Model year record

1997 Mazda Protege

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 103 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V674000

Electrical system: ignition: switch

Component
Electrical system: ignition: switch
Manufacturer
Mazda North American Operations
Vehicles affected
1,368,500
Reported to NHTSA
2015-10-19
Owners notified
2015-12-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags: frontal11
Engine and engine cooling: engine583,068 mi
Power train: automatic transmission5
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner4
Seat belts: front: anchorage4
Vehicle speed control4
Vehicle speed control: cruise control4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly3
Suspension: rear3
Tires3
Unknown or other3108,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch2
Service brakes, hydraulic299,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor2
Structure: body: door2
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system2
Air bags: side/window1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: ignition1
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1108,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1
Fuel system, gasoline1108,000 mi
Interior lighting1
Power train1
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)1
Power train: axle assembly: banjo housing1
Power train: driveline: constant velocity joint1
Power train: manual transmission1
Seat belts1
Seat belts: front: webbing1
Seat belts: rear/other1
Seats1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1
Structure: body1
Structure: body: hood1
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments1
Suspension: front1
Suspension: front: macpherson strut1
Suspension: front: wheel bearing1
Visibility: windshield1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages1

The 1996 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1998 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.