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Engine coolingPart report

1990 Mazda Protege Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
11%of 37 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1990 Mazda Protege, 11% of the 37 complaints for this model year.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Car was purchased used in 1997. Car has always had some vibration when it idles. In november of 1998 car began overheating. Radiator was replaced but did not solve the problem. Took back to have repaired. Thermostat was replaced and while replacing the thermistat a cracked sensor was also found and replaced. This corrected the problem. In december of 1998 front driverside shoulder seat belt froze. It would not retract all the way back. It would make a constant clicking nose. The wires were also off the track. Had to disconnect the fuse to shut off the clicking noise. …”

NHTSA complaint #717845, filed 2000-01

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20033428%
200277%
2001816%
200077%
199989%
19981022%
1997914%
199646%
19951912%
199468%
199349%
199223%
199124%
1990411%

Other parts of the 1990 Mazda Protege

Seat belts
21 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
Equipment
2 complaints
Other or unknown
2 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaints
Electrical system
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints
Seats
1 complaints
Suspension
1 complaints
Vehicle speed control
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1990 Mazda Protege

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology