2002 Mazda Protege Complaint Log

MY 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE HAS 61,000. THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE IF THIS WAS 'NORMAL' BECAUSE I HAD ONLY ONCE BEFORE HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AT 120,000 SHE SAID, "OH YEAH WE GET THEM ALL THE TIME. THEN WANTED TO CHARGE ME $4,500 TO FIX IT." I WENT INTO THE MAZDA DEALER TO TRY AND REPLACE THE SAID CAR AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT MY SITUATION AND HE ALSO SAID, "YEAH, 61,000 MILES, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, THEY TIMED THAT RIGHT." I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT SO SOON. *NM

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. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK UPDATED 02/08/07. *JB

AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN GETTING LESS AND LESS COOL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THE EVAPORATOR WAS LEAKING AND PART WOULD COST 561.12 OUT OF WARRANTY. 2 MONTHS PRIOR THE CONDENSER WENT OUT AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

IF MY MAZDA PROTEGE 5 IS NOT DRIVEN FOR 2-3 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS DEAD THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO START IT. IT HAS BEEN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR JUMPED ON 3 OTHER OCCASSIONS. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES, REPLACED VARIOUES FUSES, AND FINALLY DECIDED THAT THE FACTORY STEREO SYSTEM WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS 7/25, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 9 OTHER TIMES SINCE LAST JUNE.

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MILEAGE WAS DELETED, THE GAS, TEMPERATURE AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER DID REPLACE A PART, HOWEVER THE MILEAGE WAS NOT ACCURATE. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE HUB BEARINGS. *JB *NM

ON MARCH 15, 2005 I WAS INVOLVED IN A PILE-UP ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I HAD A FRACTURED RIB. MY CAR IS A MAZDA PROTEGE 5 AND THE VIN3 IS: [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SNOW WOULD BUILD UP INSIDE THE WHEELS. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE BRAKE ROTOR TO FREEZE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30 MPH YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED TWO SLIPPED DISK IN HER BACK. AFTER THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TESTED BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST THE AIR BAG. THE INDICATED THAT AS LONG AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WASN'T ON THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE RADIO SWITCHES STATIONS ON IT'S OWN. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 9/7/2004, 40561 MILES. THE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT WONT HOLD. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO NOISE.

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN THE DRIVER RELEASES THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE PEDALS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS WONDERING WHY HE WAS GETTING SUCH POOR GAS MILEAGE. HE THEN TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO HIS PRIVATE MECHANIC SINCE HE LIVES ABOUT 65-70 FROM THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALER. HE THINKS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, BECAUSE HE ALSO THINKS THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF SOME MIS-WIRING. AIR COMPRESSOR RUNS WHEN IT IS NOT TURNED ON. OVERDRIVE BUTTON IS INOPPERABLE.*TS *TC

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE 5TH GEAR STARTED POPPING OUT OF GEAR ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THEN ACTS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU PUT IT IN 5TH GEAR. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $2500. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS NEW OF A CAR. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE, WHY ISN'T A RECALL BEING MADE?

FACTORY HUB CAPS FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. PLASTIC CLIPS ON RETENTION RINGS ON INSIDE OF HUBCAPS BREAK OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAVE LOST 3 HUBCAPS IN LAST 4 MONTHS. PAID $50 TO REPLACE THE FIRST ONE. DEALER SAYS IT HAS NEVER HEARD/SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE. DEALER OFFERED TO SELL NEW HUBCAPS FOR COST...$31.00. ---PLANNED, ENGINEERED OBSOLESENCE--- WILL NOT BUY A MAZDA AGAIN IF THEY CAN'T KEEP THE HUBCAPS ON THE CAR.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. *MR 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. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT A MEMORANDUM BE SENT TO ALL MAZDA DEALERS EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM, ENSURE THAT ONE OR TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES SHOULD BE STOCKED DUE TO THE EXTREME DIFFICULTIES IN LOCATING THE CORRECT INFORMATION OF THE TIRE AND WHEEL. *SC *JB

MY 80 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR EASTBOUND ON SW 104 STREET WHEN AT THE INTERSECTION OF 127 AVE. THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED RESPONDING AND FELT UNATTACHED TO THE WHEELS. I WAS INFORMED TODAY, BY THE MAZDA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE GEERING BOX THAT HAD FAILED. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES BUT THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE GOOD SAMARITAN THAT USED HIS/HER OWN VEHICLE TO FORCIBLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. YESTERDAY MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR BUT IF IT HAD BEEN ANOTHER DRIVER, A YOUNGER, FASTER DRIVER, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.*AK

