Vehicle went backwards even after consumer put the gear into park. When the consumer got back in the car after leaving it running she noticed the engine oil pressure light was on, but thought nothing of it. The consumer was unable to stop the vehicle until it came to rest on its own after rolling in a ditch. The dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.

- Rock Island, IL, USA

I believe that the 2003 Mazda protoge5 brake design is flawed and dangerous (5-speed manual). I have addressed this issue with my dealer (capital Mazda, cary, nc) and they refuse to help. There is excessive brake pedal travel, so much so that I can nearly push the pedal to the floor. The dealer says this is normal operation. I have experienced several occasions that when braking, have actually pressed the accelerator pedal as well, causing the engine to race. On at least one occasion, the car lurched forward upon releasing the brake, due to the accelerator pedal being pressed as well as the brake pedal. This is a fundamental design flaw it seems and one that needs immediate action from Mazda. This is a condition that will likely lead to traffic accidents.

- Apex, NC, USA