Most common 1998 Mazda Protege problems
Share of the 46 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Protege complaints by model year
Best Protege years: 1998, 2001, 1997. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
1998 Mazda Protege recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6.
What 1998 Mazda Protege owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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 and interstate speeds. There is definately a problem that they said they were aware of, but there is nothing they can do about it. They contridict themselves by saying it is a normal condition, but then they also try to fix it? I have driven other proteges off their lot, and they do not hesitate. Mine did not either when I bought it. I have wasted many days off of work, driving almost two hours one way, and many miles wasted off my warranty to solve this problem. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Engine & cooling
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.
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 vehicle looked at by a friend who found that the manifold had a siginificantly large crack. Moreover, the smell within the passenger campartment of the vehicle is extreme to the point when we get out of the car we have the smell of exhust fumes in our hair and clothes. The smell in the car is very overwhelming, that we must ride with the windows open for fresh air and lets just say we only get relief for just a short while with the windows open because we live in florida and it is usually too hot & humid to have the windows open during the daytime. …
Brakes
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
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.
1998 Mazda Protege engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mazda Protege a good car?
Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Protege rates better than average: 48% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Protege at the same age. It is one of the best Protege years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Mazda Protege?
The transmission & drivetrain — 15 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and brakes (5).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mazda Protege have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Mazda Protege, the most recent from October 19, 2015 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Protege?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998, 2001 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Mazda Protege years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Mazda Protege problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.