Total Complaints
133 filings
MAZDA PROTEGE · model year
133 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002MAZDAPROTEGE carries 133 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 3 fires, 23 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 2002 PROTEGE is seat belts with 14 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (13) and tires (8). 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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 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.
Total Complaints
133 filings
Crashes Reported
19 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| TIRES | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 2 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPM
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
BULGES ON SIDEWALLS OF BOTH PASSENGER TIRES. TIRES ARE 6 MONTHS OLD AND ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES.
Mileage: 123,000
BULGES ON SIDEWALLS OF BOTH PASSENGER TIRES. TIRES ARE 6 MONTHS OLD AND ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES.
Mileage: 123,000
I'VE OWNED MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 FOR 7 YEARS NOW. IT'S ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. EVEN AFTER HAVING OUT BRAND NEW BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. I'M VERY ANAL ON HOW MY CAR LOOKS AND DRIVES. IF I FEEL SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, I KNOW SOMETHING IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. IT DOES CAUSE ME TO DRIVE MORE CAUTIOUSLY ESPECIALLY IN THE BACK ROADS ALONG WITH WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE BRAKING AS WELL. AS FOR THE BODY OF THE CAR, THE PAINT IS FAIDING FAST. IT'S YELLOW, AND I HAND POLISH AND WAX IT ONCE BEFORE SPRING, SUMMER, AND WINTER. I USE MAGUIRES WAX AND POLISH EVERY TIME. AND IT'S ALSO GOT A RUST SPOT ALONG THE BACK LEFT WHEEL LIP. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAINTED AFTER I PLAYED FOR THE CAR. IT WAS MAGICALLY ONLY 24 HOURS FROM THE WARRANTY COVERING IT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAR. I WOULD PURCHASE ANOTHER IF I CAN FIND ONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT
Mileage: 67,000
I'VE OWNED MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 FOR 7 YEARS NOW. IT'S ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. EVEN AFTER HAVING OUT BRAND NEW BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. I'M VERY ANAL ON HOW MY CAR LOOKS AND DRIVES. IF I FEEL SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, I KNOW SOMETHING IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. IT DOES CAUSE ME TO DRIVE MORE CAUTIOUSLY ESPECIALLY IN THE BACK ROADS ALONG WITH WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE BRAKING AS WELL. AS FOR THE BODY OF THE CAR, THE PAINT IS FAIDING FAST. IT'S YELLOW, AND I HAND POLISH AND WAX IT ONCE BEFORE SPRING, SUMMER, AND WINTER. I USE MAGUIRES WAX AND POLISH EVERY TIME. AND IT'S ALSO GOT A RUST SPOT ALONG THE BACK LEFT WHEEL LIP. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAINTED AFTER I PLAYED FOR THE CAR. IT WAS MAGICALLY ONLY 24 HOURS FROM THE WARRANTY COVERING IT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAR. I WOULD PURCHASE ANOTHER IF I CAN FIND ONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT
Mileage: 67,000
I'VE OWNED MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 FOR 7 YEARS NOW. IT'S ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. EVEN AFTER HAVING OUT BRAND NEW BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. I'M VERY ANAL ON HOW MY CAR LOOKS AND DRIVES. IF I FEEL SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, I KNOW SOMETHING IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. IT DOES CAUSE ME TO DRIVE MORE CAUTIOUSLY ESPECIALLY IN THE BACK ROADS ALONG WITH WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE BRAKING AS WELL. AS FOR THE BODY OF THE CAR, THE PAINT IS FAIDING FAST. IT'S YELLOW, AND I HAND POLISH AND WAX IT ONCE BEFORE SPRING, SUMMER, AND WINTER. I USE MAGUIRES WAX AND POLISH EVERY TIME. AND IT'S ALSO GOT A RUST SPOT ALONG THE BACK LEFT WHEEL LIP. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAINTED AFTER I PLAYED FOR THE CAR. IT WAS MAGICALLY ONLY 24 HOURS FROM THE WARRANTY COVERING IT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAR. I WOULD PURCHASE ANOTHER IF I CAN FIND ONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT
Mileage: 67,000
UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE CAR'S FRAME ITSELF. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS BOTH CONTROL ARM SHOCK AND THE CAR IS STILL HARD TO STEER
Mileage: 118,000
UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE CAR'S FRAME ITSELF. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS BOTH CONTROL ARM SHOCK AND THE CAR IS STILL HARD TO STEER
Mileage: 118,000
UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE CAR'S FRAME ITSELF. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS BOTH CONTROL ARM SHOCK AND THE CAR IS STILL HARD TO STEER
Mileage: 118,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOW YARD. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ
Mileage: 160,000
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE IN THE LATCHED POSITION. NECESSITATED TAKING THE LATCH APART TO RELEASE THE BELT.
