MYRModel Year Report

1996 Mazda Protege

● Typical for this model
1996 Mazda Protege
RENDERED 2026-11-01T14:45:57.766Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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
70
Recalls
2

Campaigns on file for 1996

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Air bags

34% 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 1996: 70 complaints 1996 70 1997: 66 complaints 1998: 46 complaints 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 1996: 70 complaints 1996 70 1997: 66 complaints 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 1996: 70 complaints 1996 70 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

1996: 70 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

34% · 24 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Consumer's vehicle was rear ended while stopping at a traffic light, which caused a chain reaction with two other vehicles. Consumer's head impacted the steering wheel , the seat back, and then the steering wheel again.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-11-15

Frontal collision, impact 12:00 position , 23MPH, dual airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 1996-10-23

Service brakes

14% · 10 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

11% · 8 reports

Most commonly citing gear position indication (prndl) and automatic transmission.

CRASH

Seat belts

10% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing retractor and buckle assembly.

CRASHINJURY

Equipment

9% · 6 reports

Most commonly citing air conditioner and accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift.

INJURY

Safety timeline

2 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. 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 →

  2. 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

1996 Mazda Protege — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 24 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 10 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 8 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • 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 1996 Mazda Protege reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Mazda Protege is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mazda Protege?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 34% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Mazda Protege have?
2 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.