Model year record

1991 Mazda Protege recalls & problems

The 1991 Mazda Protege has 1 safety recall and 51 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (28 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints51filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths8 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemOct 19, 2015

Ignition › Switch

Recall 15V6740001,368,500 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1991 Mazda Protege 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	28	3	0	4	153,256 mi
StructureBody › Trunk lid; Body › Door	7	0	0	2	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers	5	0	1	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission › Floor shift assembly	4	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	4	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	2	1	0	1	—
SuspensionFront; Rear	2	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	2	0	1	0	—
Wheels	1	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	1	0	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical systemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Oct 11, 2010
Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN CRASHING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS RELEASED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED KNEE, HEAD, AND BACK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…
Jan 1, 2008 · 90,000 miles
Structure › Body
REAR STRUT TOWERS RUST RIGHT THROUGH. *TR
Jul 29, 2008
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WOULD RETRACT SLOWER AND SLOWER UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED RETRACTING. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE: ON APRIL 18, 2005 I WAS GIVEN A FIX-IT TICKET FOR NOT WEARING MY SHOULDER HARNESS.*AK THE AUTOMATIC HARNESS NO LONGER FULLY RETRACTS, SO IT IS USELESS.
Apr 15, 2005 · 194,350 miles
Seat belts › Front
THE SEAT BELT CORD ON MY 1991 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS BECOME INOPERABLE AND THEREFORE I HAVE NO TOP SEAT BELT ON MY CARS DRIVER SIDE. *AK
Apr 2, 2004 · 153,256 miles
Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD DETACHED RESULTING IN THE HOOD HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.*MR *CB *JB
Sep 29, 2003
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE RETACTOR, LEAVING THE OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED. DEALER NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Aug 5, 2002
Power train › Automatic transmission
TRANSMITION LOCKED UP GOING 65 MPH. *AK
Aug 7, 2002

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILClosedLed to recall 97V211000
There is no summary currently available
EA94039 · opened Nov 30, 1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997
AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94059 · opened Jul 28, 1994 · closed Nov 30, 1994