The 1998 Mazda Protege has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,368,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
5
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
2
1crashes
TIRES
2
1crashes
Total complaints53
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 mazda protege. While driving various speeds, the ignition switch along with the keys became hot to the touch without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the diagnosis was unknown. The contact stated that the independent mechanic ordered…”
“Straight-on, front-end collision occurred, that destroyed radiator and folded hood. Air bag did not deploy.”
“When turning in either direction steering produces a grinding noise. As a result, the steering rack and pinion has malfunctioned. Midas asking for $1400 and says this is common mazda protege 1998 problem. I found similar already existing complaint by someone else (reference number: 10083656). *tr”
“I was driving alone my 1998 mazda protege along a local route in tewksbury ma in light rain at about 30-35 mph when a car a few cars ahead of me made a quick stop for a left turn. Several car behind stopped without problem, but I was not able to stop and skid all the way into the car at front…”
“Transmission failure in vehicle with only 65,800 miles. *jb”
“Transmission problems. *bf the vehicle is on its 4th transmission. *tc”
“Numerous problems with 1999 mazda protege lx.*mr days after the vehicle was purchased the check engine light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where she was told that they were not very knowledgeable about mazda because they were primarily a honda dealer. The…”
“Automatic transmission problems. Vehicle downshifts for no reason. Intermittent times car will downshift to lower gear when foot removed from accelerator pedal whether on streets or freeway. Car is renderd unusable by wife.*ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Mazda Protege as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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