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Visibility & wipers

Mazda Protege Visibility problems by year

24 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Mazda Protege's visibility & wipers. Windshields, wipers, defrosters, mirrors, backup cameras and glare.

Visibility complaints by model year

YearVisibility complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20031000
20024000
20011000
20002000
19991000
19982000
19975000
19961000
19932000
19922000
19903000

Latest Protege visibility complaints

2002 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Driving car in pouring tropical rainstorm at about 40mph in heavy southbound three lane traffic. Windshield wipers were running on low. Turned wipers to high, they ran for about one minute, then stopped in the middle of the windshield. Had to immediately pull into center lane u-turn turnaround and sit there with flashers on until rain subsided (this in itself is dangerous). Wipers would not run at all after that. There were 1 adult and 3 children in the car. Returned home. Checked fuse and it was ok. Visual...

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inspection of the windshield motor revealed that the ground wire had broken off at the loop where it held in place by the wiper motor mounting bolt (with washers). I suspect that the sharp edges of the steel washers had cut the brass ground wire loop over time. I also suspect that this loop has been broken for several years, and that when the wipers are turned on high, that the motor vibrates in the rubber mount bushing, and the brass ground loop shank jitters off of the loop (where it is normally just lying upon due to gravity), thus causing the motor's gound circuit to open, and the wipers to fail. The car has about 69,000 miles on it. The is a 5 cent part that has put out family in harms way twice now. If this is not just an isolated incident on my vehicle, I predict that there will be deaths and injuries caused when drivers cannot see where they are driving. *Tr

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10234651
2002 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Driving on fl turnpike at night in heavy rain, bumper to bumper traffic, wipers were on high, switched them to low (not intermittent) and the wipers stopped in the middle of the windshield. Trying to make it to the right hand lane with my head out the window so I can see, and they just came back on automatically. Made it home, keeping them on low. That was 7/17/07. Yesterday (8/1/07) in medium rain in daylight, went to local store. As a test, I put wipers on low a minute or so, then high, then back to low, then...

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they stopped mid window again (all this in about 4 minutes). Turning them off/on would not make them come on again. I put them back on low hoping they would come back on. Traffic light changed and I had to drive across four lanes to store with no wipers. Wipers came back on automatically when I pulled up to the store (maybe 3 minutes after the wipers powered off). The car has about 60,050 miles, original owner, no accidents or other mishaps. It appears that I can reproduce this behavior. *Jb

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10198323
2003 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

2003 Mazda that was purchased with a damaged windshield.*Mr the windshield appeared smeared although the consumer cleaned it. The consumer spoke with the service manager who determined that there was nothing he could do. The vehicle was taken to an auto glass shop where they determined there was a flaw in the laminate. *Nm

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10080030
2002 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

I bought a new 2002 protg lx in june 2002 and had no problems for 6 months. Early january 2003, blower motor would not work on speeds 1, 2, and 3. Took the car to dealer and their report was that blower motor and resistor were defective. It happened again less than a week later and dealer stated again that the problem was a defective blower motor and resistor. The problem happened several times over the next three months all with the dealer stating that the blower motor and resistor were defective. The problem...

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did not occur again until october 2003. Sometimes none of the speeds would work, and sometimes just the 4th speed. Sometimes the problem would happen while driving or over night, and sometimes the problem would go away. The blower motor and resistors have been replaced 5 times by dealer and to no avail. This car is clearly a lemon and a hazard to drive when not being able to see through the front windshield because of no heat to defrost or defogger the windshield while driving. *La

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10041267
2000 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Windshield on 2000 mazda protege cracked in 2 different places for no apparent reason-car was parked in safe location, not hit with anything, etc. *Ak

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10028423
1998 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

While driving at 60 mph , vehicle started overheating. Consumer had vehicle serviced by a mechanic who indicated that the heating core had rusted. Please provide more details.

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10001451
1999 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

There is a smell and a dark color liquid coming from passenger's side door. Dealership is aware of problem.*Ak

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 8015653
2002 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Consumer states that front windshield is too thin, or defective because a small pebble hit the windshield and caused major damage.*Jbsomething small hit the vehicles windshield when consumer was traveling 55 mph. It resulted in a star shaped mark, then turning into an 8 inch crack opvernight. Consumer believes this to be a sub-standard or defective windshield. *Jg

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 8008931
2001 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Rear view window takes an unusual amount of time to defrost. Other widows and mirrors defrost in a reasonable amount of time. Dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.*Ak

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 8001001
1990 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

While driving windshield becomes extremely fogged, causing poor visbility due a malfunction within heater core which has been replaced, but did not correct the problem. Please give any further details. *Ak

Filed VisibilityNHTSA 899230
1990 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

While driving can smell anti-freeze, and windshield becomes absolutely foggy. Also, heater core has problems. Please provide any further information. *Ak

Filed VisibilityNHTSA 899061
1993 Mazda ProtegeBrakesEngine & coolingVisibility & wipersAcceleration & cruise control

Windows-driver side power assisted window failure to go up/down, control would not function, had to reassemble window and replace master power window control unit. Complete brake failure @ 155,000mi. All components had to be replaced. Was not activly driving when failure notices. No accident or injury. Throttle component- temperature censor had to be replaced. Throttle would sparatically give out, causing a traffic hazard. (I.E. Could be on highway doing 55mph, censor would misdetect engine status causing throttle...

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to go down and speed to involuntarily and drastically decrease) drastic and extensive diagnostics and testing required to evaluate and solve problem. Seatbelts-power-seatbelt warning light goes off when seatbelt properly engaged. Contacted dealer and was told sensor may be "sticky/dirty" and nothing could be done about it. Was told to try to disassemble and clean out. Did not use recommendation due to the fact that this could make the problem much worse, so warning continues to randomly comes on when driving. Exhaust system- compleatly replaced. Deemed inadequate. Caused carbon minoxide leak in vehicle.*Ak

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Visibility · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 753813
1997 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Windshield wiper linkage failed, causing inoperative windshield wipers. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer it was not cover under a manufacturer's recall. *Ak the consumer purchased replacement parts and the problem was solved. *Yh

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 888802
1998 Mazda ProtegeEngine & coolingVisibility & wipers

Re:manifold. A crack begins from the engine side.Dealer stated the first it happened a stone must have come up & hit it. This is an imposibility. Now after replacing it it has occurred again.Crack is in the same place.Beginning from the engine side. Every time this occurs, exhaust fumes enter the passenger compartment.Re: windshield.Wipers do not clean the driver side & have never done so since I purchased the car.Wipers have been replaced & does not help.In a driving rain I have to slow down to 50 mph to wipe clean.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · VisibilityNHTSA 742468
2000 Mazda ProtegeVisibility & wipers

Consumer was traveling on the highway in rainy weather, the windshield wipers were inoperable. Dealership aware of problem. *Ak *scc

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 880279

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

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