Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Dec 5, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 120 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mazda Protege submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming suspension
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 5, 2017
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
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 23, 2014
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
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 21, 2014
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
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jan 3, 2014
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
Suspension
Filed Aug 20, 2012
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
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Mar 1, 2011
2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. CONSUMER STATES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND SEVERAL OTHER CONCERNS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE ALARM WOULD SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL MODULE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO A WATER PUMP LEAK AND LEAKING RADIATOR, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE THREE SETS OF TIRES. *JB
NHTSA ID
10385969
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Suspension
Filed Nov 11, 2009
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH MAZDA PROTG'S. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE BRACKETS ON TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER THAT ARE NOT COATED OR COATED PROPERLY TO PREVENT RUSTING. THE RUST ON MY CAR AND MAY OTHERS IS SEEN COVERING THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER. AS YOU KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE AT THIS POINT ON VEHICLES. IF THE RUST ADVANCES ENOUGH ' THE STRUT AND WHEEL CAN AND WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD. THE RESULT WILL BE A VEHICLE LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING INTO WHATEVER IS AROUND. MAZDA IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THIS ISSUE. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE CAN BE HURT OR KILLED BY THIS. I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM (UNABLE TO SUBMIT THROUGH THIS SITE) AND A LINK TO AN AUTOMOTIVE WEB SITE WITH ADDITIONAL PICTURES AND COMMENTS. HTTP://WWW.THETRUTHABOUTCARS.COM/PISTON-SLAP-MAZDA-PROTEGE5-IN-GOD-WE-RUST/. *TR
NHTSA ID
10291847
Incident
Jun 17, 2009
Suspension
Filed Jan 22, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SPLIT IN HALF AND THE STRUT WENT THROUGH THE FENDER ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FEELS THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY HITTING SOMETHING IN THE ROAD; THE CONTACT DISAGREED. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ID
10179370
Incident
Aug 4, 2006
Mileage
10,000 mi
SteeringSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Jun 29, 2004
MAZDAS PEED PROTEGE SUFFERS FROM EXCESS TORQUE STEER AND VERY UNSTABLE STEERING AT SPEEDS OVER 30 MILE PER HOUR. IF YOU EXCELLERATE HARD THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON SPEED. ALSO WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SWERVE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING OR FOR ANY NOTICABLE REASON ALSO AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE TENDS TO DRIFT IN ITS LANE. DEALER SERVICE STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE AND NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE OWNED MANY HIGH PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THIS CONDITION HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS ON MANY OCCASIONS AND ONLY RADICAL STEERING HAS PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT SO FAR.*AK
NHTSA ID
10079013
Incident
Apr 25, 2004
Suspension
Filed Jun 29, 2004
THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE 2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE HAS A VERY BAD NOISE WHICH YOU CAN HEAR WHEN PASSING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR ANY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A SODA CAN BEING CRUSHED. THE NOISE IS MORE PRONOUCED IN WET OR COLD CONDITIONS. NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE SINCE 2ND MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER HAS VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM 2 TIMES AND INDICATES THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE IT. VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS NOT A UNKOWN ISSUE AND HAS AFFECT MANY (IF NOT ALL) OWNER OF THIS MODEL.*AK
NHTSA ID
10079011
Incident
Jan 15, 2004
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Feb 24, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES OR SUSPENSION. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
10055956
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own