I purchased my 2001 mazda protege brand-new. At about 60,000 miles the overdrive light started blinking. Going from second gear into third, the transmission would buck. I took it to the dealership and was told that it needed a new transmission, so I had a new transmission installed. Now at 154,000 miles, it is happening again. I have read numerous complaints similar to mine. Mazda refuses to accept any responsibility for manufacturing faulty transmissions.
Mazda Protege transmission failure problems
32 of the 1,074 owner complaints about the Mazda Protege describe complete transmission failure, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 32
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,500
- typical mileage
- 61,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
Jerking 4Check engine light 4Stalling 1Hesitation 1No deployment 1
What owners say
Problem mazda transmission failure .mazda protege 1999 this car had a major engine overhaul recent about a year from now. One month after overhaul transmission failed. Mazda refused to be responsible for this failure. Transmission was replaced at owner expense exactly one year after that transmission was fixed failure again . Again transmission not covered out of warranty. Estimate as to how much has been spent so far $3,500. As of now I cant drive this car because the car cant be moved due to malfunction. After research online I have found this VIN number on this mazda has had issues with transmission failure at off lamp flashing no shift condition 3rd gear shift ration set erratic shifts issues with transmission issues etc. I personally feel they should compensate or at least try and help to get this resolved and they refuse to admit they have an issue with the transmissions on this car VIN very bad practice this should be a recall or at least try and help pay for all these damages I don't think I should have to buy a car transmission every year because they don't want to admit or take any responsibility with this "known issue" I called mazda they said I have to pay all damages on transmission I don't drive alot car is driven very minimal work and back.
1995 mazda protege automatic transmission failure.
2002 mazda protege5 was being driven at speed no greater than 40 MPH and the automatic transmission would not shift past 3rd gear. Had car towed to local dealership where I was informed the transmission failed and would have to be replaced. The car only has 72,200 miles on it. In november 2006 the engine coil for cylinders 2 and 3 had an internal failure which flooded the spark plugs and made the car inoperable at that time as well. I am currently waiting to see if extended warranty will cover what I am sure will be a rebuilt transmission which if the same kind as already in the vehicle will most likely fail again.
I purchased a used 2002 mazda protege 5 about 3 months ago. The 5th gear started popping out of gear about a month later, then acts like it is in neutral when you put it in 5th gear. I was told I need a new transmission for about $2500. This should not be happening on this new of a car. I have read many other reviews and complaints, it seems like it is a pretty common occurrence, why isn't a recall being made?
I feel that my 2000 mazda protege dx with 56,000 miles on it is a very unsafe vehicle. This vehicle has such low miles on it to be giving me any trouble. When I am driving, the vehicle feels as if it is going into overdrive by itself and then returns back to normal. My overdrive light flashes on and off when this happens. This is a very unsafe because when it does this, it lunges your vehicle forward. I have not been going very fast when this has happened. I am very afraid to drive my vehicle in fear that at a higher speed, this could cause an accident. I have read many complaints that are similar as mine. Something needs to be done about this. I have no warranty on my vehicle and really don't have the money to fix it, but it has to be done. From what I have read on the internet, mazda has produced a very poor transmission. I feel that this is only the start. I am hoping this will not lead to me putting in a new transmission. The transmission shop read the code as solenoids. I have an appointment at the transmission shop to get the solenoids replaced. This will cost about 400.00. I am hoping that this will fix my vehicle and give me peace of mind.
Automatic transmission:there are two serious problems with the transmission which are potentially very dangerous. 1)when shifted into drive the transmission frequently fails to engage. Depressing the accelerator from a stop results in a racing engine and almost no forward movement. This is extremely dangerous when pulling onto a high-speed interstate highway with other cars behind and around you. Dealer mechanics offer explanations such as not really a problem, drive it like it is. This dealer had the car for over a week. Another dealer (suggested by mazda after contacting them) says we need to replace the transmission at our expense. This problem is worsening. 2)overdrive warning light on dash blinks on with no apparent reason. While this situation exists, the transmission seems locked in high gear. Accelerating from a stop is once again a difficult and dangerous experience.
As I accelerated to 30 MPH, the "o/d off" light on the dashboard flashed and the speedometer stayed at zero, even though I was driving as fast as the other cars on the street. It felt like neutral gear. The manual indicates the flashing light is due to an electrical problem with the transmission. I remembered that within a few months of purchasing this new car, the transmission was replaced due to peculiar sounds, so I worry about the quality of this component since I do not drive much.
Own a 2000 mazda protege dx w/auto & air, 41k miles that was purchased new. Upon driving for 45 minutes on the highway, the o/d transmission light starts blinking. When I bring to the car to a stop, turn off the engine and restart, the light is no longer flashing. I do not drive the car for more than a few minutes after the o/d light starts flashing before letting the car sit for several hours. The transmission fluid also gets dirty at an accelerated rate vs. What would normally be expected for a car. Last full flush at 38k miles, and the fluid is now brownish-red. Transmission shops tell me I need a new transmission for $1,500, but I can imagine I'd need that on a well-maintained japanese car with 41k miles. At this point I'm afraid to drive the car for fear the transmission will fail (from what I've been told) at any moment. I've heard this problem is prevalent in the 626, and also happens in the protege. Please help in creating a recall on this issue.
I have a 2002 mazda protege lx with 61,000 miles on it. Recently my transmission failed and had to fix it with aamoco. Total bill, $2500. I realized the problem when I drove the car it wouldn't shift. It acted like I was driving in neutral. Mazda refused to take care of the problem and now I'm stuck with a have safe half reliable car. This is very dangerous because if your driving on a highway and you can't accelerate it creates a very scary dangerous problem.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Mazda Protege transmission failure
Which Mazda Protege years have complete transmission failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (11 complaints), 1999 (6 complaints) and 2002 (5 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix complete transmission failure on the Mazda Protege?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,500 (median of 9 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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