT--BECAUSE OF A CRAMPED ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE BULB IS DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. I HAVE SMALLISH HANDS FOR A MAN. THERE WAS BARELY ROOM TO ACCESS THE BULB SOCKET (HOLDER) ON THE OUTSIDE CORNER OF THE HEADLIGHT "POD". > SECOND COMPLAINT--THE BULB HOLDER WAS COMPLEX. THE BULB PLUGS INTO AN "INTERNAL" SOCKET; THIS PAIR SLIDES INTO THE HEADLIGHT "POD"; THE PAIR IS THEN HELD IN PLACE BY A WIRE CLIP; EVERYTHING THUS FAR GETS COVERED BY A RUBBER GASKET; AND LASTLY, THERE'S AN "EXTERNAL" CONNECTION (PLUG). > THIRD COMPLAINT--THE HEADLIGHT "POD" IS A INTRINSICALLY LOUSY DESIGN. EVEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, I COULDN'T SEE THE CATCH-POINT FOR THE WIRE CLIP. > FOURTH COMPLAINT--THE "POD" ITSELF IS FRAIL. IT'S APPARENTLY PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC APPARENTLY AGES BADLY. MY GENTLE ATTEMPT TO REFASTEN THE WIRE CLIP BROKE SOMETHING ON THE BACK OF THE "POD"--I DON'T KNOW WHAT. SO I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE "POD" ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF OVER $400. > NOTE--I'D PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THREE HEADLIGHT BULBS ON THIS CAR; AND THOUGH SUCCESSFUL, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROCESS EACH TIME. > THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW! > AN OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE ANY SAFETY-RELATED LIGHT BULB ON THE OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE WITH 1) NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE MECHANICALLY, EG, A TEEN BARBIE-BIMBO; 2) ONLY MODEST HAND DEXTERITY, EG, AN OLD FART WITH ARTHRITIS; 3) NO TOOL MORE COMPLEX THAN A COMMONPLACE SCREWDRIVER; AND 4) WITHOUT AN OWNER'S MANUAL, EG, AN OLDER USED CAR. > THE GOAL HERE IS TO EMPOWER AN OWNER TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLE IN SAFEST CONDITION. I REQUEST THAT THE USDOT ISSUE AND ENFORCE SUITABLE STANDARDS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF "FAMILY" VEHICLES. > IT'S TOO '!@#$% LATE TO HELP ME. I DOUBT WHETHER I'LL EVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245118October 11, 2008
SEATS
I WAS REAR-ENDED, I WAS A PASSENGER, A LOOSE LUG WRENCH CAME ,FROM THE TRUNK, THROUGH THE SEAT AND CRACKED ME IN THE RIBS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10241574September 9, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED IN THE LOCK MECHANISM. THE BUCKLE MECHANISM WOULD NOT RELEASE THE SEAT BELT HARNESS STRAP. THE CONTACT IS WAITING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 70,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237237August 6, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
TWO GENERAL TIRES PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME .ONE TIRE BLEW OUT AND WHEN I WHEN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WAS TOLD THAT BOTH THE VALVE STEMS IN BOTH THESE TIRES WERE ROTTEN AND THE FIRST ONE GAVE WAY CAUSING A BLOW-OUT WHILE DRIVING .IN CHECKING THE OTHER TIRE THE VALVE STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TERRIFYING !!*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236314July 29, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR STRUT TOWERS RUST RIGHT THROUGH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235896July 27, 2008
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO STICK WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. CURRENTLY, IT WILL LATCH, BUT DURING DRIVING, IT WILL UNLATCH AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT FLUCTUATES BETWEEN STICKING TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO PULL QUITE VIOLENTLY TO UNLATCH IT, OR NOT LATCHING AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234651July 17, 2008
VISIBILITY
DRIVING CAR IN POURING TROPICAL RAINSTORM AT ABOUT 40MPH IN HEAVY SOUTHBOUND THREE LANE TRAFFIC. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE RUNNING ON LOW. TURNED WIPERS TO HIGH, THEY RAN FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO CENTER LANE U-TURN TURNAROUND AND SIT THERE WITH FLASHERS ON UNTIL RAIN SUBSIDED (THIS IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS). WIPERS WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL AFTER THAT. THERE WERE 1 ADULT AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. RETURNED HOME. CHECKED FUSE AND IT WAS OK. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR REVEALED THAT THE GROUND WIRE HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE LOOP WHERE IT HELD IN PLACE BY THE WIPER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLT (WITH WASHERS). I SUSPECT THAT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE STEEL WASHERS HAD CUT THE BRASS GROUND WIRE LOOP OVER TIME. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THIS LOOP HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THAT WHEN THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON HIGH, THAT THE MOTOR VIBRATES IN THE RUBBER MOUNT BUSHING, AND THE BRASS GROUND LOOP SHANK JITTERS OFF OF THE LOOP (WHERE IT IS NORMALLY JUST LYING UPON DUE TO GRAVITY), THUS CAUSING THE MOTOR'S GOUND CIRCUIT TO OPEN, AND THE WIPERS TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE IS A 5 CENT PART THAT HAS PUT OUT FAMILY IN HARMS WAY TWICE NOW. IF THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON MY VEHICLE, I PREDICT THAT THERE WILL BE DEATHS AND INJURIES CAUSED WHEN DRIVERS CANNOT SEE WHERE THEY ARE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234557July 16, 2008
