2003 Mazda Protege Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS TAKEN APART AND THE MECHANIC FOUND A SCREW INSIDE OF THE INTAKE VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

NHTSA ID

11318284

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

188,000 mi

ROUGH IDLE CAUSING TO STALL WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR CYLINDER MISFIRE, FOUND CYLINDER 4 WITH A BENT SPARK PLUG WITH THE GAP CLOSED. REPLACED ALL 4 PLUGS CAR RAN FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE CYLINDER MISFIRE WITH CYLINDER 4 WITH ANOTHER BENT PLUG GAP CLOSED. POSSIBLE SOMETHING LOOSE INSIDE CYLINDER 4 CAUSING THE MISFIRE ISSUES TO THE PLUG. MILEAGE 130,280

NHTSA ID

11315728

Incident

Feb 28, 2020

Mileage

130,280 mi

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE WOULD NOT PASS 2019 VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER CANNOT REPLACE BECAUSE MAZDA HAS DISCONTINUED THAT PART. UNDER VIRGINIA LAW, CAR CANNOT BE OPERATED WITHOUT VALID INSPECTION CERTIFICATE. INSPECTION DISCLOSED NO OTHER DISQUALIFYING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

11252460

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE AREA INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IN TIRES ... MANY SEVERAL WORKSHOPS CAN NOT CORRECT THE ALIGNMENT FAULT ... THE STEERING WHEEL GO TO THE RIGHT AND I HAVE TO FORCE TO THE LEFT ... ALL THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION PART ARE NEW , INCLUDING THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS NEW AND CONTROL ARM AND LINK ROD AND BUSHING ...THE CENTRIC BOLT NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE ...I SEE OVER ETHERNET MANY PEOPLE HAS THE SAME FAIL IN THIS CAR ..I BUY THIS CAR NEW AND NEVER CRASHED OR OR MISTREATED ..I REPORT THIS IN THIS YEAR BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME IT'S A MANUFACTURING FAULT..AND I HAVE HAD TOO MUCH EXPENSES AND I CAN NOT SOLVE ... RIGHT NOW I NEED TO BUY OTHER TIRES...PLEASE I NEED A SOLUTION ...I SEND A ETHERNET PHOTO AND THE CAR AND COLOR IS SAME ...TO REMEMBER THE MILLEAGE VALOR AND YEAR PRESENTED IN THE NEXT QUESTION IN THIS FORM IS APPROXIMATED ...THANK YOU I WAIT YOU RESPONSE

NHTSA ID

11052498

Incident

Sep 17, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND STRUCK A MOVING VEHICLE IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. NO AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED IN THE MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE OTHER VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

10840175

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

SEVERE RUSTING OF LEFT AND RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANELS LEADING INTO REAR OF ROCKER PANELS DUE TO POOR RUST PROTECTION FROM FACTORY.

NHTSA ID

10731781

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

Mileage

240,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS NO LONGER WORKING. THERE APPEARS TO BE BROKEN PARTS IN THE FEMALE PART.

NHTSA ID

10721385

Incident

May 25, 2015

Mileage

142,000 mi

I WAS PULLING UP TO MY RESIDENCE WHEN THE SEAT BELT POPPED OUT OF THE RECEIVER BY ITSELF.. I TRIED TO RE-LATCH THE SEAT BELT AND IT WOULD NOT LATCH. I ATTEMPTED A FEW MORE TIMES AND THE SEAT BELT RECEIVER COMPLETELY FELL APART.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695508

Incident

Dec 2, 2014

Mileage

131,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION IS IMMINENT. THE RUST INHIBITOR THAT WAS APPLIED FROM MAZDA MOTOR CORP. DURING MANUFACTURING, ON THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL HAS FAILED AND IS ALLOWING WATER, ROAD SALT ETC TO ENTER THE ENGINE BAY AND CAUSE SEVERE RUSTING ON THE TOP AND SIDE PORTION OF THE STRUT TOWER WHERE THE SIDE MOTOR MOUNT AND STRUT TOWER BRACE ATTACH TO THE STRUT TOWER. THE FAILURE OF THE RUST INHIBITOR HAS NOW CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE STEEL STRUT TOWER WHICH IN-TURN COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION TO BECOME DISLODGED AND CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT. PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605125

