1990 Mazda PROTEGE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
167,125 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
Seat Belts: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 21 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 | 12 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2004: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10074312 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456720 · 2012-04-27 (April 27, 2012)
SEAT BELT TRACK JAMMED, DEALER WILL NOT COVER, ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ALREADY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 206,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481659 · 1995-02-20 (February 20, 1995)
CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT FAILED DUE TO BOOT BEING SPLIT AND LACK OF LUBRICANT. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502407 · 1996-03-04 (March 4, 1996)
CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSED FIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502849 · 1996-03-23 (March 23, 1996)
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON BROKE FROM MINOR PHYSICAL FORCE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550332 · 2000-01-10 (January 10, 2000)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, CAR WINDOWS AND BACK REAR DOORS. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717845 · 2000-01-25 (January 25, 2000)
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 FU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 762831 · 2002-06-08 (June 8, 2002)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762831 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V674000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
NHTSA campaign record ↗