Model year guide

1996 Mazda Protege

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Mazda Protege is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1996 Mazda Protege — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Mazda Protege at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints82
Combined23–30 mpg

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

1996 Mazda Protege recalls 2

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.

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.

1996 Mazda Protege common problems

Owners have filed 82 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1996 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs

Combined23–30 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway31 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,588
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$938 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 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 1996 Mazda Protege costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,940
Fuel only$12,940
Per mile$0.17

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.

1996 Mazda Protege trims & engines on record

Trims
DX
Engines
83 hp

1996 Mazda Protege vehicles on record

1996 Mazda Protege 1996 Mazda Protege DXJM1BB1418T0306458 1996 Mazda Protege 1996 Mazda Protege DXJM1BB1412T0355509 1996 Mazda Protege 1996 Mazda Protege DXJM1BB1414T0365152

Other Mazda Protege model years

2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994 1992

1996 Mazda Protege — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Mazda Protege have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 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 1996 Mazda Protege?

Owners have filed 82 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 1996 Mazda Protege get?

The 1996 Mazda Protege has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

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