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Air bagsPart report

2000 Mazda Protege Air bags Problems

Complaints
25about this part
Share
25%of 102 total for the year
Median mileage
41,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Mazda Protege, 25% of the 102 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,500 miles. 20 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“I don't remember the exact date of failure but it was close to the date I provided. I was driving down the road and my 2000 Mazda Protege started bucking. When I called the dealership and told them that I thought the transmission went bad they treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about. Sure enough I dropped it off and they dianosed it with a bad transmission.it was 2000 miles out of warranty. Thankfully Mazda paid for the transmission being so recent out of warranty but I had to pay $700.00 in labor. …”

NHTSA complaint #10121156, filed 2005-05, 52,000 miles

“I was in a single car accident. I hit a guard rail, went through it and rolled down a 30 foot embankment. I suffered neck and shoulder injuries and back injuries. I have not driven a car since this accident. In the emergency room a nurse said I had a possible spinal compression fracture. I thought my car was suppose to have air bags, I saw the car for the first time since the accident yesterday. The whole car is beat up...the roof, the front, the back both sides, and not even 1 of the air bags deployed. I am so grateful my car had such a high safety rating... Yeah right. …”

NHTSA complaint #10007433, filed 2002-10, 37,600 miles

“While driving w. Bound at about 25 MPH, passenger side of car was impacted by vehicle going s. Bound at about 40 MPH. Car was forced sw through a curb, a gas sign, and impacted with the rear of a parked car. Accelerator was stuck, brakes ineffective and finally parked by driver. Major passenger side and frontal damage. Car totaled. Neither passenger nor driver side air bags deployed.”

NHTSA complaint #10016765, filed 2003-04, 41,000 miles

“Front end impact of at least 45 MPH without applying brakes. Almost direct full contact with front end (slightly more on one side). Front air bags did not deploy. Seat belt restrained forward motion but injury was incurred to neck and back due to force of collision.”

NHTSA complaint #10142480, filed 2005-11, 42,000 miles

“My check engine light began coming on in june 2003 and they replaced an oxygen sensor. My car was fine until recently. I had an oil change in april and the light came on again, but it only lasted a few days. Two weeks I had an oil change and right after the service the check engine light came on again. I called the dealership and complained that the light came again after they serviced it. This makes it twice that I had my car serviced and the light comes on. Also, I was never informed about the recall in january 2001 about the breaks. …”

NHTSA complaint #10127706, filed 2005-07

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2003108%
200299%
20011122%
20002525%
19992124%
199837%
19971218%
19962434%
19954125%
199411%
199212%
199112%

Other parts of the 2000 Mazda Protege

Transmission and drivetrain
29 complaints
Brakes
10 complaints
Seat belts
8 complaints
Engine cooling
7 complaints
Tires
7 complaints
Electrical system
6 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
4 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Engine
2 complaints
Exterior lighting
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2000 Mazda Protege

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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