Recently purchased a 2002 Mazda protege5. Without warning, it wouldn't start. The low beam headlight burned out. The heat, stereo, headlights & power windows all worked. The car had no power and didn't even turn over. About 15 mins later, it started fine and never had a problem again until a few days ago (approx a month in between incidents). Same thing all over again, but this time the car refuses to start. What can I do" what info should I be aware of" I discovered online that this is an extremely common problem.

- Stony Plain, Ab,Canada, MT, USA

The car began to shutter and dropped from 50 to 25 in seconds. The check engine light (cil) starting flashing and the car began to stutter like it was going to die, I pulled to the side of the road and the car died. Started car again the cil continued to flash, it only would accelerate to 25 miles an hours even with my foot all the way down on the gas. I took it to the a mechanic and the codes were P0421, 171, 300. The mechanic did everything from engine flush, spark plugs, oil, air filters and installed a new catalytic converter but the problem persists. Its now a year later and the car is doing the exact same thing.

- Davenport, IA, USA

2002 Protege heater fan switch malfunctioned and melted plug and switch almost caused a fire but it was smoking when it fried and caused the 4th speed of the fan not to work I had to splice a new plug in to fix the issue and to keep it from catching fire I have pictures if needed.

- Lakewood, WA, USA

On January 22, 2008 I brought a Mazda pretege5 year 2002 58,000 miles $ $12,000 from city world 3305 boston road bronx, New York 10469 (718) 655-7000. The sale managers told me this car is excellent for me. "nice, good and everything so I settle for the Mazda pretege5.? however, since I brought the car I find myself going to the used automobile dealer every other day because there a problem with the car. During the week I got to sexually harassed, by sales individual, they were touching me. First, sun roof all of a sudden stops working. Brought it to Toyota service in the bronx. They told me two days later they don't have the budgetary parts. I miss my class that weekend because I didn't have a car to get to class. Secondly, the car was getting over heating all of a sudden. I don't know why, I don't even drive much school and work is 10 minutes away from each other. I brought the car because I have a class at dobbs ferry. Thirdly, today February 05, 2008 the car couldn't start next to my job in nereid avenue, so I called them, they told me to call the towing guy I call them. The towing guy told me my tire is flat. My point is I only brought the car for two weeks now. I only drive for two days only in general. Most of the time they have the car in their possession. I am paying insurance for the car, when I don't even drive it. Why that have to happen to me. I M a student trying to get by in school. I am a single woman all alone trying to survive. I don't have anyone to call to generously help me. Can someone please help me" now the car dealer place refuses to do anything. I told them. I cannot drive the car anymore. They refuse to talk to me. They give me a run around. Please, I can't take this anymore I work at night trying to make a decent living. I presently work with the mentally retarded children, and I do not have to come to the car dealer place every other day, because their something wrong with the car, it just not fair.

- Bronx, NY, USA

If my Mazda Protege 5 is not driven for 2-3 days, the battery is dead the next time I try to start it. It has been to Mazda dealerships on at least 6 occassions. I have had the car jumped on 3 other occassions. They have replaced the battery 3 times, replaced varioues fuses, and finally decided that the factory stereo system was draining the battery while the car was not running. The most recent occurrence was 7/25, although this has happened at least 9 other times since last June.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

2002 Mazda Protege experiencing problems with the instrument panel. The consumer stated the mileage was deleted, the gas, temperature and speedometer gauges stopped working. The dealer did replace a part, however the mileage was not accurate. There was also a problem with the hub bearings.

- Lithonia, GA, USA