Most common 2001 Mazda Protege problems
Share of the 50 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 →
2001 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 2001 Mazda Protege owners say
Air bags
Got into an accident at intersection , airbags did not work , as a result I have serious chest pains . Vehicle was in motion going straight while a vehicle at intersection was turning left across my road.
Vehicle was involved in a front end impact of at least 45 MPH. This was almost a direct front collision, though damage was slightly greater on one side of front end that the other. Brakes were not applied so force of hit was at full speed. Available front end airbags did not deploy. My chest (sternum) impacted the steering wheel with extreme force, body was propelled forward in a twisting motion and neck and spine underwent severe trauma. I am still suffering from the injury after over 7 months. I called Mazda local offices and main headquarters and was told they would do no investigation as it was time and cost prohibitive. Vehicle was totalled.
Engine & cooling
Takata recall I bought by 2001 Mazda Protege a couple years ago and was never sent anything about any recalls. After pulling a car fax report there is 5 recalls all having to do with headlights. I've received a ticket for no headlights on when they were on and was recenctly in a car accident due to not seeing the other vehicle . The damage to my vehicle is on the front end including damaging my radiator which needs to replaced, bumber and grill. I had only liability insurance on my vehicle and they only would pay for the other car that was hit. Why was I never informed of recall issues? I've already paid for the no headlight ticket at night and I'm frustrated because they were illuminated. Please do not tell me I have no recall issues because I have done my research and have 5 recalls all to do with lights which can result in a crash. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mazda Protege. The contact attempted to start the vehicle but the engine failed to start accompanied by an abnormal knocking from the engine. The contact also mentioned that the failure occurred more often when the engine was cold. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 22,000. Updated 05/28/14 ma the consumer stated model year 2003 vehicles have been repaired for the same failure by the manufacturer. But the manufacturer refuses to repair model years 2001-2002. The consumer stated this condition does not keep the engine from starting. It can and has caused catastrophic engine failure, which shuts down the power steering and brakes while the vehicle is moving. Updated 05/29/2014
Transmission & drivetrain
While driving my Mazda Protege to work when automatic transmission would not shift down into first gear. After shift to neutral and back to drive, trans shifted to first gear. Drove normally for next 15 miles to work. When leaving for lunch, transmission failed completely after 15 seconds in drive. Car is 3 yrs 3 months old, was bought new and had 53,000 miles at time of failure. Car had been carefully maintained according to manufacturer's schedule. Dealer's service rep said car was out of warranty, and would not consider any assistance due to fact that the car had not been maintained there. I contacted area manufacturer's rep and was told same thing. …
I purchased my 2001 Mazda Protege brand-new. At about 60,000 miles the overdrive light started blinking. Going from second gear into third, the transmission would buck. I took it to the dealership and was told that it needed a new transmission, so I had a new transmission installed. Now at 154,000 miles, it is happening again. I have read numerous complaints similar to mine. Mazda refuses to accept any responsibility for manufacturing faulty transmissions.
2001 Mazda Protege engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 31 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mazda Protege a good car?
Based on 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Protege rates better than average: 45% 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 2001 Mazda Protege?
The air bags — 11 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and transmission & drivetrain (6).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mazda Protege have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 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 2001 Mazda Protege problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 55% 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.