2002 Mazda Protege Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 9%of 98 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,562miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the body and structure of the 2002 Mazda Protege, 9% of the 98 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,562 miles.
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.
“I've owned my 2002 Mazda protege5 for 7 years now. It's always had a vibration while braking. Even after having out brand new brakes, rotors and calipers. I'm very anal on how my car looks and drives. If I feel something out of the ordinary, I know something is off. This has happened ever since I've had the car. It does cause me to drive more cautiously especially in the back roads along with wet pavement. The steering wheel shakes while braking as well. As for the body of the car, the paint is faiding fast. It's yellow, and I hand polish and wax it once before spring, summer, and winter. …”
NHTSA complaint #10863216, filed 2016-05, 67,000 miles“1. Normal use of the vehicle. 2. The left front seat inside door handle (driver's side) broke off 1/28/09. Only way out is to craw over center console and exit passenger side. 3. The left rear seat inside door handle broke off 8/22/09. Child had to exit the opposite side of the car. 4. Google (no quotes) Protege broke door handle and see others with this defect.”
NHTSA complaint #10281667, filed 2009-08, 76,124 miles“Underneath the car is nothing but rust. It is affecting the undercarriage, the ball joints, the control arm, and the car's frame itself. I have replaced both ball joints both control arm shock and the car is still hard to steer”
NHTSA complaint #10787735, filed 2015-11, 118,000 miles“Rear hatch/lift gate props fail when lift gate/hatch is opened resulting in concussion as lift gate/hatch hits one in head. This has happened to us as each stay prop fails independently. Luckily none of our children were under the hatch/lift gate. Madza part numbers are: b25r-62-620c and b25r-63-620c.”
NHTSA complaint #10218989, filed 2008-02, 91,000 miles“Problems with tire equipment on the 2002 Mazda Protege 5. There was difficulty with placing suitcases or boxes into the trunk of this type of vehicle, the cd player skipped, the transmission displayed a loud clunk noise, there was a spare tire problem, there was a nail in the tire which could not be repaired because it was located too close to the edge of the tire, 50% of tread remained, and there was evidence that the wheel needed to have five holes for bolts (spare wheel), and the brakes had 50% remaining. …”
NHTSA complaint #10079850, filed 2004-06, 19,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10148068Oct 10, 2018When encountering a vehicle with paint damage, refer to the "Mazda Pocket Paint Guide" to determine cause, prevention, remedy, and warranty coverage (if applicable). Copies of…
- 10134702Mar 22, 2018When encountering a vehicle with paint damage, refer to the "Mazda Pocket Paint Guide" to determine cause, prevention, remedy, and warranty coverage (if applicable).
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 | 3% |
| 2002 | 9 | 9% |
| 2001 | 2 | 4% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1997 | 5 | 8% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% |
| 1994 | 4 | 5% |
| 1993 | 1 | 2% |
| 1991 | 7 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2002 Mazda Protege
20 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsTires
9 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsEquipment
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 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