Mazda Protégé Recalled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in February 2001 and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly. The list identifies the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem. NHTSA said it is publicizing the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. Under federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Currently, 72 percent of the owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed. NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall. Consumers can get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns, or information on the recall history of a particular make and model of car, truck, motorcycle, or child safety seat, by calling the agency toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236), or by accessing NHTSA on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov.. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

Mazda (North America), Inc.

Models: Mazda Protégé Years: 2000-2001

Number Involved: 13,000

Dates of Manufacture: July - December 2000

Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the left side rear brake hoses were damaged during assembly. Brake fluid leakage could occur, and brake performance would be degraded, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake hose and, if necessary, replace the hose. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during March 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. [NHTSA Recall No. 01V024]