Mazda Protege Complaints

1,077 consumer complaints on file.

#10079472June 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 50 MPH VEHICLE JERKED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL, BUT WOULD LOSE SPEED AND POWER. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071833June 4, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLES UNEXPECTEDLY DIED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SECOND TIME WHERE THEY SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075535June 2, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 3 CAR FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER HEAD IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING SEVERE HEADACHES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10074465May 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE STALLED CAUSING THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING NOT TO WORK. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND RAN INTO THE EMBANKMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE. THIS CAR HAS HAD A HISTORY OF ENGINE STALLING WHILE RUNNING. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10074444May 28, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LAST NOVEMBER THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THAT THEIR WAS AN ERROR WITH THE CODE AND THEY CLEARED IT AND RECALIBRATED IT. THEY SAID IT HAD GONE OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THREE MONTHS LATER (SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED) THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THE CODE SAID THAT THE GAS CAP WAS NOT SCREWED ON TIGHT. THIS WAS NOT TRUE! WHEN THAT LIGHT CAME ON I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE GAS CAP SINCE THE OWNERS MANUAL TOLD ME THAT WAS ALL I COULD DO MYSELF (IT WAS TIGHT AS A DRUM). THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED OTHERWISE-IT WAS MY WORD AGAINST THEIRS AND NATURALLY THEY WON. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT AGAIN CAME BACK ON. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CODE THIS TIME SAID MY SOLENOID WAS BAD (THE CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT). THE CHARGED ME $427 TO REPLACE IT AND SAID I SHOULD HAVE NO MORE PROBLEMS. ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS GOES BY AND THE LIGHT AGAIN GOES OFF. THIS TIME THEY KEPT IT IN THE SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE CODE INDICATED IT WAS THE SOLENOIND (HOW COULD THAT BE SINCE IT WAS A BRAND NEW ONE?) THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND TEST DROVE IT FOR 50 MILES, IT DID NOT COME BACK ON. I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLLING THAT LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE AND GIVING OUT ERRONEOUS CODES SINCE I KNOW THAT MY GAS CAP WAS SECURELY TIGHTENED, AND HOW CODE IT POINT TO THE SOLENOID AFTER IT HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REFUND THOSE REPAIR BILLS AND THE MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD ONLY REFER ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR ANY STATEMENTS FROM ME ABOUT A POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE PART. TOLD ME TO GET AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR PERSON'S ASSESSMENT. I CANNOT AFFORD THAT! PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME. THE DEALERSHIP DID TELL ME THAT I'D NEVER BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR SMOGGED WITH THAT LIGHT ON AND I CAN'T LIVE WITH RUNNING BACK AND FORTH TO THE SHOP EVERY TIME IT GOES OFF. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073494May 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UP ON HILLS. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER HAD A BAD SOLENOID. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067316May 11, 2004
AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD RUN A STOP SIGN AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON WHILE PASSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. *SC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10065500May 11, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN SHE/HE HIT THE DASHBOARD. BOTH VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE TOTALED. *JB *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10071927April 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING, ROAD DEBRIS RUPTURED THE VEHICLE FUEL TANK WHICH RESULTED ON A FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BURNED ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF HER BODY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10065514April 29, 2004
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALER STATES THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *NM *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071646April 27, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071648April 27, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067862April 26, 2004
SEATS
