1995 Mazda Protege

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

1995 Mazda Protege
RENDERED 2026-09-16T06:04:07.733Z

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1995: 165 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1989	2
1990	38
1991	51
1992	63
1993	48
1994	75
1995	165
1996	70
1997	66
1998	46
1999	88
2000	102
2001	50
2002	98
2003	120
2004	0
2005	0
2006	0

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

AIR BAGS 25%

25% of complaints: air bags — 42 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

DRIVER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ,THEN PUSHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

NHTSA ODI report, 20050304

1995 MAZDA PROTEGE. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN MY DAUGHTER HIT A CURB. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT. TIRES AND RIMS HAD NO DAMAGE. THE BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030922

WHILE DRIVING, NO IMPACT SUDDENLY BOTH DRIVERS AIRBAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19950511

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17%

17% of complaints: exterior lighting — 28 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing headlights and switch.

INJURY

POWER TRAIN 13%

13% of complaints: power train — 22 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and constant velocity joint.

CRASH INJURY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%

13% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 21 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

INJURY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 15 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing interior/under dash and ignition.

FIRE INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1995 — complaint volume: 165

R 19950303 — engine and engine cooling

THE WIRE ROD USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS CAN DEVELOP MINUTE CRACKS CAUSING BREAKAGE OF THE SPRINGS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL SIXTEEN (16) VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Campaign 95V033000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19950905 — air bags

THE TIE DOWN HOOKS CAN CAUSE UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT IN UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TIE DOWN HOOKS WITH MODIFIED TIE DOWN HOOKS.

Campaign 95V184000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990520 — PE (closed 19990930)

LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS

I 19990930 — EA (closed 20000510)

HEADLIGHT WIRE BREAKAGE

R 20000721 — exterior lighting

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE RUNNING THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE SOLDERED CONNECTION TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Campaign 00V118000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — 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 CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20151217 — electrical system

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.

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.

Campaign 15V674000 — check if this car was fixed