2002 Mazda PROTEGE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 98 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 17.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 16.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.1% |
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 | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
Seat Belts: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Tires: 8; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 9; 2003: 16; 2004: 11; 2005: 9; 2006: 4; 2007: 12; 2008: 9; 2009: 5; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10005127 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
THE REAR SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED. WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR MY DAUGHTER FELL ASLEEP. WHEN SHE SAT UPRIGHT THE SEAT BELT HAD TWISTED AROUND HER MIDDLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE LATCH BUT THE SEAT BELT WAS FEEDING BACK IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I TRIED TO PULL THE SEAT BELT AND WAS UNABLE TO ADVANCE THE BELT. IT WOULD RETRACT CAUSING MORE CONSTRICTION ON HER. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO CUT THE BELT TO FREE HER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006910 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE DISC BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, WHEN IT WAS APPLIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011005 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
GAS STREAMING FROM LEAKING GAS TANK FROM 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. SECOND INCIDENT, FIRST OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER INITIAL DELIVERY ON NOV 2, 2001.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012242 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE THAT THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION MADE. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT IT GAVE HIM AND ANYONE THAT RODE WITH HIM A HEADACHE. HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO STOP THE NOISE. HE STATED HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE NOISE IS MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH AND HIGHER. THE MAZDA REPAIR INFORMATION STATED THAT THE WHINE NOISE IS A RESULT OF A RESONANCE THE IS GENERATED AT VARYING LEVELS BETWEEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014468 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE LX IN 08/2002. WITHIN DAYS WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES JUST HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND SHIFTING. FREQUENT FAILURE TO SHIFT AT ALL OR FAILURE TO SHIFT FOR PROLONGED INTERVALS (SOMETIMES MILES). OCCASIONAL SLAMMING INTO GEAR AND CAR LURCHING FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS THAT ALMOST LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR REPAIRS ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LETTER OF NOTIFICATION OF DEFECT TO MANUFACTURER SENT TO MAZ…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015348 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A COUPLE POT HOLES WHICH BENT TWO RIMS (MATERIAL VERY SOFT). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018620 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
METAL FACE PLATE OF IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP WHILE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION ALSO NOTICE ACCUMULATION OF A STATIC CHARGE WHEN REMOVING IGNITION KEY. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022823 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ESPECAILLY HIGH, VEHICLE LETS OFF A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE. NOISE IS VERY DESTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN HEADACHES AS A RESULT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,934 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022823 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.