1995 Mazda Protege
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1995 Mazda Protege is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.
1995 Mazda Protege at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1995 Mazda Protege recalls 5
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE RUNNING THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE SOLDERED CONNECTION TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
THE TIE DOWN HOOKS CAN CAUSE UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT IN UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TIE DOWN HOOKS WITH MODIFIED TIE DOWN HOOKS.
THE WIRE ROD USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS CAN DEVELOP MINUTE CRACKS CAUSING BREAKAGE OF THE SPRINGS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL SIXTEEN (16) VALVE SPRINGS IN THE ENGINE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1995 Mazda Protege common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 206 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1995 Mazda Protege safety ratings
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1995 Mazda Protege 4-DR. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
1995 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1995 Mazda Protege costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 2
HEADLIGHT WIRE BREAKAGE Closed
IN ITS LETTER DATED APRIL 21, 2000, MAZDA STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MODEL YEAR 1995 AND 1996 MAZDA PROTEGE VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 1994 THROUGH JULY 1995. MAZDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLE
NHTSA #EA99029 · Visibility · opened Sep 1999 · closed May 2000LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS Closed
BASED ON THE REVIEW OF MAZDA'S INVESTIGATION AND TESTING, EXAMINATION OF TWO FAILED FIELD UNITS (A HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND A COMBINATION SWITCH), AND TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS OF SEVERAL COMPLAINANTS, IT APPEARS THAT THE HEADLIGHT LEAD WIRE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AND LOCATED JUST BELOW THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, CAN BE STRESSED FROM CYCLING THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AND RESULT IN FATIGUE BREAKAGE OF THE WIRE. COMPLAINTS STATED THAT TH…
NHTSA #PE99038 · Exterior Lighting · opened May 1999 · closed Sep 1999An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 58
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 58.
In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be revised gradually.
Bulletin 00-003-19-3583 · Engine And Engine Cooling, Fuel System, Gasoline, Fuel System, Diesel · Mar 2019In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, S…
Bulletin 09-009-19-3566 · Electrical System · Jan 2019In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, S…
Bulletin 09-034-18-3430a · Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Oct 2018In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, S…
Bulletin 09-034-18-3430 · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2018In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, S…
Bulletin 09-035-17-3080 · Electrical System, Equipment · Aug 2017DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN THE 1995-1998 PROTÉGÉ IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN, THE REPAIR PROCEDURE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION FOR RECALL 8715J HAS BEEN UPDATED.
Bulletin SA287 · Electrical System · Apr 2016Speedometer replacement procedure
Bulletin 0900716 · Electrical System · Feb 2016IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS, FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE LISTED BELOW WHEN REPLACING A SPEEDOMETER.NOTE:MAZDA VEHICLES ARE MANUFACTURED WITH TAMPER-PROOF SPEEDOMETERS.WHEN A SPEEDOMETER IS REPLACED, THE NEW SPEEDOMETER WILL READ ZERO (0) MILES.THIS PROC…
Bulletin 09-034-14-2956 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Aug 2014NON GENUINE ACCESSORIES AFFECT AIR BAG OPERATION. *KB
Bulletin 0800306 · Air Bags · Oct 2006BATTERY TEST PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS. *TT
Bulletin 0102504 · Electrical System · Jul 2004Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PROTEGE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 3
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1995 Mazda Protege. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Electrical
On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could cause an electrical short to develop over time. This could result in smoke and/or fire, increasing the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Transport Canada #2015489 · Oct 2015Electrical
On certain vehicles, the headlight lead wire running from the combination switch to the headlight switch that is built into the turn lever may be bent during production. In these vehicles, the wire can be subject to bending fatigue, and over time may break. Should this occur, there might be a gradual loss of headlights, potentially resulting in a total loss of headlights. Corre…
Transport Canada #2000117 · May 2000Seats And Restraints
THE AIRBAGS IN THESE VEHICLES MAY INFLATE AS THE RESULT OF THE TIE DOWN HOOKS STRIKING A CURB OR PAVEMENT. UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: TIE DOWN HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED VERSION WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
Transport Canada #1996014 · Jan 1996Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Mazda Protege
The Mazda Familia , also marketed prominently as the Mazda 323, Mazda Protegé and Mazda Allegro, is a small family car that was manufactured by Mazda between 1963 and 2003. The Familia line was replaced by the Mazda3/Axela for 2004.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
