Model year guide

2002 Mazda Protege

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Mazda Protege is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 22 on record.

2002 Mazda Protege — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Mazda Protege at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints100
Combined24 mpg
Typical price$1,503

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

2002 Mazda Protege recalls 4

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.

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.

2002 Mazda Protege common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
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.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

2002 Mazda Protege safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2002 Mazda Protege 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2002 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs

Combined24 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2002 Mazda Protege worth?

Low
$500
Typical price
$1,503
High
$4,495

From 18 comparable 2002 Mazda Protege listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Mazda Protege costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$700
Total$14,700
Per mile$0.20

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 ($1,503) with the same model 4 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.

2002 Mazda Protege trims & engines on record

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

2002 Mazda Protege vehicles on record

2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225020558301 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225921571364 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225620522287 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225421593854 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225520536522 2002 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225121575733 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225221581606 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225X20627737 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ226320535586 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ226521573332 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225920498759 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225820495917 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ225520557435 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225820637358 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225220525803 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ226220634951 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege DXJM1BJ225121573609 2002 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ225320512428 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ225X21583300 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda ProtegeJM1BJ226X21557644 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda ProtegeJM1BJ225620631087 2002 Mazda Protege 2002 Mazda ProtegeJM1BJ225121594685

Other Mazda Protege model years

2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1992

2002 Mazda Protege — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Mazda Protege have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2002 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 2002 Mazda Protege?

Across all 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are seat belts, power train, service brakes.

What is the 2002 Mazda Protege safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2002 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 2002 Mazda Protege get?

The 2002 Mazda Protege has a U.S. EPA estimate of 24 mpg combined (22 city / 28 highway).

How much is a 2002 Mazda Protege worth?

Comparable 2002 Mazda Protege listings run roughly $500–$4,495, typically around $1,503 (from 18 vehicles).

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