The air bags exploded while I was out side the car , there was a recall on the air bags & I was never notified by either mazda corp or the dealer & I have been the original owner , there has been numerous recalls on the 1995 protege & at no time I was ever contacted that there was a recall period. In 1997 the engine died & I had to pay the sum of $1500.00 to replace the engine & there were recalls I received no notification of. I contacted both mazda of north america & the dealer plaza auto mall where I purchased the car in 1995 & both refused my request to address this matter. The vehicle was inspected, and it was determined the air bags deployed, due to corrosion. Updated 08/27/14
The worst 1995 Mazda Protege problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags41
- Lights27
- Engine20
- Transmission19
- Electrical15
- Seat belts13
- Brakes12
- Seats10
- Visibility10
- Acceleration7
- Suspension7
- Body4
- Steering4
- Fuel system3
- Locks2
- Driver assistance1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1995 Mazda Protege
Recalls 4
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
- 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.
Recall number 15V674000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlight lead wire running through the turn signal lever can fail at the soldered connection to the headlight switch.
- Risk
- The failure of the wire connection can cause a loss of headlights without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will repair the headlight switch.
Recall number 00V118000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- The tie down hooks can cause undercarriage impacts that can result in unnecessary air bag deployments.
- Risk
- Inadvertent air bag deployment can cause injury to the occupants and increase the potential for a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will remove and replace the tie down hooks with modified tie down hooks.
Recall number 95V184000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- The wire rod used in the manufacture of the engine valve springs can develop minute cracks causing breakage of the springs.
- Risk
- This breakage can cause engine chatter, damage to the engine pistons, and cause the engine to stall increasing the potential for an accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace all sixteen (16) valve springs in the engine of the affected vehicles.
Recall number 95V033000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 1995 Mazda Protege
Defect investigations
Headlight wire breakage
In its letter dated april 21, 2000, mazda stated that it will conduct a safety recall of approximately 79,000 model year 1995 and 1996 mazda protege vehicles built from june 1994 through july 1995.mazda dealers will repair the headlight switch assemble
EA99029
Loss of headlights
Based on the review of mazda's investigation and testing, examination of two failed field units (a headlight switch and a combination switch), and telephone interviews of several complainants, it appears that the headlight lead wire which is attached to and located just below the turn signal lever, can be stressed from cycling the turn signal lever and result in fatigue breakage of the wire.complaints stated that the headlights went off duringoperation in model year (my) 1995 protege vehicles when using the turn signal and/or while just driving (e.g., going over a small bump).several complainants contacted by odi stated that sometimes the headlights did not come back on after going off until the driver successfully jiggled the turn signal lever or the headlight wire harnes (I.e., re-make electrical connection of a partially broken wire).permanent loss of headlights can occur when the wire is completely broken.in july 1995, about the start of my 1996 production, mazda changed the material of the headlight lead wire to increase durability.no similar complaints on my 1996 protege vehicles have been reported to odi or mazda.
PE99038
Technical service bulletins for the 1995 Mazda Protege 56
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak...
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- Due to differences in the 1995-1998 protégé ignition switch design, the repair procedure and warranty...
- Speedometer replacement procedure
- In accordance with federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a...
- Non genuine accessories affect air bag operation. kb
- Battery test procedure requirements. tt
- Speedometer replacement procedure. tt
- On some vehicles within certain vins, the door key cylinder flap may break allowing a piece(s) of the flap...
1995 Mazda Protege fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-26 | 32-35 | 26-30 |
| 1.8L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20-24 | 26-33 | 22-27 |
What 1995 Mazda Protege owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was out of the car & both air bags exploded , there was a recall on the air bags , but I was never informed by mazda corp ,I became aware of the recall after the air bags exploded.
1995 mazda protege automatic transmission failure.
Tl* - the contact had a 1995 mazda protege which was in a head on crash. The contact stated that the car was traveling at 55 MPH under dry conditions when the vehicle was struck by another head on. The contact stated that the driver side air bag did not deploy and as a result the driver was killed. That contact stated that there weren't any skid marks in the road to indicate that either vehicle tried to stop. The contact stated that she has a police report from the crash. The contact has the steering section of the vehicle with the air bag. *nm the decedents grandmother wrote in. Updated 02/26/07.
At 5000 miles the rear defrost did not work. In the winter it is difficult to see out the back window. It was not fixed because the car was out of warranty and mazda would not repair.
My 1995 mazda protege has the gas and brake petals so close in height and little separation that it is very easy to apply the brake and still be applying the gas. I have not had an accident yet but have had some very near misses.
While driving headlight switch works intermittently. Consumer is still having the same problems after repair of recall 91007. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Driver was hit from behind while sitting at an intersection ,then pushed into a parked vehicle. Left front air bag did not deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries, and did not seek medical attention. Vehicle was towed, and totaled by the insurance company.
This is a repeat of the federal safety agency campaign id number : 00v118000. I had the car repaired at the mazda dealership in year 2000 under the previous recall. 1 month ago the headlights stop working due to a broken wire in the headlight switch assembly. The ground wire broke its solder connection at the base of the switch. I have dissaembled the switch and connect a temporary ground wire to the base of the switch. There is something wrong with the engineering of this switch assembly if it happens again!
1995 mazda protege. Both airbags deployed when my daughter hit a curb. No other damage was evident. Tires and rims had no damage. The bags should not have deployed. Recall 95v184000 describes problem with inadvertent air bag deployment on this vehicle. Mazda claims that my daughters vehicle was fixed in 1995. This undercarriage impact caused the bags to deploy hurting my daughter and the passenger side bag door cracked the windshield. Very expensive items to fix for no reason.
Compare the 1995 Mazda Protege
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Questions about the 1995 Mazda Protege
Is the 1995 Mazda Protege reliable?
Owners have filed 165 complaints about the 1995 Mazda Protege, 1.7 times a typical Protege model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 Mazda Protege?
Airbags, with 41 complaints. Next is lights (27).
How many recalls does the 1995 Mazda Protege have?
4 recalls, covering electrical system, exterior lighting and air bags.
Was there a recall on the 1995 Mazda Protege airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 95V184000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mazda Protege have bad airbags?
The Mazda Protege model years with the most airbags complaints are 1995 (41 complaints), 2000 (25 complaints) and 1996 (24 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1995 Mazda Protege get?
Official estimates for the 1995 Mazda Protege range from 22 to 30 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 23-26 city and 32-35 highway.
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