Worst 1990 Mazda Protege Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Seat Belt Issues
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1990 Mazda Protege.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belt Issues | 11 | 1 | — | 206,250 mi | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Arm:Idler And Attachment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1990 Mazda Protege. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1990 Mazda Protege
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,368,500 vehicles.
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.
Other Mazda Protege Years
1990 Mazda Protege — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1990 Mazda Protege reliable?
What are common problems with the 1990 Mazda Protege?
At what mileage do problems start on the 1990 Mazda Protege?
How safe is the 1990 Mazda Protege?
Does the 1990 Mazda Protege have any recalls?
Should I buy a 1990 Mazda Protege?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mazda Protege reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1990 Mazda Protege
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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