The 2000 Mazda Protege has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 13,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 126 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC01V0240002001-02-0113,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE HOSES WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
Consequence
BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE DEGRADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE HOSE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
26
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
17
15crashes12injuries
AIR BAGS
8
5crashes6injuries
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
4
1crashes3injuries
SUSPENSION
4
1crashes1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
2crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
1crashes
POWER TRAIN
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
3
Total complaints126
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Today we got into an accident and the passenger airbag didn't come out until after my grandaughter's face hit the windsheild.”
“My car goes in and out of od by its self and the od button does not work while im driving and the od light flashes when it goes on aand stop when it deactivates it self”
“After driving 2 miles or less the right underside of the engine caught on fire and now the engine is blown.”
“I drove the car for 2 miles and the left underside of the engine caught fire, now the engine is dead and in need of a new engine?”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mazda protege. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the front driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently and without warning. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road safely and the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was not…”
“Car does not start unless you jiggle steering wheel while turning key or pumping gas pedal. Had battery checked as well as starter and ignitiion switch replaced but has not solved problem.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mazda protege. The contact stated that the vehicle engine took a long time to start up. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power control module was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…”
“The left front seat belt would not release. My spouse spent fifteen minutes trying to get it unbuckled and popped a blood vessel in her thumb trying to release it. Going to replace it and see what happens. Will contact dealer to see if it can be warrantied. They should, it is a safety item! *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Mazda Protege as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.