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. *JB *NM

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AT HIGHER GEARS ON SAT. (03/20). WOULD RACE TO HIGH RPM'S AS THOUGH LOOKING FOR ANOTHER GEAR. HUSBAND TOOK TO SERVICE THIS MORNING. PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AS HE DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. WOULD "THUNK" INTO GEAR, WOULD RACE TO HIGH RPM'S AT 35-45 MPH. WHEN ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP, THEY CHECKED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONT END COLLISION AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT END WAS TOTALLED AND ALTHOUGH THE INJURIES WERE MINOR, THERE IS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND FOUND THE REAR CALIPERS WERE WARPED. DUE TO THE WARPED CALIPERS, THE REAR PADS CAN NOT BE REPLACED WITH OUT NEW CALIPERS. *JB

MY CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING (ACTUALLY IN MOTION). I SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP AND TRIED TO RESTART CAR BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I SAT ON THE SIDE OF A VERY NARROW ROAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT MY BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ONE. MY CAR BARELY HAD 20K MILES ON IT AT THAT POINT. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE BATTERY COULD JUST DIE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION BUT THEY INSISTED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED. I HAD IT JUMP STARTED TO TEST THE BATTERY. WE DISCONNECTED THE PLUS CABLE FROM THE BATTERY WHILE THE CAR WAS ON AND IT REMAINED ON BUT AS SOON AS I TURNED MY LIGHTS ON IT DIED. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR AGAIN AFTER THAT. THE NEXT DAY MY FIANCE WENT OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. HE BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY RAN SEVERAL TESTS OVER THE ENGINE BUT FOUND NO PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY, NONE OF THE GEARS WORKED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

PURCHASED A NEW 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE ON 2/20/02 FROM RAMSEY MAZDA, RAMSEY, NJ. OTHER THAN REGULAR OIL CHANGES, ONLY SERVICE TO VEHICLE DONE BY MAZDA DEALER ON 5/8/02 WHEN CAR STALLED AND DEALER INSTALLED NEW COMPUTER. ON 8/24/03, WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLED AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OPENED HOOD AND SAW ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND PUT OUT FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO FRONT OF CAR. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED CAR TOTALLED. MAZDA CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO INVESTIGATIVE TEAM TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE AND THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD HIRE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR. INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO HIRE INVESTIGATOR. *AK

REAR DISC BRAKES WITH EBFD PREMATURE WEAR OF ONE PAD ON ONE SIDE OF DISC BRAKE TO 0% WHILE OPPOSITE SIDE AT 30% AND OPPOSITE BRAKE AT 50% *JB

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT CAN'T BE USED DUE A FAULTY RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATED SEAT BELT WAS WARRANTED ONLY 2 MONTHS. *AK

THERE IS A DISTINCT TRANSMISSION WHINE/SQUEAL THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES BEYOND 50 MPH. THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR AFTER ABOUT 17000 MILES. IT WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. MAZDA CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL' AND CAUSED BY THE RESONANCE OF PARTS WHICH OCCURS ONCE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN BROKEN IN. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND I FEEL IT IS BIZARRE THAT A NEW CAR WOULD HAVE SUCH AN INHERENT FLAW THAT MAZDA FEELS IS NORMAL AND THAT CUSTOMERS ACCEPT THE NOISE FACTOR ONCE THE CAR IS 'BROKEN IN'.*AK

GAS STREAMING FROM LEAKING GAS TANK FROM 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. SECOND INCIDENT, FIRST OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER INITIAL DELIVERY ON NOV 2, 2001.

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE THAT THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION MADE. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT IT GAVE HIM AND ANYONE THAT RODE WITH HIM A HEADACHE. HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO STOP THE NOISE. HE STATED HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE NOISE IS MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH AND HIGHER. THE MAZDA REPAIR INFORMATION STATED THAT THE WHINE NOISE IS A RESULT OF A RESONANCE THE IS GENERATED AT VARYING LEVELS BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GEARS AND DOES NOT AFFECT THE USE, SAFETY OR VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. SCC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A COUPLE POT HOLES WHICH BENT TWO RIMS (MATERIAL VERY SOFT). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

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. *JB

I BOUGHT A NEW 2002 PROTG LX IN JUNE 2002 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR 6 MONTHS. EARLY JANUARY 2003, BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NOT WORK ON SPEEDS 1, 2, AND 3. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEIR REPORT WAS THAT BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR WERE DEFECTIVE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LESS THAN A WEEK LATER AND DEALER STATED AGAIN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS ALL WITH THE DEALER STATING THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL OCTOBER 2003. SOMETIMES NONE OF THE SPEEDS WOULD WORK, AND SOMETIMES JUST THE 4TH SPEED. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR OVER NIGHT, AND SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES BY DEALER AND TO NO AVAIL. THIS CAR IS CLEARLY A LEMON AND A HAZARD TO DRIVE WHEN NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF NO HEAT TO DEFROST OR DEFOGGER THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. *LA

