MazdaProtege2001Overview/mazda/protege/2001/base/

2001 Mazda Protege

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Protege.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2001 Mazda Protege is a passenger car representing a generation of compact sedans from the Japanese manufacturer. According to aggregated owner complaint data spanning the model's production run from 1990 to 2006, the 2001 model year recorded 52 total complaints with air bags cited as the primary concern—a figure notably lower than the model's peak of 206 complaints in 1995 and approaching its lowest recorded complaint count of 41 in 1990. The vehicle was subject to five safety recalls during this production cycle. This positions the 2001 Protege among the more reliable iterations within its model run, suggesting improved build quality relative to earlier years despite the air bag-related issues.

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
Fuel filterGY0113ZE0
Spark plug000018F285 alt 000018F287
Battery000080026RWB
Serpentine beltFS0515907 alt FS1215909A
ThermostatBP6F15171A alt KL0115171A9U

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight2632 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

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.

8.2–9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 2001 Protegé MP3 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2001Protegé MP3 Sedan 2.0L I-48.20 sec16.30 sec140 hpFWD
2001Protegé MP3 Sedan 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD
2001Protegé ES Sedan 2.0L I-49.10 sec16.90 sec130 hpFWD
2000Protegé ES Sedan 1.8L I-48.90 sec16.80 sec122 hpFWD
2002Protegé Protegé5 Wagon 2.0L I-49.20 sec17.20 sec130 hpFWD
2002Protegé Protegé5 Wagon 2.0L I-49.50 sec17.20 sec130 hpFWD
1999Protegé ES Sedan 1.8L I-48.40 sec16.60 sec122 hpFWD
1999Protegé LX Sedan 1.6L I-410.70 sec17.90 sec105 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 FluidATF
Power Steering FluidDEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-17 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap0.049-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.33 lbs
Oil TypeGU10
Oil Capacity5.07 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature183-191 °F
Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-65
Engine Compression142-199 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket58-75 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle65-57 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket33-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-75 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.866 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 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Frame Fasteners (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miPCV Hose (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

Within the 1990–2006 Protege federal record, 2001 stands out as a low-complaint year amid a generally rising trend: its 52 complaints are well below 2000's 104 and 2002's 100, and are the fewest in the 1999–2003 window. However, recalls spiked to five in 2001—matching the 1995 peak and exceeding the three to four recalls seen in adjacent years—while TSBs reached their generational high of 102, suggesting active factory service attention even as owner reports dipped. The top complaint areas are air bags (9), power train (5), engine and engine cooling (5), and hydraulic service brakes (4), with 12 crash-related and 1 fire-related complaint, though the data does not specify root causes. The broader arc shows elevated activity from 1999 through 2003 compared with the quieter 1996–1998 period, making 2001 a relative complaint lull but not a reliability standout. Given the sharp recall count and high TSB volume alongside the lowest complaints in its immediate generation, 2001 is a cautiously acceptable choice if maintenance records confirm the relevant recalls were addressed, but buyers should not treat it as the most trouble-free year of the run.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
102
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
52
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 52 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags9
Power Train5
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Tires4
Electrical System3
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Equipment2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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…

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 102 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
07-004-252025-04-25Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
09-038-242024-08-08Electrical SystemIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
SA-011-24b2024-07-29Unknown Or OtherMazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all…
SA-011-24a2024-06-07Unknown Or OtherMazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all…
09-016-232023-02-28Electrical SystemSpeedometer replacement procedure

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 2001 Protege have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.