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

Mileage

134,000 mi

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A SMALLER CHEAP DEALERSHIP, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE FRONT END WOULD BE AS BAD AS IT GOT. MY LOWER CONTROL ARM / BALL JOINT WAS SO CORRODED EVERY TIME I MADE A LEFT TURN IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL THEN WOULD CONTINUE TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER EACH TIME. THIS WOULD HAPPEN OFTEN WHEN IT WAS DRY AND WARM AND SAT FOR AWHILE. LIVING IN BUFFALO, WELL YOU CAN NOT HELP BUT HIT POTHOLES IN SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS. THIS WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE AND THROW MY STEERING OFF WHILE TRAVEL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IF I WAS DOING THE CURVES ON ROUTE 33 OR ROUTE 290 I WOULD HAVE TO SLOW DONE TO MAINTAIN STEERING ABILITY. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TOLD IT WAS SO BAD I COULD LOSE MY WHEEL AND CRASH. SO I WENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM; BUT WITH A SLIGHTLY NEW PROBLEM ONE OF THE SCREWS WERE SO CORRODED THEY CHARGED ME $100.00 TO MAKE AN ACCESS PANEL FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR PANEL UNDER MY FEET. THE TOTAL FOR JUST THOSE PARTS CAME TO $350.00 PLUS WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584041

Incident

Mar 5, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE INNER FENDER WHERE THE STRUT IS MOUNTED IS GETTING RUSTED BADLY MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CAR RUNS FINE BUT I CAN PUSH WITH THE FINGER FROM THE WHEEL SIDE AND SEE THE BODY MOVE. IF CAR GOES OVER A POT HOLE IT MIGHT MAKE THE STRUT FALL OFF AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS IS STRUCTURE ISSUE. I CANT REPLACE ANYTHING. MAZDA SHOULD BUY IT BACK JUST LIKE NISSAN DID ON THEIR PATHFINDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558357

Incident

Dec 31, 2013

Mileage

163,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,200.

NHTSA ID

10549549

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

13,200 mi

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER WORK. THE MALE END WILL NOT CONNECT TO THE FEMALE END. I LOOKED WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND THERE WERE BROKEN PIECES INSIDE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE BUCKLE CAME APART. I NOW HAVE TO USE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10542626

Incident

Mar 26, 2013

Mileage

109,687 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A '03 MAZDA PROTEGE5. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YESTERDAY AT 65 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THE CAR EXHAUST SUDDENLY BECAME MUCH LOUDER. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, AND THE EXHAUST HAD COME APART. THE PIECE OF THE EXHAUST AFTER THE CAT WAS HANGING ABOUT 1 INCH FROM THE GROUND. THIS PIECE IS AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NEAR ONE OF THE HANGING POINTS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. TWO BOLTS, WHICH HOLD THIS PIECE TOGETHER, AND THE EXHAUST GASKET WERE MISSING. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE ENDED TRAGICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10542620

Incident

Mar 26, 2013

Mileage

109,687 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10526377

Incident

Jul 16, 2013

Mileage

114,000 mi

WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A HILL CURVE TURN HE LOST CONTROL ON ICY WET ROAD AND HIT A TREE HE DIED ON 01/29/2013 HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD HE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL AND WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513989

Incident

Jan 28, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

ON AT LEAST 3-5 OCCASIONS THIS 2.0L ENGINE HAS SUFFERED THE EXACT SAME FATE AS NHTSA ID# 10422484. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, MISFIRING, ASSOCIATED NOISE SOUNDING LIKE A BOLT / SCREW BOUNCING AROUND IN THE ENGINE FOR MAYBE 15 SECONDS, THEN WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. EACH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A DIFFERENT CYLINDER MISFIRE, UPON SPARK PLUG REMOVAL IT WAS FOUND THE GAP WAS CLOSED CAUSING NO SPARK. EACH TIME, A NEW PLUG WAS INSTALLED AND CORRECTED THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM. AFTER SEEING THESE COMPLAINTS AND A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE I REALIZED I'VE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. DON'T KNOW IF MY VIN # IS IN THE EFFECTED RANGE OR NOT. CAR NOW HAS 123105 MILES. WOULD HOPE THAT MAZDA WOULD COVER ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508569

