Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Engine & cooling

1997 Mazda Protege Engine problems

Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 1997 Mazda Protege's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 13% of all its complaints, most recently on January 15, 2004. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & coolingFuel system

After fixing the catalyst converter, it then goes out again requiring me to have it fixed again

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10068748
Engine & cooling

Check engine light illuminated and acceleration is poor.*Mr enclosed are copies of the receipts and service bulletin issued in reference to the defective vehicle. *Cb the consumer stated the problem was finally identified as a faulty valvein cylinder #1. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10043933
Engine & cooling

After investigating "check engine light" over a period of 5 months, it was determined that a valve problem in the first cylinder was causing a lack of compression and poor engine performance. 2 Oxygen sensors were replaced, as well as 8 valves and other parts, to solve the problem. We spent a total of $1791.78 Before the car was fixed. We learned from our mazda dealer that a service bulletin was issued 6/10/98 that covered this problem. We complained to the dealership and the mazda area rep, and no reimbursement was issued. *Ph

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10038858
Engine & coolingElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

Engine idled up or down at stop with foot on brake car would sometimes race up over 300 rpms shut engine off to stop it from going higher this happened three times almost going through back of my garage also surged when trying to park and causing car to jump forward car has stalled at intersections twice they changed numerous parts including wire harness under hood grounds alternator vacuum line engine mounts when this first started to be worsening on surging and got a number for mazda tech center by mistake and...

Read the full complaint

the man I talked to said he felt this should be taken up with mazda rep for this area and they said he did not feel it was serious enough to look into any further holiday dealer service reps did not help me much with anythingi would have to ask around with friends to find what else might be causing surges and idling down to stalling each had different ideas which I would take to holiday and I would be put off as they said they could not find anything even though they had different mechanics see the idle surges andcould not figure what caused itbesides the things I mentioned I had a electrical problem with door not unlocking or window going up or down took it in 2 times and then the services rep said I should just live with it and walked away on me which I havent been back since but keep calling mazda and they keep putting me off they suggested I go only to mazda certified places which there are not anymore around here without driving 45 miles to appleton so a guy at a shop I was at said I should contact you people to see what I could do I had no idea where I could get help I will not talk to that ignorant service rep again do I have a right to go to a different place to see if the problem can be fixed I found a couple good leads to my problem on the internet which seams to be a common occurence on mazda and a few other cars that where fixed by these mechanics which was some censor or vacuum gauge on the brake systemsor amain computer problemto ignitionccan

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 752047
Engine & coolingAcceleration & cruise control

Engine idled roughly. Vehicle was under warranty. Dealer tightened engine valves. 2 Months later, warranty expired. Dealer dismantled engine and had to remachine the valves. *Ak *ml

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 860309
Engine & coolingFuel systemElectrical systemVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structureAcceleration & cruise control

Engine check light came on, and gas gauge malfunctioned. Vehicle hesitated when starting/ dealer replaced flywheel. Also, fuel tank was disconnected, and dealer replaced fuel tank. In addition, rpms increased by 500 rpms, and repaired wiring in jamme ddoor. Also, windshield wiper blades malfunctioned/ fuse shorted out , causing radio, cd, and other electrical components to fail, and replaced canister. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical system · Visibility · Structure · Vehicle speed control · Unknown or otherNHTSA 852010
Engine & cooling

Engine mounts. Rattle noice inside the hood when car sits at an idle & reverse.Also with a/c on & it vibrates. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 842687
Engine & coolingElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

NO SUMMARY

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · VisibilityNHTSA 705571
Engine & cooling

Intermittently when decelerating the vehicle shuts down. The dealer has not been a\ble to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer has been notified. *Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 823255

Mazda Protege engine complaints by year

Protege engine problems, every year

Had a engine problem with your 1997 Protege? Tell other owners.

Your experience goes live straight away and helps every owner and buyer who checks this vehicle. Anonymous, free, no account.

Overall, how would you rate it? *

0/4000 · Please leave out names, phone numbers and your full VIN.

By posting you confirm it's your own, honest experience and agree to the rules. Safety defect? Also report it to NHTSA - that's how recalls start.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience