MAZDA PROTEGE · model year

1990 MAZDA PROTEGE

45 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990MAZDAPROTEGE carries 45 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 PROTEGE is seat belts with 11 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (5) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1990 PROTEGE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

45
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

45 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS11
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT2
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR1
STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1

Recent Complaints

20120427SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT TRACK JAMMED, DEALER WILL NOT COVER, ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ALREADY. *TR

Mileage: 206,250

20040526SEAT BELTS:FRONT

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE RAIL IS BAD. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE RAIL AS STATED IN THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL RECALL 97V211000. THERE IS CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURE CONCERNING WHAT PART IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. *NM THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAIL THUS MAKING IT INOPERATIVE. THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE REAR OF THE RAIL AND IS ALSO INOPERATIVE. *NM

Mileage: 128,000

20020820CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY PLACED CAR IN DRIVE AND DEPRESSED GAS, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED. GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR.*AK

20020611STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

THIS PART IS DESIGNED WITH NO RETAINER AS ON PREVIOUS PARTS WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE. MOST COMPACT MAZDA AND FORD MODELS HAVE THIS TYPE TIE ROD END. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL FORD ESCORT OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE PARTS WERE AS NEW AS FIVE MONTHS OLD AND FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

20011119VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD BECOMES EXTREMELY FOGGED, CAUSING POOR VISBILITY DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN HEATER CORE WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20011113VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING CAN SMELL ANTI-FREEZE, AND WINDSHIELD BECOMES ABSOLUTELY FOGGY. ALSO, HEATER CORE HAS PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20011113VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WHILE DRIVING CAN SMELL ANTI-FREEZE, AND WINDSHIELD BECOMES ABSOLUTELY FOGGY. ALSO, HEATER CORE HAS PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20000412SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR BELT FAILED TO OPERATE, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK

20000125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1997. CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME VIBRATION WHEN IT IDLES. IN NOVEMBER OF 1998 CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO HAVE REPAIRED. THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND WHILE REPLACING THE THERMISTAT A CRACKED SENSOR WAS ALSO FOUND AND REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN DECEMBER OF 1998 FRONT DRIVERSIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FROZE. IT WOULD NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY BACK. IT WOULD MAKE A CONSTANT CLICKING NOSE. THE WIRES WERE ALSO OFF THE TRACK. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE TO SHUT OFF THE CLICKING NOISE. HAD AN ESTIMITE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WHICH WAS APPROX. 900.00.

20000125SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1997. CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME VIBRATION WHEN IT IDLES. IN NOVEMBER OF 1998 CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO HAVE REPAIRED. THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AND WHILE REPLACING THE THERMISTAT A CRACKED SENSOR WAS ALSO FOUND AND REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN DECEMBER OF 1998 FRONT DRIVERSIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FROZE. IT WOULD NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY BACK. IT WOULD MAKE A CONSTANT CLICKING NOSE. THE WIRES WERE ALSO OFF THE TRACK. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE TO SHUT OFF THE CLICKING NOISE. HAD AN ESTIMITE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WHICH WAS APPROX. 900.00.

20000121SUSPENSION

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, CAR WINDOWS AND BACK REAR DOORS. NLM

19990730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. MJS

19990622SEAT BELTS

MOTORBELTS EXPERIENCE ERRATIC OPERATION INTERMITTENTLY. MJS

19990622EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

LUG WRENCH COULD NOT REMOVE NUTS ON WHEELS WHEN CHANGNG FLAT TIRE. MJS

19990301UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CHILD RUN OVER BY VEHICLE AFTER FALLING OUT OF PARTIALLY OPENED DOOR, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW IN NOT HAVING INDICATOR FOR OPENED DOOR. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

19981107EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

AT COLD TEMPERATURES THE HIGH-BEAM (HEADLIGHTS) FAIL TO COME ON. NORMAL(LOW BEAM) LIGHTS SHUT OFF AT THIS POINT RESULTING IN NO HEADLIGHTS. AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED HIGH-BEAMS WORK AS EXPECTED.

19981030SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER RESTRAINT WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY. SHE WAS PULLING AND HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND BELT WAS STUCK. DEALERSHIP (BIG SKY AUTO ) MECHANIC CALLED MAZDA MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX. *AK

19981030UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BECAUSE OF DESIGN OF CAR THERE WAS NO LIGHT OR SIGNAL TO INDICATE TO THE DRIVER THAT THE REAR DOOR WAS NOT TOTALLY CLOSED RESULTING IN A YOUNG CHILD FALLING OUT OF THE CAR AND BEING STRUCK BY THE VEHILCE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

19981005SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED.

19980728ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ANY ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION BEING TURNED ON, FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS/AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER & ANYTHING ELSE AFFECTING VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER. *AK

Compare 1990MAZDAPROTEGE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 MAZDA PROTEGE have?
The 1990 MAZDA PROTEGE has 45 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 MAZDA PROTEGE?
The most-complained component for the 1990 MAZDA PROTEGE is SEAT BELTS with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1990 MAZDA PROTEGE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.