1995 Mazda PROTEGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 113 complaints (16.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 10.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 19 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 5 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 19; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 9; Air Bags: 8; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 101 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 22 |
| 1996 | 21 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
1995: 22; 1996: 21; 2000: 19; 2001: 15; 2002: 19; 2003: 8; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10033870 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL(3 TIMES), BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MOTOR. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143712 · 2005-11-26 (November 26, 2005)
MY 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS THE GAS AND BRAKE PETALS SO CLOSE IN HEIGHT AND LITTLE SEPARATION THAT IT IS VERY EASY TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND STILL BE APPLYING THE GAS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT HAVE HAD SOME VERY NEAR MISSES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023318 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 60128 MILES. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH MADE IT A SAFETY ISSUE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS PASSING DECIDED TO SPEED UP SO THAT I COULD GET BACK INTO MY LANE BEFORE ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ALONG WHICH WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,128 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230884 · 2008-06-12 (June 12, 2008)
1995 MAZDA PROTEGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178813 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT HAD A 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE WHICH WAS IN A HEAD ON CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. THAT CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY SKID MARKS IN THE ROAD TO INDICATE THAT EITHER VEHICLE TRIED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS A POLICE REPORT FROM THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS THE STEERING SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG. …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,546 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502681 · 1996-03-22 (March 22, 1996)
TOE OF SHOE ENCOUNTERS HOUSING PROTRUDING FROM THE FIREWALL THAT SUPPORTS THE STEERING, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH BRAKES. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008836 · 2002-04-30 (April 30, 2002)
INTERMITENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OOUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEM NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 893755 · 2001-08-07 (August 7, 2001)
VEHICLE WILL STALLS WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING. VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND SHAKES. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 893755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754857 · 2001-11-24 (November 24, 2001)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF FOR SOME TIME NOW. IT WOULD COME ON FOR A WHILE THEN GO OUT THEN COME ON AGAIN THEN GO OUT AGAIN. IN JULY OF THIS YEAR I TOOK THE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A TUNEUP WHICH I GOT BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK LATER. ALSO MY DASHBOARD LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OUT AND COMING ON ALSO. IT STARTED BY GOING OUT WHEN I PUT MY SIGNALS ON TO TURN A CORNER IT WOULD GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON NOW IT GOES OUT AND SOMETIMES IT WONT COME ON AT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754857 at NHTSA ↗