1.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
124,706 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Mazda Protege:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Jul 022015

Protege

  • 240,000 miles
Severe rusting of left and right rear quarter panels leading into rear of rocker panels due to poor rust protection from factory.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

Add Complaint
problem #2

Jun 012014

Protege 4-cyl

  • 134,000 miles
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.

- West Chester, OH, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

Oct 032002

Protege 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 118 miles
Structure: Small rust spots located on all exterior surfaces.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

Add Complaint