Model year guide

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. 1 on record.

1995 Mazda Protege — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1995 Mazda Protege at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints206
Combined22–30 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1995 Mazda Protege recalls 5

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #15V674000 · 19/10/2015

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.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

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.

Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch NHTSA Campaign #00V118000 · 21/04/2000

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #95V033000 · 21/02/1995

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.

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #95V184000 · 03/10/1995

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. 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

Owners have filed 206 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

1995 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs

Combined22–30 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway31 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,650
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume95 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$1,250 more

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.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,250
Fuel only$13,250
Per mile$0.18

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.

1995 Mazda Protege trims & engines on record

Trims
LX
Engines
83 hp

1995 Mazda Protege vehicles on record

Other Mazda Protege model years

1995 Mazda Protege — frequently asked questions

Does the 1995 Mazda Protege have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1995 Mazda Protege. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1995 Mazda Protege?

Owners have filed 206 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, power train, vehicle speed control.

What gas mileage does the 1995 Mazda Protege get?

The 1995 Mazda Protege has U.S. EPA estimates of 22–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.