Straight-on, front-end collision occurred, that destroyed radiator and folded hood. Air bag did not deploy.
Mazda Protege no deployment problems
75 of the 1,074 owner complaints about the Mazda Protege describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 1996 model year.
- owner complaints
- 75
- worst model year
- 1996
- typical mileage
- 48,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Seat belt 2Brake failure 2Transmission failure 1Tire blowout 1
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 1991 mazda protege. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH during rain weather conditions, the vehicle went over a pothole causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle and stopping on the shoulder of the road. The contact then attempted to drive and the vehicle spun crashing the front of the vehicle into a tree. The seat belt detached and the contact was released from the rear window. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The contact received knee, head, and back injuries which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 03/15/16*lj
Myself, the driver, rear-ended another driver at a speed of 35-40mph. The driver slammed on his brakes and I had no time to react. The result is a totaled front end w/ $4000+ of repairs. The seat belt did not restrain me and the airbag did not deploy. The car will be totaled and I suffered extensive bruising because of this failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mazda protege. The contact stated he rear-ended another vehicle at 50 MPH. Upon impact the air bags failed to deploy. As a consequence he sustained moderate head injuries. The insurance company was in the process of investigating the cause of the failure. No repairs have been made. He contacted the manufacturer, but was not provided with any assistance. The failure and current mileages were 217,000.
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.
Front end impact of at least 45 MPH without applying brakes. Almost direct full contact with front end (slightly more on one side). Front air bags did not deploy. Seat belt restrained forward motion but injury was incurred to neck and back due to force of collision.
Vehicle was involved in a front end impact of at least 45 MPH. This was almost a direct front collision, though damage was slightly greater on one side of front end that the other. Brakes were not applied so force of hit was at full speed. Available front end airbags did not deploy. My chest (sternum) impacted the steering wheel with extreme force, body was propelled forward in a twisting motion and neck and spine underwent severe trauma. I am still suffering from the injury after over 7 months. I called mazda local offices and main headquarters and was told they would do no investigation as it was time and cost prohibitive. Vehicle was totalled.
2002 mazda protege was involved in a head on collision at 30 MPH yet the air bags did not deploy.*mr the consumer sustained two slipped disk in her back. After the vehicle's body damage was repaired the vehicle was taken to the dealer to have the air bags tested but the dealer refused to test the air bag. The indicated that as long as the air bag light wasn't on that everything was fine. The radio switches stations on it's own. The seat belt light did not illuminate when the car was started. The transmission failed 9/7/2004, 40561 miles. The vehicle alignment wont hold. The brakes have been replaced three times due to noise.
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: [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Drivers frontal impact at 45 MPH airbags did not deploy. My car 2003 mazda protege 5 was totaled. Now I am having neck and back pain when I use my car. I called mazda they told me to use my insurance com. To investgate the airbags and get with madza.
Related recalls
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
Questions about the Mazda Protege no deployment
Which Mazda Protege years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1996 (15 complaints), 2000 (13 complaints) and 1995 (12 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Mazda Protege?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history