Incident

Jun 21, 2010

Mileage

102,778 mi

WHEN ENGAGING SEAT BELT INTO LOCKING MECHANISM, THE MECHANISM BROKE INTO ABOUT SEVEN PIECES. IT WILL NO LONGER HOLD THE SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489215

Incident

Dec 18, 2012

Mileage

203,000 mi

MY CAR DOES THAT AS I AM TURNING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AND GOING OVER THE BUMPS ON ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471618

Incident

Apr 3, 2012

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLIDING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SHIFT GEARS BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10458566

Incident

May 10, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY 03 PROTEGE HAS VICS SCREWS FALLING OUT AND ALL ISSUES THAT COMES WITH IT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY UNTOUCHED BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO HOW MANY TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD ISSUES AND CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS. SO I HAVE TO TURN MY TAGS IN WITHIN THE MONTH BECAUSE MAZDA WONT RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE BEING THEIR RECALL SINCE MY VIN IS OUT OF THEIR WINDOW FOR CARS BEING DEFECTIVE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM; WHY THOSE MONTHS WHEN WE HAVE THE SAME PARTS? MAZDA CLAIMS ITS THE TORQUE BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS THE SCREWS FALLING OUT INCLUDING THE BUTTERFLIES. WHY WAS THE TORQUE DIFFERENT THOSE 3 MONTHS? IF MAZDA IS SAYING THE RECALL IS DUE TO THE TORQUE BEING WRONG AND THE SCREWS ARE FALLING OUT THEN WHY ARE SO MANY VEHICLES THAT ARE IN AND OUT OF THE VIN NUMBER NEEDED TO BE REQUIRED FOR FREE REPAIR? WHY ARE SO MANY VEHICLES BEING CHECKED AND MECHANICS FINDING SCREWS AND BUTTERFLIES IN OTHER AREAS OTHER THAN WHERE THEY SHOULD BE? IF THE RECALL IS DUE TO TORQUE, THEN WHY ARE YOU REPLACING THE ORIGINAL SCREWS? IF TORQUE IS THE CASE WHY NOT JUST USE THE CORRECT TORQUE USAGE, YOU KNOW THE TORQUE THAT'S IN MY CAR! WHY ARE PROTEGES WITH THE VINS OUT OF THE RECALL WINDOW HAVING THE SAME CORRECTIVE ACTION WHEN THEY GO TO GET THE REPAIR AND GET THE SAME PARTS WHEN THEY HAD THE CORRECT TORQUE IN THE FIRST PLACE! ITS CLEAR THIS RECALL ISN'T ABOUT TORQUE, THIS IS ABOUT IT THE RECALL PART BEING FAULTY NO MATTER WHAT TORQUE WAS USED. WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND EASIER FOR YOU JUST TO USE THE REQUIRED TORQUE RATHER THAN NEW PARTS SINCE YOU SAY. MAZDA DOESN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND FIX THEIR FAULTY PART. WE NEED HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10450574

Incident

Jan 11, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE (FEMALE) ON MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE5 WILL NOT LATCH, THE VEHICLE HAS 147,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442355

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMPLETELY FRACTURED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ID

10437651

Incident

Nov 5, 2011

Mileage

151,000 mi

THE CAR SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEREBY THE SCREWS INSIDE THE INTAKE HAD COME LOOSE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. IT IS UNCLEAR AT THIS TIME IF MY CAR IS COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL 3005 C. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433610

Incident

Oct 21, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE TIGHTENING TORQUE OF THE SCREWS USED FOR MOUNTING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SHUTTER VALVE LOOSENED AND FELL OUT (1 INTO THE SPARK PLUGS AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO PLUGS AND COILS).CAUSED MISFIRING, AFFECTING THE EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2006 BUT NOT FOR MY CAR'S VIN - BUT MY CAR HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM FROM THAT RECALL. WAITING TO SEE IF MAZDA WILL HONOR THIS RECALL AND PAY FOR REPAIRS/PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422484

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

56,197 mi