Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Mazda Protege owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Front end impact of at least 45 MPH without applying brakes. Almost direct full contact with front end (slightly more on one side). Front air bags did not deploy. Seat belt restrained forward motion but injury was incurred to neck and back due to force of collision.
I don't remember the exact date of failure but it was close to the date I provided. I was driving down the road and my 2000 Mazda Protege started bucking. When I called the dealership and told them that I thought the transmission went bad they treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about. Sure enough I dropped it off and they dianosed it with a bad transmission.it was 2000 miles out of warranty. Thankfully Mazda paid for the transmission being so recent out of warranty but I had to pay $700.00 in labor. Since then I have found that those vehicles were plagued with that problem and since then the car just hasn't driven like it used too. I am sadly dissapointed since I used to work at a Mazda dealership and the Mazda b4000 I had also purchased has problems too.
Consumer stated that 2 months prior to vehicle being involved in an accident seat belt light kept coming on and off. Then, when vehicle was involved in a collision, seat belt did not work, and air bags failed to deploy. Consumer sustained cervical strain/knee and lower back injuries.
While traveling at 45 MPH consumer rear ended another vehicle that had suddenly stopped in middle of road. When he hit other car , it went up over a 6 inch curve and hit a road sign. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Other car weighted more.
Consumer was traveling 45mph and rearended a SUV head- on. Hitting a fire hydrant and sign, but airbags still didn't deploy. Consumer was consulting manufacturer on no deployment. Consumer please ad the VIN#.
Vehicle was rearended while at a stop by vehicle driven about 40 MPH, was pushed into vehicle in front of it. Neither airbag deployed, vehicle was totalled. Consumer suffered neck and back injuries.
Today we got into an accident and the passenger airbag didn't come out until after my grandaughter's face hit the windsheild.
My check engine light began coming on in June 2003 and they replaced an oxygen sensor. My car was fine until recently. I had an oil change in April and the light came on again, but it only lasted a few days. Two weeks I had an oil change and right after the service the check engine light came on again. I called the dealership and complained that the light came again after they serviced it. This makes it twice that I had my car serviced and the light comes on. Also, I was never informed about the recall in January 2001 about the breaks. I had brake service done last year and I was told I needed brake service again.
Airbag complaints in other Protege years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Mazda Protege?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Mazda Protege, 25% of the model year's 102 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Mazda Protege airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2000 Mazda Protege, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Mazda Protege airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 0 fires and 18 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.