THE DISC BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, WHEN IT WAS APPLIED.*JB

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HARD PLASTIC PIECE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. IF THE PIECE IS IMPACTED IN A CRASH, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER INDICATES "THE PLASTIC PIECE COULD BREAK OFF BECOMING A HAZARDOUS WEAPON". TS

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN STARTED. NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED A "VALVE" IN THE ENGINE IS CAUSING NOISE AND THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS ARE INVESTIGATING TO FIND A SOLUTION. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT ISSUE COULD COMPROMISE HER SAFETY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, CONSUMER STATES' APPLIED BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED BRAKE LINE WAS SPLIT DUE TO A DEFECT IN LINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE LX IN 08/2002. WITHIN DAYS WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES JUST HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND SHIFTING. FREQUENT FAILURE TO SHIFT AT ALL OR FAILURE TO SHIFT FOR PROLONGED INTERVALS (SOMETIMES MILES). OCCASIONAL SLAMMING INTO GEAR AND CAR LURCHING FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS THAT ALMOST LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR REPAIRS ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LETTER OF NOTIFICATION OF DEFECT TO MANUFACTURER SENT TO MAZDA CORPORATE ON 3/22/03. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER FOR FINAL CHANCE TO REPAIR. DEALER STILL SAYS THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE PURCHASED A 2ND MAZDA PROTEGE LX AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH ITS TRANSMISSION AND IT SHIFTS SMOOTHLY AND PROPERLY. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND THIS CAR IS CLEARLY A LEMON, MAZDA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPLACE THIS CAR. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED AND VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

METAL FACE PLATE OF IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP WHILE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION ALSO NOTICE ACCUMULATION OF A STATIC CHARGE WHEN REMOVING IGNITION KEY. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT FRONT WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN, OR DEFECTIVE BECAUSE A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE.*JBSOMETHING SMALL HIT THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. IT RESULTED IN A STAR SHAPED MARK, THEN TURNING INTO AN 8 INCH CRACK OPVERNIGHT. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS TO BE A SUB-STANDARD OR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. *JG

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT TO 5TH GEAR, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION NEAR A QUARRY, HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE, ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT 60 MPH. VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A LOW CONCRETE STRUCTURE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CONSUMER SUFFERED A BROKEN NOSE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5000.00*AK

I WAS PROCEEDING SOUTHBOUND ON A MAJOR STREET AT ABOUT 35MPH. A PICKUP TRUCK CAME OUT OF A SMALL SIDE STREET AND CROSSED MY PATH GOING EASTBOUND WITH THE INTENT OF TURNING LEFT. MY CAR BROADSIDED THE TRUCK AT THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS DOOR AND AT THE FRONT OF THE TRUCKBED. AS I DID NOT SEE THE TRUCK UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT, I ONLY LEFT ABOUT 3 FEET OF SKID. NEITHER MY DRIVER AIRBAG NOR MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.*AK

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). UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SO WE COMPLAINED ONCE MORE, AND WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO MAZDA APPARENTLY RELEASED A BULLETIN WHICH RELEASES THEM OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY. THIS BULLETIN APPARENTLY STATES THAT THE WHINING NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN MAZDA PROTEGE5 VEHICLES IS MERELY A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE OR ITS RESALE VALUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BUY AN OTHERWISE PRISTINE VEHICLE IF IT WHINED EVERY TIME I GOT ON THE FREEWAY...I HAVE TO TURN MY RADIO UP QUITE LOUD JUST TO DROWN IT OUT!!! MAZDA WILL DO NOTHING FOR US, WHICH IS SAD, BECAUSE I HAVE ENJOYED OWNING THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT NECESSARILY CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER. *AK

MECHANICAL ENGINE RATTLES AT 2800 RPMS WHEN COLD. DEALER CONFIRMS PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT FIX. MAZDA CONFIRMS PROBLEM BUT CLAIMS TO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. PROBLEM IS EVIDENT ON A LEAST 50% OF PROTEGE SEDANS AND WAGONS PRODUCED FOR 2002.*AK

ENGINE RATTLE WHEN COLD AT ABOUT 2500RPMS. MAZDA HAS NOT REPAIRED OR INDICATED THAT PROBLEM EXISTS. *AK

DRIVE SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE INTO PIECES. *TR

2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 HYDRAULIC ARM ON THE HATCH DOOR BROKE OFF. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HATCH DOOR INSTANTLY SLAMMED DOWN . SHE OR HER SON COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF STANDING A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE. *NJ

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ESPECAILLY HIGH, VEHICLE LETS OFF A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE. NOISE IS VERY DESTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN HEADACHES AS A RESULT. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO FRONT PORCH. *AK