Known Recalls

Model year record

1998 Mazda Protege

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 53 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
Power train: automatic transmission1265,800 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe560,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly3—
Air bags: frontal2—
Engine and engine cooling: engine2—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor2—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch2—
Seat belts: front: retractor2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads2—
Tires2120,000 mi
Vehicle speed control2—
Air bags1—
Electrical system1200,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Power train1—
Seat belts: front: anchorage1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1—
Steering199,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1—
Tires: tread/belt1—
Unknown or other1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core157,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1—

The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has about half 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.