Most Mazda Protege VINs open with JM1 (Japan, 1990–2003). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often 0 (84%); a 2003 Protege carries 3 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 11 recall campaigns and 786 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Mazda Protege VIN
Here is a real 2003 Mazda Protege VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JM1BJ225231198752 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Mazda Protege VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Mazda Protege we have on record, from 1990 to 2003, opens with the same three characters, JM1:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JM1 | 1990–2003 | Japan | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Mazda Protege it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1990–2003 | 657 | |
| 1 | 1995–2003 | 116 |
Counted from 770 dated Mazda Protege VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Mazda Protege
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Mazda Protege has not yet outlived: its 14 years still map one-to-one. All 14 model years of the Mazda Protege, 1990 to 2003, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Mazda Protege VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 15 VINs the Mazda Protege uses 8 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | B (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | J (80%) · A (13%) · C (7%) | 3 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 5 (47%) · 1 (27%) · 2 (20%) · 6 (7%) | 4 distinct |
What a decoded Mazda Protege VIN gets you
Behind a Mazda Protege VIN: 786 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 11 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 786 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 28 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 14 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Mazda Protege
A Mazda Protege VIN normally opens with JM1; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Mazda Protege VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 11 recall campaigns and 786 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Mazda Protege.
What year is my Protege by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2003 Protege carries 3, a 2002 Protege carries 2, a 2001 Protege carries 1.
Where was my Protege built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 781 dated Mazda Protege VINs it reads 0 84%, 1 15%.
What does position 4 mean on a Mazda Protege VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 15 Mazda Protege VINs here, B is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Mazda Protege check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with JM1. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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