Most common 2000 Mazda Protege problems
Share of the 102 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 →
2000 Mazda Protege recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some left side rear brake hoses were damaged during assembly. Brake fluid leakage could occur.
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…
What 2000 Mazda Protege owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 29 →
2000 Protege lx accelerator pedal was stuck in the depressed position. As a result of the accelerator pedal sticking the consumer was involved in an accident. On feb 21, 2000 the vehicle was taken to the dealer because the consumer heard a high pitched ping noise coming from the vehicle. The dealer was unable to duplicate the noise. The left rear door lock assembly was defective. The vehicle would accelerated and jerk while accelerating.
I feel that my 2000 Mazda Protege dx with 56,000 miles on it is a very unsafe vehicle. This vehicle has such low miles on it to be giving me any trouble. When I am driving, the vehicle feels as if it is going into overdrive by itself and then returns back to normal. My overdrive light flashes on and off when this happens. This is a very unsafe because when it does this, it lunges your vehicle forward. I have not been going very fast when this has happened. I am very afraid to drive my vehicle in fear that at a higher speed, this could cause an accident. I have read many complaints that are similar as mine. Something needs to be done about this. I have no warranty on my vehicle and really don't have the money to fix it, but it has to be done. From what I have read on the internet, Mazda has produced a very poor transmission. I feel that this is only the start. …
Air bags all 25 →
I was in a single car accident. I hit a guard rail, went through it and rolled down a 30 foot embankment. I suffered neck and shoulder injuries and back injuries. I have not driven a car since this accident. In the emergency room a nurse said I had a possible spinal compression fracture. I thought my car was suppose to have air bags, I saw the car for the first time since the accident yesterday. The whole car is beat up...the roof, the front, the back both sides, and not even 1 of the air bags deployed. I am so grateful my car had such a high safety rating... Yeah right. Now I am afraid to drive any car. And now the words air bag safety are a joke to me. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**768013
While driving w. Bound at about 25 MPH, passenger side of car was impacted by vehicle going s. Bound at about 40 MPH. Car was forced sw through a curb, a gas sign, and impacted with the rear of a parked car. Accelerator was stuck, brakes ineffective and finally parked by driver. Major passenger side and frontal damage. Car totaled. Neither passenger nor driver side air bags deployed.
Brakes
I had been in an accident in early 2006 that was reported to the police and when I applied my brakes, they were not effective. I thought it was the type of tire I had on my car so about 2 weeks ago I spent 600 for top of the line tires. On 11/17/2006, I was behind a car that slammed on their brakes and when I applied mine they did not slow the car down so I kept pumping them so hard I bruised my foot and crashed into the person in front of me totaling my car. I had my seat belt on but since there was no indication that the brakes were being applied, the belt remained loose and my head smashed into the windshield shattering it. After giving my info to the driver I hit and making sure that I was alright, he left and said not to worry as the damage to his car was minimal and he could fix it himself. …
While driving 50 MPH check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and the mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced. Also, while applying the brake pedal vehicle failed to stop. However, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic determined that the brakes needed to be replaced, and replaced them three times. However, the problem recurred.....the transmission cost $1,800.00 to be replaced. The contact stated that a vehicle with not much mileage should not have a major transmission failure. The car jerked and was shifting gears while driving. It was clearly a defective transmission.
2000 Mazda Protege engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 31 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Mazda Protege a good car?
Based on 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Protege rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Protege at the same age. 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 2000 Mazda Protege?
The transmission & drivetrain — 29 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the air bags (25) and brakes (10).
How many recalls does the 2000 Mazda Protege have?
There is 1 recall for the 2000 Mazda Protege, the most recent from February 1, 2001 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). 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 2000 Mazda Protege problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 54% 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.