Mazda›Protege›2002›Overview/mazda/protege/2002/base/

2002 Mazda Protege

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Protege.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S4)

The 2002 Mazda Protege is a passenger car paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, returning an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a 24 mpg combined average. Over the model's 1990–2006 lifespan, owner complaints reached a high of 206 in 1995 and a low of 41 in 1990, situating this model year's 100 total complaints and four recalls squarely in the mid-range of the vehicle's reliability history. Seat belts stand out as the top complaint area for this specific year, indicating that while the 2002 Protege avoids the peak issues of earlier generations, it still presents a moderate, well-documented profile of owner concerns for researchers to consider.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy22/28/24 mpgEPA · verified

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 filter	B6Y114302A
Engine air filter	B59513Z40A9U
Fuel filter	GY0113ZE0
Spark plug	000018BP01 alt BP0518110
Battery	000080026RWB
Serpentine belt	FS1215909A alt FS0515907
Thermostat	KL0115171A9U

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S4)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174 in
Overall width	67.3 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	102.8 in
Curb weight	2632 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.9 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	22 / 28 / 24 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	93 cu ft
Cargo volume	13 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

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.

9.2–9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.20 sec — 2002 Protegé Protegé5 Wagon

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2002	Protegé Protegé5 Wagon 2.0L I-4	9.20 sec	17.20 sec	130 hp	FWD
2002	Protegé Protegé5 Wagon 2.0L I-4	9.50 sec	17.20 sec	130 hp	FWD
2001	Protegé MP3 Sedan 2.0L I-4	8.20 sec	16.30 sec	140 hp	FWD
2001	Protegé MP3 Sedan 2.0L I-4	8.30 sec	16.50 sec	140 hp	FWD
2001	Protegé ES Sedan 2.0L I-4	9.10 sec	16.90 sec	130 hp	FWD
2003	Protegé LX Sedan 2.0L I-4	9.20 sec	17.00 sec	130 hp	FWD
2000	Protegé ES Sedan 1.8L I-4	8.90 sec	16.80 sec	122 hp	FWD
1999	Protegé ES Sedan 1.8L I-4	8.40 sec	16.60 sec	122 hp	FWD

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 Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	DEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Denso
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	11-17 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap	0.049-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.33 lbs
Oil Type	GU10
Oil Capacity	5.07 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test	18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	176-183 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35-65
Engine Compression	142-199 psi
Engine Compression	119-171 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	58-75 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	65-57 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	33-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	58-75 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	58-75 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	65-87 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 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 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 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 mi	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.

Across the 1999-2003 generation arc, federal complaints trended upward from 47 in 1998 to a peak of 121 in 2003, with the 2002 model year sitting near the crest of this curve at 100 complaints. While 2002 represents a sharp spike from the 52 complaints seen in 2001, it is slightly outpaced by the 2003 model, indicating escalating issues as the generation matured. For the 2002 Protege specifically, the primary complaint areas are Seat Belts (15) and Power Train (14), accompanied by 12 crash complaints, 2 fire complaints, 4 recalls, and 99 TSBs; the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Given the significant jump in federal complaints and sustained high volume of technical service bulletins compared to the prior year, the 2002 model is a less favorable purchase within this generation.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

100

Owner complaints

12 involved a crash · 2 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01’02’03 ’04 ’05 ’06

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 100 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts15

Power Train14

Tires6

Air Bags6

Electrical System5

Engine & Engine Cooling5

Vehicle Speed Control4

Fuel System, Gasoline4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 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 99 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SA-029-26	2026-04-21	Power Train	This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
07-004-25a	2025-12-10	Unknown Or Other	A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
07-004-25	2025-04-25	Unknown Or Other	A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
09-038-24	2024-08-08	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
SA-011-24b	2024-07-29	Unknown Or Other	Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all…

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.

Engine oil filter B6Y114302A Engine air filter B59513Z40A9U Fuel filter GY0113ZE0 Spark plug 000018BP01

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2002 Protege have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Protege get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg.