2000 Mazda Protege: jerking or lurching

8 of the 102 complaints about the 2000 Mazda Protege describe jerking or lurching.

owner complaints: 8
of this car's complaints: 8%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 5 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Jerking or lurching by model year

2003
2
2002
2
2001
1
2000
8
1999
8
1998
4
1997
2
1996
1
1995
4
1992
1
1990
1

What owners say

Filed Jun 16, 2006 · Acceleration, Suspension · 66,097 miles · KS · crash · 1 injury

Less than two months after purchasing my 2000 mazda protege new from the dealer I took the vehicle to the service dept. While accelerating, the car would jerk and buck as if I hit a brick wall. The car continued to do this. Each time I complained to the service dept. At the dealership I was told nothing was wrong. I also contacted mazda corp. To inquire if there were any other complaints or recalls. I was advised that mazda had not received any similar complaints. Just shy of three years of ownership I again took the car to the dealer service dept with the same problem concerning the car's acceleration. This was my third request to have the dealer look into the matter. Again, I was told nothing was wrong with the car. The car's acceleration continued to act up. On may 26, 2006, with 66097 miles on the vehicle my accelerator stuck and I struck another vehicle and a cement base light pole. Each time I took my foot off the brake to shift from reverse or drive, my car would take off on its own. I have sent the federal safety agency a detailed written complaint via postal mail. That complaint is dated june 5, 2006. *nm there was a high pitched noise coming from the front of the vehicle upon acceleration. The vehicle needed a front end alignment. The consumer a experienced a flat tire, however upon opening the trunk she discovered the tool kit was not there. According to the owners manual the tool kit should have been there. Updated 07/10/06.

Filed Jun 12, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · 66,097 miles · KS · crash

2000 protege lx accelerator pedal was stuck in the depressed position. *ts as a result of the accelerator pedal sticking the consumer was involved in an accident. On feb 21, 2000 the vehicle was taken to the dealer because the consumer heard a high pitched ping noise coming from the vehicle. The dealer was unable to duplicate the noise. The left rear door lock assembly was defective. The vehicle would accelerated and jerk while accelerating.

Filed Oct 7, 2004 · Brakes, Transmission · MI

While driving 50 MPH check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and the mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced. Also, while applying the brake pedal vehicle failed to stop. However, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic determined that the brakes needed to be replaced, and replaced them three times. However, the problem recurred. *ak.....the transmission cost $1,800.00 to be replaced. The contact stated that a vehicle with not much mileage should not have a major transmission failure. The car jerked and was shifting gears while driving. It was clearly a defective transmission.

Filed May 30, 2003 · Acceleration · 30,000 miles · PA

Issue with a 2000 mazda protege es, 5 spd. When driving engine will hesitate, when pressing accelerator, causing "jerking" of the car after accelerator was pressed or released. It feels like the fuel is not delivered properly. Dealer ran the diagnostics numerous times and was not able to find or fix the cause. It seems that probkem goes away when engine warms up.

Filed Apr 28, 2003 · Transmission · 27,500 miles · ME

While lightly accelerating the car suddenly jerked, made a loud noise, and felt as though it slipped into neutral. I pulled my foot off the gas and the car recovered. This has happened 3 times within the past year, all incidents occurred around 40 MPH. I noticed the car usually downshifts at this speed, but had not before each of these incidents had occurred. The car has less than 30k miles. I took it to the dealer, they did not find anything wrong and could not reproduce. I have researched this independently and found that 4 cylinder mazda's have had similar transmission problems since the switch to ford transmissions in 1994/1995!! I feel mazda should have addressed this long ago and that their dealerships should be well aware of the problem.

Filed Sep 24, 2002 · Transmission · OR

Consumer states while driving at a 55 MPH vehicle will jerks really hard. Consumer states it feels like transmission is not shifting properly. Please provide any further information. Nlm

Filed Sep 7, 2000 · Transmission · NC

Went into overdrive by its self with stressful jerk and loud noise the overdrive light came on by its self. Very concerned about the safety if this happens at high speeds on the interstates. Took the car to the dealer who could not find a problem.

Filed Jul 31, 2000 · Electrical, Transmission · VA

When driving speedometer reading goes from 60 to 0 still with forward movement, causing vehicle to jerk forward/ hesitate also, consumer noted overdrive button flashes off and on the instrument panel. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has replaced the transmission and also a computer chip, problem still occur. Please provide any further details.