Model year record

1993 Mazda Protege recalls & problems

The 1993 Mazda Protege has 1 safety recall and 44 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (26 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints44filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 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

1993 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.

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 beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	26	1	0	3	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	6	0	3	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Caliper	5	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemHorn; Alternator/generator/regulator	4	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly; Exhaust system	4	0	0	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	2	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield; Power window devices and controls	2	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut	1	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch	1	0	0	0	—
Tires	1	0	0	0	—
Seats	1	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	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

Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND REMAINED STUCK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND INQUIRED AS TO WHY OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THE SEAT BELTS BUT NOT THE PROTEGE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 237,000.
Aug 2, 2011 · 237,000 miles
Seat belts
1) I HAVE A 93 MAZDA 323/PROTEGE AND THE SEAT BELT WERE RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE WEB SIT SAFERCARS.GOV. NHTSA ID NO.97V211000 2)THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON MY VEHICLE AND THE BELT REFUSES TO MOVE ON THE RAIL SOME TIMES. IN ADDITION THE BUZZER COMES ON WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE BELT TENDS TO MOVE SLIGHTLY UP AND DOWN WHILE I AM DRIVING. 3) I TOOK THE CAR INTO MAZDA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT ITS GOING TO BE $ 98.95 TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. IF THEY FIND A PROBLEM THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PARTS ON THE RECALL THEY WOULD REPAIR IT. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 3 FULL DAYS AND THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FROM THE RAILING, AND ALSO THAT THERE IS NO…
Aug 5, 2009
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK AND WOULD NO LONGER HOLD THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT PROPERLY AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SEATBELT IS FAR TOO COSTLY.*AK
Mar 12, 2000
Seat belts › Front
NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE, ONE DAY THE PASSIVE SEATBELT JUST WENT ABOUT HALF-WAY UP THE TRACK, THEN IT STOPPED AND A GREASY CABLE POPPED OUT OF IT. WORST OF ALL, MAZDA'S EMERGENCY HANDLE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO TURN AN INTERNAL HEX NUT TO MOVE THE SEATBELT REARWARD ONLY MADE ABOUT ONE TURN UNTIL IT GOT STIFF AND PUTTING ANY MORE FORCE ON THE EMERGENCY HANDLE CAUSES IT TO SLIP AND ROUND OFF. TRYING TO FORCE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE REARWARD BY HAND DOESN'T WORK EITHER, IT'S EXTREMELY STIFF AND WHEN IT WILL MOVE (WHICH IS ONLY SLIGHTLY) THE CABLE COMES OUT EVEN FURTHER. THIS LEAVES THE SEATBELT IN A POSITION WHERE IT WON'T HOLD THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT INCASE OF A CRASH, AND IF THE…
Jul 21, 2004
Electrical system › Horn
THE HORN GOES OFF ON ITS OWN.
Feb 7, 2002 · 129,000 miles
Back over prevention › Warnings › External/pedestrian alert
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Aug 15, 2002
Electrical system › Horn
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF.DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Oct 15, 2002
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT ANY MORE. CONTACTED DEALER.*JB
Apr 25, 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
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94029 · opened Mar 24, 1994 · closed Jul 28, 1994