Cruise Control Problems of Mazda Protege

The cruise control selector on the 2001 Mazda Protege is a short stalk on the right side of the steering wheel. Once the cruise control is enabled by pressing a button in the end of the stalk, the cruise speed is selected by moving the stalk down. If cruise is interrupted, as by stepping on the brake pedal, the pre-set speed can be resumed by moving the stalk up. Since the stalk changes location with the movement of the steering wheel, it is very easy to inadvertently operate the stalk. I have hit it when attempting to operate the windshield wiper/washer (another stalk on the right side) and while turning a corner. The hazard is that the enabled cruise control is not disabled if the vehicle drops below a certain speed, stops, or even when the ignition is turned off. It remains enabled until intentionally turned off. A driver, unaware that the cruise control was enabled, could accidentally move the stalk up to resume, and the vehicle would accelerate to the last pre-set speed. Even though a tap of the brake pedal would interrupt the acceleration, by the time the driver realized it and reacted, a lot of damage could be done. A driver could also accidentally move the stalk down and unknowingly set the current speed as the cruise speed. If the driver lifted his/her foot from the gas pedal, the vehicle would not decelerate as expected but would continue at the set speed.

See all problems of the 2001 Mazda Protege 🔎.

Engine idled roughly. Vehicle was under warranty. Dealer tightened engine valves. 2 months later, warranty expired. Dealer dismantled engine and had to remachine the valves.

See all problems of the 1997 Mazda Protege 🔎.

Engine idled up or down at stop with foot on brake car would sometimes race up over 300 rpms shut engine off to stop it from going higher this happened three times almost going through back of my garage also surged when trying to park and causing car to jump forward car has stalled at intersections twice they changed numerous parts including wire harness under hood grounds alternator vacuum line engine mounts when this first started to be worsening on surging and got a number for Mazda tech center by mistake and the man I talked to said he felt this should be taken up with Mazda rep for this area and they said he did not feel it was serious enough to look into any further holiday dealer service reps did not help me much with anythingi would have to ask around with friends to find what else might be causing surges and idling down to stalling each had different ideas which I would take to holiday and I would be put off as they said they could not find anything even though they had different mechanics see the idle surges andcould not figure what caused itbesides the things I mentioned I had a electrical problem with door not unlocking or window going up or down took it in 2 times and then the services rep said I should just live with it and walked away on me which I havent been back since but keep calling Mazda and they keep putting me off they suggested I go only to Mazda certified places which there are not anymore around here without driving 45 miles to appleton so a guy at a shop I was at said I should contact you people to see what I could do I had no idea where I could get help I will not talk to that ignorant service rep again do I have a right to go to a different place to see if the problem can be fixed I found a couple good leads to my problem on the internet which seams to be a common occurence on Mazda and a few other cars that where fixed by these mechanics which was some censor or vacuum gauge on the brake systemsor amain computer problemto ignitionccan.

Car always would speed up or idle down at diff. Times once went to 3000 rpms had to shut engine off killed at stop signs holiday changed diff components but could not stop the idling and lurching forward problem also at diff times it would idle down and stall or just idle up and down til I would shut it off and restart or just stop on the gas this idling up and lurching forward has at diff times almost caused an accident by going forward.

Cruise control would not turn off and kept gaining speed.

Cruise control malfunctioned causing sudden acceleration.