1997 Mazda Protege
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 16 of 66 complaints (24%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 70 in 1996 to 66 in 1997.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | vs. 1997 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,100–2,850 | 2,100–2,700 | 2,150–2,700 | 2,150–2,700 | 2,300–2,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–30 | 23–30 | 23–29 | 23–29 | 23–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–26 / 26–35 | 20–27 / 27–35 | 20–26 / 27–33 | 20–26 / 27–33 | 21–25 / 27–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 296–404 | 296–386 | 306–386 | 306–386 | 329–386 | |
| Complaints filed | 165 | 70 | 66 | 46 | 88 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 31 | 24 | 15 | 8 | 21 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 58 | 24 | 14 | 2 | 16 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Mazda Protege have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1997 Mazda Protege?
Airbags & Restraints: 16 of 66 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Mazda Protege get?
EPA rates it 23–29 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1997 Mazda Protege?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 26 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 306 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $2,700 (high) | 386 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 16 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · Campaign 15V674000 · Oct 19, 2015
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009
Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.