1998 Mazda Protege Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Mazda Protege.

19971999
Complaints
53
Crashes
11
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 1998 Mazda Protege Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#112 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:82,100 mi
#25 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

Avg mileage:62,368 mi
#33 complaints

Power Train:Clutch Assembly

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Mazda Protege.

Automatic Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,100
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,368
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Mazda Protege. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1998 Mazda Protege

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,368,500 vehicles.

15V674000Electrical System:ignition:switch
~1,368,500 affected

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

198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003

1998 Mazda Protege — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1998 Mazda Protege reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Mazda Protege has 53 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 12 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Mazda Protege?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (12 complaints, avg 82,100 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe (5 complaints, avg 62,368 mi); Power Train:Clutch Assembly (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Mazda Protege?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,296 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Mazda Protege?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Mazda Protege include 11 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Mazda Protege have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,368,500 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Mazda Protege?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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.

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