Mileage: 110,000
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD THAT CAUSED THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO COME LOOSE AND IT GOT IN MY WAY OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS LUCKY TO BE DRIVING ON THE LEFT LANE ON ONE WAY STREET, I WAS ABLE PULL OVER, AND TO MY SURPRISE THE BUCKLE WOULDN'T LATCH TO THE FEMALE CONNECTOR. IT SEEMS LIKE THE FEMALE CONNECTOR PIECES INSIDE IT HAD BROKEN. PLEASE CHECK, THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ANYONE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY I CAN'T IMAGINE TAKING MY EYES OF THE ROAD FOR EVEN 1 SEC. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR
Mileage: 91,000
RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. WITHOUT WARNING, IT WOULDN'T START. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. THE HEAT, STEREO, HEADLIGHTS & POWER WINDOWS ALL WORKED. THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND DIDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER, IT STARTED FINE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO (APPROX A MONTH IN BETWEEN INCIDENTS). SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE CAR REFUSES TO START. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT INFO SHOULD I BE AWARE OF? I DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 172,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 880. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED MODEL YEAR 2003 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURER. BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR MODEL YEARS 2001-2002. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS CONDITION DOES NOT KEEP THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. IT CAN AND HAS CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. UPDATED 05/29/2014 *JS
Mileage: 880
AT FIRST THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF IT. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT RELEASED. THANK GOD I WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. THEN APPROX 6 WEEKS LATER I WAS LATCHING THE BELT TO THE BUCKLE AND THE DARN THING FELL APART. THE RIGHT REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE LAST YEAR BUT SINCE NO ONE SITS BACK THERE I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT IT. NOW WITH THE SEAT BELT ISSUE I WAS SEARCHING FOR THE PART AND SOMEONE SUGGESTED I CHECK THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS CAR, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND THEN THIS SITE. *TR
Mileage: 120,500
THE DRIVER-SIDE SEATBELT LATCH FELL APART. THE SEATBELT IS NO LONGER OPERABLE. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
TIRE: FIREHAWK GT BL 205/50R16 87V 50K MILE TIRE. TREAD SEPARATION WITH ONLY 13,582 MILES ON THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE TIRE WAS OBSERVED TO BE FLAT. ATTEMPTS TO INFLATE FAILED. REMOVED TIRE AND NOTICED TWO PLACES ON THE INWARD SIDE WHERE TREAD WAS SEPARATING - ONE SPOT WAS JUST OVER AN INCH AND THE OTHER WAS JUST UNDER AN INCH. FULL SET (4) ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AT FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE STORE, WHICH IS WHERE THE FAILED TIRE WAS TAKEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TIRE HAS SINCE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND WAS REPLACED BY A FALKEN ZIEX 912 BL 205/50R16 87V 40K MILE TIRE. HAD OTHER TIRES INSPECTED FOR SAME ISSUES THE NEXT DAY - SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATES THE OTHER THREE TIRES DO NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF THE PROBLEM. BASED ON TREAD DEPTH, WARRANTY COVERED CLOSE TO 90% OF REPLACEMENT TIRE. IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE, THE REPLACEMENT TIRE APPEARS TO BE FINE - NO OBSERVABLE MIS-MATCH ISSUES. *TR
Mileage: 103,248
I WAS DRIVING ON 905 WEST, CLOSE TO THE 805 N EXIT, AND THE ROAD WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS A HOLE ON THE ROAD AND MY CAR'S TIRE EXPLOTED WHEN I DROVE BY IT. MY CAR'S ALIGNMENT IS LOST. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD SPARE TIRE SO I HAD TO DRIVE TO MY HOUSE WITH THE EXPLOTED TIRE, AND SINCE IT HAPPENED AT 10PM I WILL HAVE TO MISS WORK TO FIX IT, AND BUY A NEW TIRE. *TR
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.