TIRES
I STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT ON MY TIRES, BUT I ALREADY REPLACED 2 AND FOUND OUT TODAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER 2. ONE FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT AND I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. MY BACK TIRE HAVE A HUMP IN THEM. WHICH IS GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO WEAR FASTER . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231334June 17, 2008
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER BUCKLES. INITIALLY THE BUCKLE WOULD GO INTO THE RECEPTACLE BUT NOT LATCH UNLESS YOU PRESSED REAL HARD AND JIGGLED IT AROUND. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE BUCKLE GOES INTO THE RECEPTACLE BUT DOES NOT LATCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230884June 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1995 MAZDA PROTEGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230334June 9, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WITHIN 15 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES OF PURCHASE, MICHELIN PILOT PRIMACY 195/55R15 TIRE SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MICHELIN ONLY OFFERED TO REFUND 25% OF TIRE COST (AND ONLY FOR A NEW MICHELIN TIRED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229940June 4, 2008
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING ALONE MY 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE ALONG A LOCAL ROUTE IN TEWKSBURY MA IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN A CAR A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME MADE A QUICK STOP FOR A LEFT TURN. SEVERAL CAR BEHIND STOPPED WITHOUT PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND SKID ALL THE WAY INTO THE CAR AT FRONT WHICH WAS A 2002 CAMRY. AT THE TIME THE CAR AT FRONT OF ME HIT THE BRAKE I TAPPED ON MY BRAKE ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE WERE ABOUT 10 CAR LENGTH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE 2002 CAMRY THAT I HIT EVENTUALLY. THE TRACTION PROVIDED BY MY TIRES ARE EXTREMELY LOW ESPECIALLY IN WET. THE TIRES I WAS RIDING ON ARE 4 GOODYEAR INTEGRITY P175/70R13 THAT I INSTALLED IN MAY 2005 IN ALLIED TIRES AND SERVICE IN GAINESVILLE, FL 32607. I HAD ABOUT 40K MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. MY CAR PASSED THE MA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN JAN 2008, AND MY MOST RECENT VISUAL CHECK ON THE TIRES SHOWED THERE WERE ENOUGH TREAD LEFT. FROM DAY ONE I NOTICED THESE TIRES WERE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY COMPARED TO OTHER TIRES, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THROTTLE OR BRAKE COULD CAUSE TIRE SPIN IN EVEN DRY CONDITION, IN WET IT'S MUCH WORSE. AS A SAFETY DRIVER I CONSIDERED MYSELF, I ALWAYS DROVE WELL UNDER SPEED LIMIT WITH EXTREME CAUTION, AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T CONSIDER THESE TIRES AN IMMINENT HAZARD SO I TOOK NO ACTION AND CONTINUED USING THEM UNTIL THIS ACCIDENT. I DEEPLY REGRETTED THIS. I SINCERELY REQUEST YOUR FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE GRIP PERFORMANCE ON THIS LINE OF TIRES. I AM A SAFE DRIVER WITH 7 YEAR OF CLEAN RECORD BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. BEFORE I MADE THIS COMPLAINT I FOUND MANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ALSO ADDRESSED THE GRIP ISSUE. AND THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS LINE OF TIRES ON THE GRIP PERFORMANCE ON INTERNET. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1:30 PM, MAY 31, 2008, AT MAIN ST RT. 38 IN TEWKSBURY, MA 01876. SHOULD YOU REQUIRE MORE DETAILS YOU COULD CONTACT ME OR THE TEWKSBURY MA POLICE. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORT ON THIS. THANK YOU, WING-HIN WONG *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229621June 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT HEARD LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS A BLOWN ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS ENGINE FAILURE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,289 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,490.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227347May 8, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 HYDRAULIC ARM ON THE HATCH DOOR BROKE OFF. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HATCH DOOR INSTANTLY SLAMMED DOWN . SHE OR HER SON COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF STANDING A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE. *NJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225348April 22, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
