1998 MAZDA PROTEGE Problems & Recalls

Straight-on, front-end collision occurred, that destroyed radiator and folded hood. Air bag did not deploy.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONG WITH THE KEYS BECAME HOT TO THE TOUCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ORDERED UNKNOWN...

Mileage: 200,000

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION STEERING PRODUCES A GRINDING NOISE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING RACK AND PINION HAS MALFUNCTIONED. MIDAS ASKING FOR $1400 AND SAYS THIS IS COMMON MAZDA PROTEGE 1998 PROBLEM. I FOUND SIMILAR ALREADY EXISTING COMPLAINT BY SOMEONE ELSE (REFERENCE NUMBER: 10083656). *TR

Mileage: 99,000

I WAS DRIVING ALONE MY 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE ALONG A LOCAL ROUTE IN TEWKSBURY MA IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN A CAR A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME MADE A QUICK STOP FOR A LEFT TURN. SEVERAL CAR BEHIND STOPPED WITHOUT PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND SKID ALL THE WAY INTO THE CAR AT FRONT WHICH ...

Mileage: 120,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN VEHICLE WITH ONLY 65,800 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 65,800

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS INSPECTION DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE AND MID-PIPE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

Mileage: 64,737

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE LOOSE AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK IN TO NORMAL POSITION. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *BF THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS 4TH TRANSMISSION. *TC

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE LX.*MR DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MAZDA BECAUSE THEY WERE PRIMARILY A HONDA DEALER. THE VE...

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS FOR NO REASON. INTERMITTENT TIMES CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEAR WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHETHER ON STREETS OR FREEWAY. CAR IS RENDERD UNUSABLE BY WIFE.*AK

Mileage: 98,401

WHILE DRIVING, AN OBJECT APPEARED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER RAN OVER THE OBJECT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BUMBER AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. *LA *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACKED WHICH GREATLY REDUCED THE ENGINES PERFORMANCE AND POWER. *NLM

Mileage: 60,000

THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP INTO A LOWER GEAR, AN THE ENGINE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WOULD STALL AND THEN BUCKED ERRATICALLY. *TS *JB

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK IN 1998 MAZADA PROTEGE. RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A BURNING SMELL IN THE CABIN. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT IT IS DUE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK AND TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 95-98 PROTEGE. HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE IN THE BULLETIN. I TOOK HIS SUGGESTION AND CALLED THE...

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH , VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY A MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE HEATING CORE HAD RUSTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.

Mileage: 57,000

THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH. WHEN PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH, THE IDLE DROPS TO 0 AND THE CAR SHAKES BEFORE RETURNING TO IT'S NORMAL IDLE SPEED, APPROX. 500 RPM, OR IT JUST STALLS. THIS HAS CAUSED HARROWING MOMENTS WHEN PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH AND BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON EXIT RAMPS AND ...

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BACK IN 09/01. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE! I LEFT PAYING $66.11 TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A PORTION OF THE AC UNIT ON 05/23/02. ONE MONTH LATER APPROXIMATELY 6/25/02 I THEN HEARD A LOUD EXHUST NOISE. I HAD THE V...

COVERINGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE KEY LOCKS THAT PREVENT MOISTURE FROM ENTERING THE LOCK WERE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THIS PLASTIC BECOMES BRITTLE AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPOSURE AND USE AND CAN BREAK. WHEN THE PART BREAKS, PIECES FROM THE BROKEN COVER CAN EASILY BE LODGED IN THE LOCK RENDERING TH...

CAR WILL THRUST FORWARD, JERKING CAR & PASSENGERS - MANUFACTURER SAYS DETECTED IN 1996-1998 MODELS AS NORMAL.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, IT WOULD REV HIGH AND NOT SHIFT BACK DOWN WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE GAS, CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET IT TO COME BACK DOWN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAID A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE WARRANTY HA...

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, IT WOULD REV HIGH AND NOT SHIFT BACK DOWN WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE GAS, CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET IT TO COME BACK DOWN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAID A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE WARRANTY HA...

CALIPER AND ROTOR FAILED WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, DEALER SAID IT IS TYPICAL AND SAID THE PARTS USED ARE POOR. OTHER VEHICLES I OWNED EXERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE MUCH LATER IN VEHICLE LIFE (75,000 MI +). *AK

CALLED MAZDA DEALER IN REGARDS TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAVE CALLED 25 DIFFERENT SALVAGE YARDS IN GEORGIA AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A HOT ITEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T GET ONE. TO BUY ONE FROM THE DEALE...

RE:MANIFOLD. A CRACK BEGINS FROM THE ENGINE SIDE.DEALER STATED THE FIRST IT HAPPENED A STONE MUST HAVE COME UP & HIT IT. THIS IS AN IMPOSIBILITY. NOW AFTER REPLACING IT IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN.CRACK IS IN THE SAME PLACE.BEGINNING FROM THE ENGINE SIDE. EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS, EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PA...

RE:MANIFOLD. A CRACK BEGINS FROM THE ENGINE SIDE.DEALER STATED THE FIRST IT HAPPENED A STONE MUST HAVE COME UP & HIT IT. THIS IS AN IMPOSIBILITY. NOW AFTER REPLACING IT IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN.CRACK IS IN THE SAME PLACE.BEGINNING FROM THE ENGINE SIDE. EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS, EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PA...

