Complaints
133
Crashes
19
Fires
3
Injuries
23
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Mazda Protege Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Seat Belt Issues
Avg mileage:86,263 mi
Crash-related:3
#213 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:35,239 mi
Crash-related:1
#38 complaints
Tire Defects
Avg mileage:94,062 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Mazda Protege.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belt Issues | 14 | 3 | — | 86,263 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 13 | 1 | — | 35,239 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 8 | — | — | 94,062 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 6 | — | — | 147,195 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 5 | — | 64,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 3 | — | 82,162 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Rim | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — |
Seat Belt Issues
14
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,263
Automatic Transmission
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,239
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,062
Electrical Faults
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
147,195
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,000
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,162
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Rear/Other
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Rim
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Mazda Protege. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mazda Protege Years
2002 Mazda Protege — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Mazda Protege reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2002 Mazda Protege has 133 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Seat Belt Issues with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Mazda Protege?
Top reported problems: Seat Belt Issues (14 complaints, avg 86,263 mi); Automatic Transmission (13 complaints, avg 35,239 mi); Tire Defects (8 complaints, avg 94,062 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Mazda Protege?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 79,064 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Mazda Protege?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Mazda Protege include 19 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 23 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Mazda Protege have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Mazda Protege as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Mazda Protege?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mazda Protege reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Mazda Protege
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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