THE HYDRAULIC ARM BROKE AND SNAPPED OFF AT THE METAL BALL JOINT SUDDENLY SLAMMING THE HATCH DOOR ON MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 CLOSED. FORTUNATELY, MY SON AND I HAD JUST STEPPED BACK FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD EITHER ONE OF US STILL BEEN RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR, I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219191February 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP, FOUND PROBLEM TO BE BUTTERFLY VALVE SCREWS BACKING OUT AND FALLING INTO INTAKE MANIFOLD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST ~$900.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218989February 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
REAR HATCH/LIFT GATE PROPS FAIL WHEN LIFT GATE/HATCH IS OPENED RESULTING IN CONCUSSION AS LIFT GATE/HATCH HITS ONE IN HEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US AS EACH STAY PROP FAILS INDEPENDENTLY. LUCKILY NONE OF OUR CHILDREN WERE UNDER THE HATCH/LIFT GATE. MADZA PART NUMBERS ARE: B25R-62-620C AND B25R-63-620C. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10218641February 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 WAS BEING DRIVEN AT SPEED NO GREATER THAN 40 MPH AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 3RD GEAR. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72,200 MILES ON IT. IN NOVEMBER 2006 THE ENGINE COIL FOR CYLINDERS 2 AND 3 HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE WHICH FLOODED THE SPARK PLUGS AND MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AT THAT TIME AS WELL. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO SEE IF EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL COVER WHAT I AM SURE WILL BE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHICH IF THE SAME KIND AS ALREADY IN THE VEHICLE WILL MOST LIKELY FAIL AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217314February 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE, TIRES, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
ON JANUARY 22, 2008 I BROUGHT A MAZDA PRETEGE5 YEAR 2002 58,000 MILES $ 12,000.00 FROM CITY WORLD 3305 BOSTON ROAD BRONX, NEW YORK 10469 (718) 655-7000. THE SALE MANAGERS TOLD ME THIS CAR IS EXCELLENT FOR ME. ?NICE, GOOD AND EVERYTHING SO I SETTLE FOR THE MAZDA PRETEGE5.? HOWEVER, SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR I FIND MYSELF GOING TO THE USED AUTOMOBILE DEALER EVERY OTHER DAY BECAUSE THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. DURING THE WEEK I GOT TO SEXUALLY HARASSED, BY SALES INDIVIDUAL, THEY WERE TOUCHING ME. FIRST, SUN ROOF ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPS WORKING. BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA SERVICE IN THE BRONX. THEY TOLD ME TWO DAYS LATER THEY DON'T HAVE THE BUDGETARY PARTS. I MISS MY CLASS THAT WEEKEND BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR TO GET TO CLASS. SECONDLY, THE CAR WAS GETTING OVER HEATING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I DON'T KNOW WHY, I DON'T EVEN DRIVE MUCH SCHOOL AND WORK IS 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. I BROUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE A CLASS AT DOBBS FERRY. THIRDLY, TODAY FEBRUARY 05, 2008 THE CAR COULDN'T START NEXT TO MY JOB IN NEREID AVENUE, SO I CALLED THEM, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE TOWING GUY I CALL THEM. THE TOWING GUY TOLD ME MY TIRE IS FLAT. MY POINT IS I ONLY BROUGHT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. I ONLY DRIVE FOR TWO DAYS ONLY IN GENERAL. MOST OF THE TIME THEY HAVE THE CAR IN THEIR POSSESSION. I AM PAYING INSURANCE FOR THE CAR, WHEN I DON'T EVEN DRIVE IT. WHY THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME. I M A STUDENT TRYING TO GET BY IN SCHOOL. I AM A SINGLE WOMAN ALL ALONE TRYING TO SURVIVE. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO CALL TO GENEROUSLY HELP ME. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME? NOW THE CAR DEALER PLACE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. THEY REFUSE TO TALK TO ME. THEY GIVE ME A RUN AROUND. PLEASE, I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE I WORK AT NIGHT TRYING TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING. I PRESENTLY WORK WITH THE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN, AND I DO NOT HAVE TO COME TO THE CAR DEALER PLACE EVERY OTHER DAY, BECAUSE THEIR SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, IT JUST NOT FAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214914January 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND HICCUP. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAM ON SO I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE CAR HAD A MORE SERIOUS SHUDDER. I GOT IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND THEY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS A MISFIRE IN THE #4 CYLINDER. THE SPARKPLUG WAS SMASHED. NOTHING WAS FOUND IN THE CYLINDER SO THE SPARKPLUG WAS REPLACED AND TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME SHUDDER PROBLEM AND AGAIN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS TIME THE #1 CYLINDER WAS THE PROBLEM AND AGAIN WITH THE SAME SMASHED SPARKPLUG. MY MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY ODD OCCURRENCE AND CHECKED AND FOUND THE RECALL #3005C. MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER THEN SAID MY VIN# DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL AND YET THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE MAZDA IS TRYING TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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