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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 2003 Mazda Protege.
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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.
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
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.
The 2003 Mazda Protege has 4 NHTSA recalls and 121 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
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
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.
SEVERE RUSTING OF LEFT AND RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANELS LEADING INTO REAR OF ROCKER PANELS DUE TO POOR RUST PROTECTION FROM FACTORY.
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS NO LONGER WORKING. THERE APPEARS TO BE BROKEN PARTS IN THE FEMALE PART.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Showing 15 of 121 complaints