Model year guide

2001 Mazda Protege

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2001 Mazda Protege is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 25 on record.

2001 Mazda Protege — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2001 Mazda Protege at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints52
Combined24–28 mpg
Typical price$1,363

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

2001 Mazda Protege recalls 5

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 NHTSA Campaign #09E025000 · 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E038000 · 08/05/2006

CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Fix: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E064000 · 17/07/2006

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #01V024000 · 01/02/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE HOSES WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE HOSE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 5 Oct 2026. 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.

2001 Mazda Protege common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — 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.
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.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

2001 Mazda Protege safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2001 Mazda Protege 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2001 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs

Combined24–28 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,650

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.

What's a 2001 Mazda Protege worth?

Low
$700
Typical price
$1,363
High
$2,800

From 20 comparable 2001 Mazda Protege listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2001 Mazda Protege costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,250
Depreciation (5 yrs)$700
Total$13,950
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($1,363) with the same model 3 model-years older ($945), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2001 Mazda Protege trims & engines on record

Trims
LX · DX · ES
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 117 hp · 1.6L 4-cyl 105 hp

2001 Mazda Protege vehicles on record

2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225610488351 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ222910426934 2001 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ222610403918 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225210429362 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225610480038 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ225210445822 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ222010418897 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225610406697 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225610469363 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225X10464392 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225710473101 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225710459246 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225810477173 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ222310453045 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225310462127 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225910427821 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ222110451231 2001 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ222210416763 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225310425482 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225110477919 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225410473296 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225X10486151 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225110473269 2001 Mazda Protege 2001 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225910455781

Other Mazda Protege model years

2003 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1992

2001 Mazda Protege — frequently asked questions

Does the 2001 Mazda Protege have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2001 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 2001 Mazda Protege?

Across all 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine and engine cooling, power train.

What is the 2001 Mazda Protege safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2001 Mazda Protege crash-test ratings of frontal 5★, side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2001 Mazda Protege get?

The 2001 Mazda Protege has U.S. EPA estimates of 24–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

How much is a 2001 Mazda Protege worth?

Comparable 2001 Mazda Protege listings run roughly $700–$2,800, typically around $1,363 (from 20 vehicles).

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