Most common 2002 Mazda Protege problems
Share of the 98 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 →
What 2002 Mazda Protege owners say
Seat belts all 20 →
I've owned my 2002 Mazda protege5 for 7 years now. It's always had a vibration while braking. Even after having out brand new brakes, rotors and calipers. I'm very anal on how my car looks and drives. If I feel something out of the ordinary, I know something is off. This has happened ever since I've had the car. It does cause me to drive more cautiously especially in the back roads along with wet pavement. The steering wheel shakes while braking as well. As for the body of the car, the paint is faiding fast. It's yellow, and I hand polish and wax it once before spring, summer, and winter. I use maguires wax and polish every time. And it's also got a rust spot along the back left wheel lip. I am the second owner of the vehicle. And when I took it to the dealership to be repainted after I played for the car. It was magically only 24 hours from the warranty covering it. …
On March 15, 2005 I was involved in a pile-up accident. The airbag did not deploy and the seat belt did not restrain me from hitting the steering wheel with my chest. I had a fractured rib. My car is a Mazda Protege 5 and the vin3 is: [redacted].
Transmission & drivetrain
We purchased a Mazda protege5 in January of 2002. Within a very short time, (~1000 miles, maybe less), we noticed a high pitched whining noise. This noise occurs between 50 and 75 miles per hour on average. We brought the vehicle in to Mazda, and a mechanic immediately tied the problem to the transmission. So, in very short order, they replaced our transmission, (which worried me a little). Unfortunately, this did not correct the problem, so we complained once more, and within a week or two Mazda apparently released a bulletin which releases them of all responsibility. This bulletin apparently states that the whining noise associated with certain Mazda protege5 vehicles is merely a vibration in the engine and will not affect the integrity of the vehicle or its resale value. …
We purchased a new 2002 Mazda Protege lx in 08/2002. Within days we were having problems with the transmission. Sometimes just hesitation in acceleration and shifting. Frequent failure to shift at all or failure to shift for prolonged intervals (sometimes miles). Occasional slamming into gear and car lurching forward. We have had 3 incidents that almost lead to accidents. We have had car in for repairs on 5 separate occasions, but dealer said they could not find anything wrong. Letter of notification of defect to manufacturer sent to Mazda corporate on 3/22/03. Car was taken into dealer for final chance to repair. Dealer still says they can find nothing wrong. We purchased a 2nd Mazda Protege lx at the same time, and we have had no problems with its transmission and it shifts smoothly and properly. …
Brakes
I've owned my 2002 Mazda protege5 for 7 years now. It's always had a vibration while braking. Even after having out brand new brakes, rotors and calipers. I'm very anal on how my car looks and drives. If I feel something out of the ordinary, I know something is off. This has happened ever since I've had the car. It does cause me to drive more cautiously especially in the back roads along with wet pavement. The steering wheel shakes while braking as well. As for the body of the car, the paint is faiding fast. It's yellow, and I hand polish and wax it once before spring, summer, and winter. I use maguires wax and polish every time. And it's also got a rust spot along the back left wheel lip. I am the second owner of the vehicle. And when I took it to the dealership to be repainted after I played for the car. It was magically only 24 hours from the warranty covering it. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mazda Protege. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the brake pedal was applied and the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle then accelerated up a hill and suddenly stopped. The contact had the vehicle towed to a tow yard. Later, the vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the frame was bent and the fuel and brake lines were destroyed. The vehicle was unable to be repaired and was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000. Updated 11/09/15
2002 Mazda Protege engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2002 Mazda Protege a good car?
Based on 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Protege rates average: about 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 2002 Mazda Protege?
The seat belts — 20 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › buckle assembly. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (17) and brakes (11).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mazda Protege have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Mazda Protege. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2002 Mazda Protege problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 37% 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.