MazdaProtege1996Overview/mazda/protege/1996/base/

1996 Mazda Protege

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Protege.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Mazda Protege is classified as a passenger car that accumulated 82 documented owner complaints across two recalls, with air bags constituting the most frequently reported concern. Within the model’s 1990–2006 production span, this complaint volume positions the year well below the 1995 high-water mark of 206 issues yet roughly double the 1990 low of 41 reports. That placement indicates a moderate reliability standing for 1996, distancing it from the generation’s most troubled period while still generating significantly more owner feedback than the line’s quietest early years.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951994

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter B6Y114302A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterB6Y114302A
Engine air filterB59513Z40A9U
Spark plug000018BP01 alt 000018BP03
Front wiper bladesGT0L67330A
Serpentine beltZL0115907 alt Z50115909
ThermostatBP6F15171A alt B62115173

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174.8 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight2432 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Protege of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.9–10.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 1995 Protegé ES Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1995Protegé ES Sedan 1.8L I-48.90 sec17.00 sec122 hpFWD
1995Protegé LX Sedan 1.5L I-410.60 sec17.80 sec92 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering FluidDEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-17 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap0.040-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0-16.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.33 lbs
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity4.06 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature186-193 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature186-193 °F
Engine Compression139-185 psi
Engine Compression142-199 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket33-43 ft-lbs / 29-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle39 ft-lbs / 65-87 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.354 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.354 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.307 in / 0.819 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.276 in / 0.787 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant at 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 45,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Frame Fasteners (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · PCV Hose (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 Mazda Protege sits in a clear recovery period following a dramatic spike in 1995, when complaints surged to 206, recalls hit 5, and TSBs jumped to 58 — by far the generation's worst single year. By 1996, complaints dropped sharply to 82, recalls fell to 2, and investigations went to zero, suggesting Mazda addressed many of the prior year's issues, though the elevated TSB count of 50 (compared to just 20 in 1994) indicates residual service activity carried over. The trend continued downward into 1997 (77 complaints) and 1998 (47 complaints), placing 1996 at the front edge of a stabilizing arc rather than at a peak. However, the 26 crash-related complaints and 22 air bag complaints are notable concentrations that the data does not further explain in terms of root cause. Compared to the later years of the generation (1999–2003), where complaints climbed back into the 91–121 range, 1996 represents a relatively quiet middle-period year. For a used buyer, 1996 is a reasonable choice within this generation — it avoids the 1995 spike and predates the late-generation complaint resurgence — but the air bag and crash complaint figures warrant a specific pre-purchase inspection of those systems.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
50
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
82
Owner complaints
26 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 82 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags22
Power Train6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Seat Belts5
Equipment5
Vehicle Speed Control4
Steering3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V674000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 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… Remedy: 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…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
09-003-20-36712020-01-09EquipmentIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
00-003-19-35832019-03-20Engine And Engine CoolingIn support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose…
09-009-19-35662019-01-14Electrical SystemIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430a2018-10-10Vehicle Speed ControlIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-34302018-08-31Vehicle Speed ControlIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Protege. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1996 Protege have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.