Model year guide

1997 Mazda Protege

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Mazda Protege is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1997 Mazda Protege — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1997 Mazda Protege at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints77
Combined23–29 mpg

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

1997 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.

1997 Mazda Protege common problems

Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1997 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs

Combined23–29 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway30 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 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 1997 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.

1997 Mazda Protege trims & engines on record

Trims
LX · DX
Engines
83 hp

1997 Mazda Protege vehicles on record

Other Mazda Protege model years

1997 Mazda Protege — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Mazda Protege have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 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 1997 Mazda Protege?

Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, power train, service brakes.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Mazda Protege get?

The 1997 Mazda Protege has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–29 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.