2002 MAZDA PROTEGE Complaints

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE LX IN 08/2002. WITHIN DAYS WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES JUST HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND SHIFTING. FREQUENT FAILURE TO SHIFT AT ALL OR FAILURE TO SHIFT FOR PROLONGED INTERVALS (SOMETIMES MILES). OCCASIONAL SLAMMING INTO GEAR AND CAR LURCHING FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS THAT ALMOST LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR REPAIRS ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LETTER OF NOTIFICATION OF DEFECT TO MANUFACTURER SENT TO MAZDA CORPORATE ON 3/22/03. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER FOR FINAL CHANCE TO REPAIR. DEALER STILL SAYS THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE PURCHASED A 2ND MAZDA PROTEGE LX AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH ITS TRANSMISSION AND IT SHIFTS SMOOTHLY AND PROPERLY. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND THIS CAR IS CLEARLY A LEMON, MAZDA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPLACE THIS CAR. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A COUPLE POT HOLES WHICH BENT TWO RIMS (MATERIAL VERY SOFT). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

GAS STREAMING FROM LEAKING GAS TANK FROM 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5. SECOND INCIDENT, FIRST OCCURRED ONE DAY AFTER INITIAL DELIVERY ON NOV 2, 2001.

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE THAT THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION MADE. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT IT GAVE HIM AND ANYONE THAT RODE WITH HIM A HEADACHE. HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO STOP THE NOISE. HE STATED HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE NOISE IS MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH AND HIGHER. THE MAZDA REPAIR INFORMATION STATED THAT THE WHINE NOISE IS A RESULT OF A RESONANCE THE IS GENERATED AT VARYING LEVELS BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GEARS AND DOES NOT AFFECT THE USE, SAFETY OR VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. SCC

THE REAR SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED. WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR MY DAUGHTER FELL ASLEEP. WHEN SHE SAT UPRIGHT THE SEAT BELT HAD TWISTED AROUND HER MIDDLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE LATCH BUT THE SEAT BELT WAS FEEDING BACK IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I TRIED TO PULL THE SEAT BELT AND WAS UNABLE TO ADVANCE THE BELT. IT WOULD RETRACT CAUSING MORE CONSTRICTION ON HER. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO CUT THE BELT TO FREE HER. *JB

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HARD PLASTIC PIECE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. IF THE PIECE IS IMPACTED IN A CRASH, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER INDICATES "THE PLASTIC PIECE COULD BREAK OFF BECOMING A HAZARDOUS WEAPON". TS

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN STARTED. NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED A "VALVE" IN THE ENGINE IS CAUSING NOISE AND THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS ARE INVESTIGATING TO FIND A SOLUTION. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT ISSUE COULD COMPROMISE HER SAFETY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, CONSUMER STATES' APPLIED BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED BRAKE LINE WAS SPLIT DUE TO A DEFECT IN LINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT TO 5TH GEAR, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION NEAR A QUARRY, HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE, ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK

ENGINE RATTLE WHEN COLD AT ABOUT 2500RPMS. MAZDA HAS NOT REPAIRED OR INDICATED THAT PROBLEM EXISTS. *AK