2001 Mazda PROTEGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 50 complaints (12.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 16.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 2 |
Air Bags: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 4
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2001: 10; 2002: 6; 2003: 9; 2004: 7; 2005: 8; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10005751 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE CRUISE CONTROL SELECTOR ON THE 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE IS A SHORT STALK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENABLED BY PRESSING A BUTTON IN THE END OF THE STALK, THE CRUISE SPEED IS SELECTED BY MOVING THE STALK DOWN. IF CRUISE IS INTERRUPTED, AS BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PRE-SET SPEED CAN BE RESUMED BY MOVING THE STALK UP. SINCE THE STALK CHANGES LOCATION WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, IT IS VERY EASY TO INADVERTENTLY OPERATE THE STALK. I HAVE HIT IT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE WINDSHIELD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025763 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2001 MAZDA PROTEGE ES WHICH CAUSED ME TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES ARE TOTAL LOSSES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026417 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVIING AND WITH NO WARNING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP . DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083733 · 2004-07-23 (July 23, 2004)
TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM INVOLVING KUMHO ECSTA 711 TIRES.*MR THE VEHICLE FAILED THE VIRGINIA AUTO SAFTY INSPECTION DUE TO A VIOLATION INVOLVING THE TWO FRONT KUMHO TIRES. THE INSPECTOR EXPLAINED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE DUE TO (HIS OPINION) A SHIFTING OF THE BELTS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086275 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING MY MAZDA PROTEGE TO WORK WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR. AFTER SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE, TRANS SHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR. DROVE NORMALLY FOR NEXT 15 MILES TO WORK. WHEN LEAVING FOR LUNCH, TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY AFTER 15 SECONDS IN DRIVE. CAR IS 3 YRS 3 MONTHS OLD, WAS BOUGHT NEW AND HAD 53,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. CAR HAD BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SCHEDULE. DEALER'S SERVICE REP SAID CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER ANY ASSISTANCE …
Owner-reported narrative. 53,478 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079472 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113267 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10427966 · 2011-09-29 (September 29, 2011)
FUEL VAPOR ODORS BEGAN ACCUMULATING IN THE GARAGE DURING AN OVERNIGHT PARK. WHEN VAPORS BECAME EXCESSIVE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE. EVENTUALLY, THE VAPORS BECAME NOTICEABLE WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CAR CARE CLINIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH A SEVERELY RUSTED FUEL TANK. I AM GRATEFUL THERE WAS NO FIRE FROM A SPARK. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10427966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10551135 · 2013-11-06 (November 6, 2013)
THE FUEL TANK HAS RUSTED AND THERE IS A NOTICEABLE GAS SMELL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158631 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
I WAS AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED A MAZDA PROTEGE WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE CALLED. FIRE WAS PUT OUT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT LOOKED TO FIND SOURCE OF FIRE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS ELECTRICAL. IT STARTED IN THE WIRING AT THE LEFT REAR DOOR. THE FIREMAN ASKED WHAT WAS IN THE TRUNK (MEANING HIGHPOWERED AMPS). I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WAS ORIGINAL. NO ADDED EQUIPMENT. HE SAID THAT THE ONLY TIME HE HAD SEEN A FIRE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LIKE MINE WAS AS A RESULT OF OVERLOAD FROM ADDED SPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158631 at NHTSA ↗