MYRModel Year Report

1995 Mazda Protege

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1995 Mazda Protege
RENDERED 2026-11-01T11:36:57.645Z

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
165
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 1995

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

25% of complaints

Complaints per year

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

1995: 165 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19892
199038
199151
199263
199348
199475
1995165
199670
199766
199846
199988
2000102
200150
200298
2003120
20040
20050
20060

Known problem areas

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

Air bags

25% · 42 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
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, 2005-03-04

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, 2003-09-22

While driving, no impact suddenly both drivers airbag inadvertently deployed, for no apparent reason. Tt

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-05-11

Exterior lighting

17% · 28 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and switch.

INJURY

Power train

13% · 22 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and constant velocity joint.

CRASHINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

13% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

INJURY

Electrical system

9% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and ignition.

FIREINJURY

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1995Complaint volume 165 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1995-03-03Engine and engine cooling95V033000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    1995-09-05Air bags95V184000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    1999-05-20Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-09-30 Loss of headlights
  5. I
    1999-09-30Engineering analysisClosed 2000-05-10 Headlight wire breakage
  6. R
    2000-07-21Exterior lighting00V118000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2015-12-17Electrical system15V674000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1995 Mazda Protege — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 42 reports on file for this year.
  • Exterior lighting: 28 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 22 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 95V033000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 95V184000 · Air bags
  • Recall 00V118000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 15V674000 · Electrical system
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years2 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1995 Mazda Protege reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1995 Mazda Protege is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Mazda Protege?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 25% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1995 Mazda Protege have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.