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MAZDA · vehicle model

MAZDA PROTEGE

1,377 NHTSA complaints and 6 safety recalls across model years 1989–2003.

Complaints
1,377
Recalls
6
Model years
15

The MAZDAPROTEGE appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 1,377 consumer safety complaints and 6 recall campaigns across 15 model years (1989–2003). That averages roughly 92 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 1 investigation file tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
2003145
2002133
200168
2000126
1999102
199853
1997103
199691
1995232
199489
199356
199272
199160
199045
19892

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

99
’95
108
’96
74
’97
75
’98
148
’99
143
’00
113
’01
100
’02
109
’03
100
’04
64
’05
32
’06
29
’07
28
’08
21
’09
20
’10
23
’11
19
’12
13
’13
12
’14
16
’15
8
’16
10
’17
4
’18
4
’19
4
’20
1
’21

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare MAZDAPROTEGE to Similar Vehicles

MAZDAPROTEGE vs HYUNDAISANTA FE SPORT → MAZDAPROTEGE vs FORDEXCURSION → MAZDAPROTEGE vs LINCOLNLS → MAZDAPROTEGE vs CHEVROLETMALIBU MAXX →

NHTSA Investigations

EA99029Engineering AnalysisClosed1999-09-30

HEADLIGHT WIRE BREAKAGE

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the MAZDA PROTEGE?▼
The MAZDA PROTEGE has received 1,377 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1989 to 2003, with 6 recalls. That averages about 92 complaints per model year.
What years of MAZDA PROTEGE are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the MAZDA PROTEGE from 1989 to 2003 (15 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the MAZDA PROTEGE have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many MAZDA PROTEGE model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common MAZDA PROTEGE complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the MAZDA PROTEGE are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my MAZDA PROTEGE has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. MAZDA PROTEGE totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.