I AM 6'0" WITH A TEMPERMENTAL BACK AND A 30" PANT INSEAM. IN PRACTICAL TERMS, I MUST HAVE THE SEAT CUSHION AT ITS LOWEST POSITION (FOR HEADROOM); THE SEAT BACK VERTICAL (TO PREVENT BACKACHE); AND THE SEAT MOVED RELATIVELY FORWARD (TO REACH THE PEDALS). MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 IS ONE OF THE FEW CARS I CAN DRIVE COMFORTABLY. THAT'S HIGH PRAISE FOR SUCH A MODEST CAR. >>>>> MY PROBLEM WITH THE PROTEGE IS THE LEVER FOR THE FORE/AFT MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE LEVER IS BELOW THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT CUSHION (INSTEAD OF ALONG THE LEFT SIDE); IT IS SHAPED ROUGHLY LIKE A CAPITAL LETTER "L" LAID HORIZONTALLY; THE INSIDE ANGLE IS ABOUT 120 DEGREES (SO THAT THE LONG SIDE POINTS FORWARD TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR); AND THE LEVER TIP IS "POINTY". >>>>> IF I WEAR "LONG" PANTS WITH BOTTOM CUFFS, THE CUFFS ARE PRONE TO CATCH ON THE SEAT LEVER AS I GET OUT OF THE CAR. BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT EASY TO STOP 235 POUNDS WHEN I'VE BEEN THROWN OFF BALANCE. I'VE REPEATEDLY GOTTEN BRUISED AND/OR SCRAPED HANDS DURING UNGRACEFUL LANDINGS. >>>>> THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS SIMILAR. THESE LEVERS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2003 PROTEGE (AND ANY OTHER RECENT VEHICLE USING THIS DESIGN) SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT LEVERS.*AK >>>>> A REPLACEMENT LEVER SHOULD BE SHAPED SO THAT ITS TIP TUCKS FAR ENOUGH UNDER THE SEAT CUSHION (A COUPLE OF INCHES) TO PREVENT IT FROM CATCHING A PANT CUFF OR PURSE STRAP. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE JOB DONE RIGHT, PLEASE SEE THE 2004 MAZDA 626. >>>>> THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. YOUR STUPID WEB SITE DESIGN INSISTS ON A SPECIFIC MONTH/DAY/YEAR FOR THE INCIDENT DATE. I HAVE ENTERED MY DATE OF PURCHASE INSTEAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10066580April 20, 2004
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MY 80 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR EASTBOUND ON SW 104 STREET WHEN AT THE INTERSECTION OF 127 AVE. THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED RESPONDING AND FELT UNATTACHED TO THE WHEELS. I WAS INFORMED TODAY, BY THE MAZDA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE GEERING BOX THAT HAD FAILED. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES BUT THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE GOOD SAMARITAN THAT USED HIS/HER OWN VEHICLE TO FORCIBLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. YESTERDAY MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR BUT IF IT HAD BEEN ANOTHER DRIVER, A YOUNGER, FASTER DRIVER, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066303April 16, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE SEAT BELT CORD ON MY 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS BECOME INOPERABLE AND THEREFORE I HAVE NO TOP SEAT BELT ON MY CARS DRIVER SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065478April 2, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND FOUND THE REAR CALIPERS WERE WARPED. DUE TO THE WARPED CALIPERS, THE REAR PADS CAN NOT BE REPLACED WITH OUT NEW CALIPERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064365April 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 STALLED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELARATE FROM A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT PROBLEMS. THE DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064939March 25, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER A 30 MPH VEHICLE FRONTAL COLLISION, THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED SKIN BURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10062776March 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE5 WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10-20MPH. THE OTHER PARTY WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DIDN'T WORK (I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT) AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS INFATED. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS MAINLY STRUCTURAL, ESTIMATES TO FIX THE CAR WERE APPROXIMATELY $13,000-$14,000, SUBSEQUENTLY THE CAR WAS 'TOTALED'. TO DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, THE FRAME WAS BENT, THE RIGHT FENDER AND STRUCTURAL PARTS UNDERNEATH WERE BUCKLED AT THE WINDSHIELD, AND QUITE A FEW ENGINE COMPONENTS DESTROYED AS WELL AS ALL OF THE 'COSMETIC' PARTS ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE DAMAGE WAS CLASSIFIED BY THE REPORTING POLICE DEPARTMENT AS "MAJOR". IN THIS ACCIDENT, I RECEIVED A PATELLA (KNEECAP) FRACTURE THAT IS SEVERE ENOUGH TO KEEP ME OFF WORK FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE WEEKS. PHYSICAL THERAPY WILL CONTINUE FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 6-8 WEEKS. MEDICAL BILLS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $8000 OR MORE. ON MARCH 19, 2004, I VISITED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ON JANUARY 4, 2004 (THE CAR HAD ONLY 1204 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF ACCIDENT). I INQUIRED FROM THE AVAILABLE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT "THERE'S A BOX THAT SITS CLOSE TO THE DASH, IN FRONT OF THE RADIO/CD CHANGER. IN THIS BOX IS A CUP WITH A LITTLE BALL IN IT. AROUND THE CUP ARE THE SENSORS THAT, IF THE CUP AND BALL ARE JARRED ENOUGH IN A COLLISION, WILL SET OFF THE AIRBAGS." I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY (ESURANCE), BY THE OTHER PARTY'S INSURANCE COMPANY (AAA), AND THE COLLISION CENTER (1ST CLASS COLLISION) WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. I SEE THE OTHER TWO COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND AM WONDERING WHEN THERE WILL BE SOMETHING DONE - DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION IS STARTED? THIS AIRBAG SENSOR SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY SEEMS TO BE AN INADEQUATE FEATURE OF THIS MODEL OF MAZDA.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10062791March 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AT HIGHER GEARS ON SAT. (03/20). WOULD RACE TO HIGH RPM'S AS THOUGH LOOKING FOR ANOTHER GEAR. HUSBAND TOOK TO SERVICE THIS MORNING. PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AS HE DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. WOULD "THUNK" INTO GEAR, WOULD RACE TO HIGH RPM'S AT 35-45 MPH. WHEN ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP, THEY CHECKED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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