1997 Mazda Protege Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, along with brake concerns such as premature rotor wear, a low or soft pedal, and locking or rusted hardware. A second cluster of complaints describes engines that idle unevenly, surge, or lurch forward at low speed, sometimes during parking maneuvers. Many reports arrive with no mileage recorded, and the sampled complaints span the late 1990s through the 2000s, so these are largely older, high-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag did not deploy in a crash

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 2.4 yrs old
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2002

   Complaints describe frontal and side impacts where the airbags stayed folded, including cases where occupants report head, chest, or face injuries; one complaint also describes the bag inflating with enough force to burn and injure the driver's eye. A separate report describes an airbag warning light flashing and repeated replacement of the driver's bag. In the crashes, owners note that the airbag light was not illuminated beforehand, and dealers generally had no explanation for the non-deployment. Reports span many years of ownership and do not consistently record mileage; they are tied to collision circumstances rather than a specific mileage or climate.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light behaves normally at start-up and has ever stayed on or flashed; a service bulletin notes that non-genuine accessories can affect airbag operation, so ask about any added electronics.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1) airbag didnt deploy during a right angle (t bone) accident at an intersection .. The driver (me) systained head and face / chest injuries. 2) since new the right rear brake on my non ABS car lockes up very easily, and has caused a spin out in several cases, on wet surfaces. A dealer tried to do something, but it has not corrected the problem. Further, when I wrote Mazda customer service hq, they simply said to go back to a dealer for their judgement / action to correct the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #727784, filed 2000-08

   “While driving at 50 mhp another vehicle stopped in the middle of the highway. When applying the brakes, the consumer pumped the brakes and the vehicle slid into the other vehicle, rearending it. Upon impact, driver's air bag didn't deploy until the consumer hit the steering wheel and broke the biggest sternum bone in her chest. Also, the shoulder belt didn't hold the consumer.”

   NHTSA complaint #832154, filed 2000-02
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake rotors, lines, and pedal problems

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • median 99,000 mi at 14.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2010

   Owners describe a pedal that sinks close to the floor, especially on wet pavement, along with longer stopping distances, grinding or rubbing noises, and rotors that warped or could not be resurfaced at relatively low mileage. Some complaints involve a rear brake that locked and contributed to a loss of control on wet roads, and another describes caliper pins rusting and calipers clicking or popping. One owner was told by a dealer that all the brake lines were rusted and needed replacement. Reports range from under 20,000 miles for warped front rotors to roughly 99,000 miles for rusted brake lines, with wet-weather braking cited repeatedly.

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected for rust and the rotors checked for warping or minimum thickness; also ask whether the pedal feels firm and whether any caliper has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 30-35 MPH the anti-lock brakes locked up, causing vehicle to slide into vehicle ahead. The front end of vehicle was smashed, and the there was no deployment of the driver's or passenger's side air bags. The weather was sunny and dry at the time of the crash. The vehicle has not been repaired at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #828377, filed 1998-09

   “Brake caliper pins rusted out due to moisture coming into contact with the pins, and causing the calipers to work erratically. Consumer has contacted dealer. Dealer was aware of problem. Consumer added that calipers were exhibiting a click and popping noise, dealer replaced calipers. Customer states dome light failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #8000869, filed 2001-12
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine surges and lurches at low speed

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 2.4 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2001

   Complaints describe the engine idling up and down on its own, revving high while slowing to park, and the car lurching or jumping forward without warning, in a few cases striking a fence, wall, or building. Some owners report the engine stalling at intersections or shutting down when decelerating, and one notes the car had recently been in for a high-idle repair. According to the complaints, dealers replaced numerous parts without resolving the behavior, and in some cases could not duplicate it. Mileage is rarely recorded in these reports; they describe the behavior as intermittent, occurring at stops, while parking, and during deceleration.

   Recall 15V674000

   What to check: Ask whether the idle has ever been erratic or the car has surged at a stop, and whether the idle control or throttle-related parts have been serviced; also confirm whether the ignition switch recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine idled up or down at stop with foot on brake car would sometimes race up over 300 rpms shut engine off to stop it from going higher this happened three times almost going through back of my garage also surged when trying to park and causing car to jump forward car has stalled at intersections twice they changed numerous parts including wire harness under hood grounds alternator vacuum line engine mounts when this first started to be worsening on surging and got a number for Mazda tech center by mistake and the man I talked to said he …”

   NHTSA complaint #752047, filed 2001-09

   “Car always would speed up or idle down at diff. Times once went to 3000 rpms had to shut engine off killed at stop signs holiday changed diff components but could not stop the idling and lurching forward problem also at diff times it would idle down and stall or just idle up and down til I would shut it off and restart or just stop on the gas this idling up and lurching forward has at diff times almost caused an accident by going forward.”

   NHTSA complaint #746998, filed 2001-06
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Check engine light and valve/compression problems

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • median 83,068 mi at 6.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2003

   Owners describe a check engine light that stays on along with poor acceleration, traced in a couple of cases to a valve problem in the first cylinder that reduced compression. One owner reports two oxygen sensors, eight valves, and other parts replaced to resolve it, and says a dealer indicated a service bulletin covered the condition. Another complaint describes a slight vacuum in the gas tank and a check engine light, addressed by replacing the fuel cap and clearing the code. The valve-related reports cluster around 80,000 to 100,000 miles; the fuel-cap report does not state mileage.

   What to check: Check that the check engine light comes on with the key and goes out after start-up, and ask for any recent compression or valve work records; a pre-purchase scan for stored codes is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After investigating check engine light over a period of 5 months, it was determined that a valve problem in the first cylinder was causing a lack of compression and poor engine performance. 2 oxygen sensors were replaced, as well as 8 valves and other parts, to solve the problem. We spent a total of $1791.78 before the car was fixed. We learned from our Mazda dealer that a service bulletin was issued 6/10/98 that covered this problem. We complained to the dealership and the Mazda area rep, and no reimbursement was issued.”

   NHTSA complaint #10038858, filed 2003-09, 83,068 miles

   “Engine check light came on, and gas gauge malfunctioned. Vehicle hesitated when starting/ dealer replaced flywheel. Also, fuel tank was disconnected, and dealer replaced fuel tank. In addition, rpms increased by 500 rpms, and repaired wiring in jamme ddoor. Also, windshield wiper blades malfunctioned/ fuse shorted out , causing radio, cd, and other electrical components to fail, and replaced canister.”

   NHTSA complaint #852010, filed 2000-01

Buying note. On this model year, focus a pre-purchase inspection on brake condition and pedal feel, idle behavior at a stop, and whether the airbag warning light functions correctly. Records of prior engine valve work and completion of the ignition switch recall are useful things to confirm before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 41 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.