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2003 Mazda Protege

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mazda Protege do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 66.

About this comparison →
120Owner complaints

Model-year median: 66

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
102
200050
200198
2002120
2003
Compare all Protege years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
34Seat Belts
17Power Train
12Suspension
11Air Bags
10
All reported categories
Tires
10Steering
7Engine
6Seats
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Structure
4Electrical System
3Equipment
3Exterior Lighting
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Parking Brake
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Child Seat
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

34 reports
Clear category filter
3,400 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 STALLED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELARATE FROM A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT PROBLEMS. THE DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10064365

5,600 miles · Jan 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE'S A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTED IN THE MORNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10051554

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020190

500 miles · Jan 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STARTING IN THE MORNING, AND PERIODICALLY RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING WHEN WARMED UP.

NHTSA ODI #10003151

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.