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN IT HAS SET FOR LONG PERIODS. *AK

PART WARRANTY 80,000, I LIVE 75 MILES FROM NEAREST DEALER. DEALER QUOTED 900.00 TO REPLACE PART AND REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS 1,000 MILES OVER BY TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHOP. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, MAZDA AMERICA AND THEY ENTERTAINED IDEA OF FIXING UNDER WARRANTY THEN CHANGED MIND B...

CONSUMER HAD A REAR COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. *AK THE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING THE COLLISION *YH

CONSUMER HAD A REAR COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. *AK THE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING THE COLLISION *YH

VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN BRIDGESTONE TIRE SIZE P18565R/14, AND WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR A MOMENT. BRIDGESTONE WAS CONTACTED.*AK

CONSUMER HAD STATE INSPECTION DONE. THEY FOUND THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED.VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, AND EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS TO BE HONORED. DEALER FOUND NO STRESS TO THE AREA & DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. DEALER CONTACTED CONSUMER STATING THAT BECAUSE NO STRESS WAS...

AFTER MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ONCE TO A LOCAL BRAKE SHOP, I CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EXTREMELY SOFT BRAKES. THIS IS MOST PROBLEMATIC WHEN IT RAINS. I'VE HAD THE DEALERSHIP "TIGHTEN" THEM AND REPLACE PADS THREE TIMES, BUT WITHIN A COUPLE OF

THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVE IS THAT MY CAR IS MAKING A VERY BAD KNOCKING NOISE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BY TO DENNIS EAKIN MAZDA ABOUT TWO WEEK AFTER I PURCHASE IT....

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS STUCK, WILL NOT RETRACT OUT, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW PASSENGER TO PUT IT ON, RESULTING IN LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PLASTIC DOOR LOCK COVERS BROKE, CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED WITH METAL ONES TO PREVENT FUTURE BREAKAGE. NLM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING AND SHIFTING VERY HARD, AND THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD. MANUFACTURER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING AND SHIFTING VERY HARD, AND THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD. MANUFACTURER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55MPH CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AND THEN WAS HIT FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE BACK OF A EIGHTEEN WHEELER, AND NIETHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING PERFORMANCE, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. PREVIOUSLY, THE BRAKE PADS BEEN CHANGED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING PERFORMANCE, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. PREVIOUSLY, THE BRAKE PADS BEEN CHANGED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE RETURNED MY CAR FOR REPAIRS A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES SINCE NEW PURCHASE IN JULY 1998. THE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE CAR STILL HAS AN EGG SMELL. IT ALSO HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. I FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT IN MAY 1999. *AK

I HAVE RETURNED MY CAR FOR REPAIRS A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES SINCE NEW PURCHASE IN JULY 1998. THE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE CAR STILL HAS AN EGG SMELL. IT ALSO HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. I FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT IN MAY 1999. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT COMPLETELY FAILED, CAR IS STILL BEING DRIVEN DUE TO FACT THAT DEALER IS 90 MILES AWAY. PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN CAR IS STILL COLD. WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWED FOR AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN, IF YOU DON'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A VERY HARD "THUMP" FELT ...

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE PARKING BUMP & HIT A BRICK WALL. NO PHYSICAL INJURIES. PRIOR TO ACCELERATION, HAD VENICLE AT DEALER & THE TIMING BELT WAS ADJUSTED. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE PARKING BUMP & HIT A BRICK WALL. NO PHYSICAL INJURIES. PRIOR TO ACCELERATION, HAD VENICLE AT DEALER & THE TIMING BELT WAS ADJUSTED. *AK

DIVERS SIDE SEAT FAILED IN A MINOR REAR END COLLISON. SEAT BACK BROKE AND FELL DOWN INTO REAR SEAT . NO OCCUPANTS IN REAR SEAT. ALSO, NO INJURIES. *AK

BRAKE PADS FAILED. *YC

TAPE DECK IS NOT WORKING. YH

MAZDA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 014/98 DATED 12/9/98 REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "SHIFT SHOCK" PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE, MOST PRONOUNCED IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR SHIFTING. DEALER (NEIL HUFFMAN MAZDA IN LOUISVILLE, KY) ATTEMPTED REPAIR ON 12/29/98, PER BULLETIN, BUT PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN 500 MILES LATER. ...

TRANSMITION HESITATES AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING,AND SHIFTS INTO PASSING GEAR AT ANY TIME.IT HAS SERGED AHEAD FROM STOP NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES SINCE JUNE 1998 WHEN I BOUGHT IT "NEW" FOR HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. EACH TIME THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR IT TO HESITATE. THE CAR DOES IT BADLY AT LOW SPEEDS BUT RUNS GREAT AT HIGHWAY ...

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR.

AT LOW SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, WHEN GOING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE,LIKE A DRIVEWAY, A PIECE OF METAL HIT THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ORIGINAL PIRELLI TIRES WERE RATED AT 32 LBS. NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PREVENT FRONT END OF CAR TO BE H...