The 1992 Mazda Protege has 1 safety recall and 63 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (34 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints63filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths7 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
NHTSA recall 15V674000 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 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
1992 Mazda Protege 4-DR
Overall
Not 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.
Fuel economy
Protege
27mpg combined
City / highway
24 / 33 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Protege
24mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Protege
24mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Protege
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Seat belts Front › Warning light/devices; Front › Retractor
34
3
0
4
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
5
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition; Horn
5
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Driveline › Differential unit
4
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
4
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
3
3
0
4
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
3
0
1
1
—
Equipment Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.; Appliance › Air conditioner
3
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine
2
0
0
0
—
Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element; Defroster/defogger/hvac system
2
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
2
0
0
0
—
Wheels Rim
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
Apr 1, 2016Electrical system LETTER FROM SENATOR GILLIBRAND ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 1992 MAZDA PROTEGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT HE PAID FOR OUT-OF-POCKET. *JB
Nov 10, 2015 · 92,000 milesElectrical system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
Apr 4, 2006Seat belts › Front › Webbing 1. AUTOMATIC/PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT FOR DRIVERS SIDE HAD BEEN ACTING SLUGGISH E.G. BELT WOULD HESITATE WHEN OPENING/CLOSING DOOR BEFORE MOVING TO FULL OPEN/CLOSED POSITION. 2. BELT IS STUCK/FROZEN IN MIDWAY POSITION OF DOOR. DRIVER HAS NO ADEQUATE SHOULDER RESTRAINT IN EVENT OF COLLISION. 3. CONTACTED MAZDA MANUFACTURE BUT THEY STATE CAR VIN IS NOT IN U.S. DATABASE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V211000 THAT IDENTIFIES A PROBLEM WITH MAZDA VEHICLES 323 AND MX3 THAT USE THE IDENTICAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN JAPAN, SHIPPED TO EUROPE AND PURCHASED NEW IN MONTHS, BELGIUM AS U.S. SPEC VEHICLE. THIS PUTS MY CAR IN A LIMBO STATUS OF IT IS A U.S. SPEC CAR…
Aug 21, 1999 · 10,000 miles · fire · 1 injuryFuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly WHILE DRIVING, ROAD DEBRIS RUPTURED THE VEHICLE FUEL TANK WHICH RESULTED ON A FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BURNED ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF HER BODY. *LA
Apr 9, 2003Seat belts › Front › Retractor DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. THE CABLE HAS COME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. *LA
Aug 23, 2003Vehicle speed control WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK
Aug 11, 2003 · 149,000 milesSeat belts › Front › Retractor DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE, IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK. SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE.*AK
May 29, 2003Seat belts › Front FRONT DRIVER SHOULDER RESTRAIN IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
EA94039 · opened Nov 30, 1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997 · led to recall 97V211000AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL There is no summary currently available
PE94059 · opened Jul 28, 1994 · closed Nov 30, 1994AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL There is no summary currently available