2002 Mazda Protege Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Mazda Protege and Protege5 report a fairly wide spread of problems, with the most common being seat-belt buckles that stop latching or release, automatic-transmission failures at low mileage, and corrosion of the fuel tank area that produces a gasoline smell. Many complaints come from lower-mileage cars, suggesting some issues appeared well before the odometer readings you might expect; rust and electrical complaints tend to show up on higher-mileage examples.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission failure and harsh or delayed shifting

   • 14 complaints (14%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2008

   Owners describe automatic transmissions that stop shifting past a gear, slip and race the engine, thunk into gear, or fail completely at highway speed. Some report a high-pitched whine from the transmission when accelerating above about 50 mph. Dealers reportedly replaced or rebuilt transmissions in several cases, while others say the dealer could not duplicate the problem or described the noise as normal. Many reports are under 40,000 miles, with others between about 60,000 and 80,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears, including a highway pull above 50 mph, and listen for whine or feel for delayed or harsh shifts. Ask about fluid service history and any prior transmission work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchased a Mazda protege5 in january of 2002. Within a very short time, (~1000 miles, maybe less), we noticed a high pitched whining noise. This noise occurs between 50 and 75 miles per hour on average. We brought the vehicle in to Mazda, and a mechanic immediately tied the problem to the transmission. So, in very short order, they replaced our transmission, (which worried me a little). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10080591, filed 2004-07, 1,000 miles

   “I have a 2002 Mazda Protege lx with 61,000 miles on it. Recently my transmission failed and had to fix it with aamoco. Total bill, $2500. I realized the problem when I drove the car it wouldn't shift. It acted like I was driving in neutral. Mazda refused to take care of the problem and now I'm stuck with a have safe half reliable car. This is very dangerous because if your driving on a highway and you can't accelerate it creates a very scary dangerous problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10135704, filed 2005-09, 61,000 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat-belt buckle will not latch or release

   • 15 complaints (15%)
   • median 80,225 mi at 7.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2015

   Complaints describe the driver's-side buckle failing to click and hold the belt, or a latched belt that will not release when the button is pressed. In several cases the belt came apart or the buckle freed itself while driving. Owners say dealers replaced buckles or latches in some instances, sometimes under safety warranty, and in other cases told them the part was out of coverage. Spread from roughly 40,000 to 120,000 miles, with several reports in the 55,000-80,000 mile range.

   What to check: Buckle and release every belt, front and rear, and check that the latch clicks firmly and the release button springs back. Ask whether any buckle has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear seat belt mechanism failed. While riding in the car my daughter fell asleep. When she sat upright the seat belt had twisted around her middle. She was able to release the latch but the seat belt was feeding back in and would not release. I tried to pull the seat belt and was unable to advance the belt. It would retract causing more constriction on her. I eventually had to cut the belt to free her.”

   NHTSA complaint #10005127, filed 2003-02, 41,000 miles

   “At first the seat belt locked and I could not get out of it. After about 15 minutes I was able to get it released. Thank god I was in the garage at home. Then approx 6 weeks later I was latching the belt to the buckle and the darn thing fell apart. The right rear door handle broke last year but since no one sits back there I never worried about it. Now with the seat belt issue I was searching for the part and someone suggested I check the recall list for this car, because they are not supposed to do that. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10521222, filed 2013-06, 120,500 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and airbags not deploying

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2010

   Owners report a blinking airbag indicator traced to a faulty passenger seat side airbag, with the dealer quoting a full seat replacement. Others describe frontal airbags that did not deploy in moderate-speed collisions, and in two cases the seat belt also failed to restrain the occupant. Reported from around 16,000 to 112,000 miles, including collisions at 35-45 mph.

   What to check: Watch for an airbag light during the test drive and ask whether the seat-side airbag or seat has been replaced. Have any stored airbag codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Myself, the driver, rear-ended another driver at a speed of 35-40mph. The driver slammed on his brakes and I had no time to react. The result is a totaled front end w/ $4000+ of repairs. The seat belt did not restrain me and the airbag did not deploy. The car will be totaled and I suffered extensive bruising because of this failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10368200, filed 2010-11, 112,000 miles

   “The consumer rear ended another motorist while driving at 45 MPH. The frontal air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The driver sustained injuries when he hit the steering wheel. The passenger sustained injuries when she/he hit the dashboard. Both vehicles involved in the accident were totaled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10065500, filed 2004-05, 16,000 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Gasoline smell from corroded fuel tank or sender

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline smell around the car, traced by mechanics to corrosion of the fuel tank retaining bracket or the sending unit, with holes allowing fuel to leak. Owners report the repair is costly and that the dealer declined to cover it, with some noting a similar recall on another Mazda model. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 90,000 miles, and in one case on a nearly new car.

   What to check: Inspect the tank and its retaining bracket underneath for rust, and smell for fuel after the car sits. Ask whether the tank or sending unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel is leaking from the top of the fuel tank/sender unit into the back seat of my Mazda protege5. Given an ignition source, this is a fire hazard. This failure resulted in a recall in the mazda6, 2003 model year. Mazda refuses to fix under warranty in my vehicle. Cost to repair is over $900. I am looking for a used replacement tank. I feel Mazda should replace the tank under warranty because it is a safety hazard and a known problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10201156, filed 2007-08, 88,472 miles

   “The contact owns a 2002 Mazda Protege 5. The contact smelled a strong odor of gasoline coming from her vehicle. She took the vehicle to a local repair shop and was informed that the retaining bracket in the fuel tank was corroded. The corrosion punctured holes in the sending unit and caused fuel leakage. The contact is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. She filed a complaint with the manufacturer. The failure and current mileages were 62,502 updated 08/04/09. Updated 08/06/09.”

   NHTSA complaint #10275665, filed 2009-07, 62,502 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Windshield wipers stop mid-stroke

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe wipers that quit in the middle of the windshield, usually when switched between low and high speed in heavy rain, then sometimes restarting on their own. Owners report checking the fuse without finding it blown and suspecting the wiper motor or switch. Reported in the 60,000-70,000 mile range, during heavy rain.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Run the wipers through every speed setting and back, including intermittent, and watch for any pause or stall. A service bulletin covers rear-defroster grid and antenna concerns; ask whether related electrical work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2002 Protege heater fan switch malfunctioned and melted plug and switch almost caused a fire but it was smoking when it fried and caused the 4th speed of the fan not to work I had to splice a new plug in to fix the issue and to keep it from catching fire I have pictures if needed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10372300, filed 2010-12, 113,586 miles

   “Driving on fl turnpike at night in heavy rain, bumper to bumper traffic, wipers were on high, switched them to low (not intermittent) and the wipers stopped in the middle of the windshield. Trying to make it to the right hand lane with my head out the window so I can see, and they just came back on automatically. Made it home, keeping them on low. That was 7/17/07. Yesterday (8/1/07) in medium rain in daylight, went to local store. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10198323, filed 2007-08, 60,030 miles

Buying note. Check the belts, transmission behavior, and the fuel tank area carefully on any 2002 Protege, since these account for most of what owners report and can be expensive to correct. Rust underneath, including around the engine mounts and rear hatch, is worth a close look on higher-mileage cars.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.