2003 Mazda Protege Complaint Log

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A HILL CURVE TURN HE LOST CONTROL ON ICY WET ROAD AND HIT A TREE HE DIED ON 01/29/2013 HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD HE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL AND WORKING. *TR

WHEN ENGAGING SEAT BELT INTO LOCKING MECHANISM, THE MECHANISM BROKE INTO ABOUT SEVEN PIECES. IT WILL NO LONGER HOLD THE SEAT BELT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLIDING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SHIFT GEARS BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

MY CAR DOES THAT AS I AM TURNING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AND GOING OVER THE BUMPS ON ROADS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMPLETELY FRACTURED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

THE CAR SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEREBY THE SCREWS INSIDE THE INTAKE HAD COME LOOSE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. IT IS UNCLEAR AT THIS TIME IF MY CAR IS COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL 3005 C. *TR

THE TIGHTENING TORQUE OF THE SCREWS USED FOR MOUNTING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SHUTTER VALVE LOOSENED AND FELL OUT (1 INTO THE SPARK PLUGS AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO PLUGS AND COILS).CAUSED MISFIRING, AFFECTING THE EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2006 BUT NOT FOR MY CAR'S VIN - BUT MY CAR HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM FROM THAT RECALL. WAITING TO SEE IF MAZDA WILL HONOR THIS RECALL AND PAY FOR REPAIRS/PARTS. *TR

WHEN OUR VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. I WAS MILDLY INJURED AND IF MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE REAR SEAT INSTEAD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE, I WOULD HAVE CRUSHED AND LIKELY KILLED HER. I AM NOT OVERWEIGHT AND WAS STRUCK WHILE STOPPED BY A VAN AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. *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

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. CONSUMER STATES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND SEVERAL OTHER CONCERNS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE ALARM WOULD SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL MODULE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO A WATER PUMP LEAK AND LEAKING RADIATOR, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE THREE SETS OF TIRES. *JB

MAZDA HEADLIGHT HARNESS - THE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT (DURING THE PAST 4 YEARS). I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB YEARS AGO AND IT CAME BACK ON AS I WIGGLED THE HARNESS TO PULL THE BULB OUT. OVER 80 TIMES SINCE THEN I'VE HAD TO SMACK THE HEADLIGHT TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS PREDOMINANTLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 0 CELSIUS (FREEZING). THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MY 2001 MAZDA MPV (WHICH I GOT RID OF THIS YEAR) AND MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE WHICH I STILL HAVE. ONCE IT HAPPENED ON MY PROTEGE I KNEW IT WASN'T AN MPV SITUATION, IT MUST BE A MAZDA PROBLEM AND LIKELY RELATES TO THE SUPPLIER THAT MAKES THE HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. MANY TIMES MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN 'FLASHED' BY OTHER DRIVERS FOR NOT HAVING LIGHTS ON. *KB

YEAR 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE LX, GAS TANK LEAKING TO THE TRUNK. *TR

MY SON BOUGHT A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5, BACK IN LATE JULY 2010. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ON AUGUST 3RD, 2010 IN FACT, HE KNOWING OF AN OPEN RECALL, HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY THEY PERFORMED PART A OF RECALL 3005C AND DID A COMPRESSION CHECK AND SLAPPED A "RECALL COMPLETED" STICKER UNDER THE HOOD. COME LATE AUGUST, MY SON TAKES THE CAR AWAY TO SCHOOL. ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2010, HE CALLS COMPLAINING OF A "'LOUD ENGINE NOISE". 2 DAYS LATER, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY PERFORMANCE SHOP. THEY INVESTIGATED AND NOTICED THE RECALL 3005C STICKER UNDER THE HOOD. KNOWING THIS, THE PERFORMANCE SHOP RECOMMENDED WE TAKE THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP NEARBY MY SONS' SCHOOL. THIS SECOND DEALERSHIP VERIFIED WITH A BORESCOPE THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE IN CYLINDERS 1 AND 3. AFTER MUCH DISAGREEMENT, THIS SECOND MAZDA DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY OPENED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FOUND 7 OF THE 8 SCREWS AND ALL 4 BUTTERFLY VALVES LAYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE INTAKE. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BUT UPON STARTING THE ENGINE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE NOISE STILL EXISTS. NOW THEY CLAIM THE ENGINE NOISE IS DUE TO "ENGINE BEARING FAILURE" AND NOT RELATED TO THE 3005C RECALL. AFTER FORCING THE ISSUE WITH MAZDA THEY CLAIMED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE CAN BE OFFERED. I WAS THEN FORCED TO TOW THE CAR BACK TO THE PERFORMANCE SHOP. THERE THEY REMOVED THE CYLINDER HEAD AND FOUND THE MISSING SCREW EMBEDDED IN THE TOP OF CYLINDER #2. BEARING FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED BY ANYONE YET. I MAINTAIN THAT THE SCREW BEING EMBEDDED IN CYLINDER #2 PLUS OTHER METAL FILINGS RELATED TO THE 3005C RECALL, MUST HAVE CAUSED THE ALLEGED "BEARING FAILURE". MAZDA CLAIMS THE SO CALLED "BEARING FAILURE" MUST HAVE EXISTED PREVIOUSLY. APPARENTLY, THEY THINK I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AROUND WITH THE BEARING PROBLEM. LOOKS LIKE LEGAL ACTION WILL BE THE NEXT STEP. ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE FIRST MAZDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

THE CURRENT ISSUES ( WHICH WE BELIEVE ARE MAZDA CORPORATE ISSUES) AND INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS LOW, LOW, LOW MILES HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE, TWICE, ON THE FREEWAY: 1)FAULTY ELECTRICAL PARTS: THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST DAY WE BROUGHT IT AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL MODULE, BATTERIES, ALARM SYSTEM, AND OTHER ITEMS, WHICH HAVE PROVEN FAULTY BY MAZDA. 2)SHUTTER VALVE RECALL: OURS WAS INSPECTED, BUT NOT REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THINGS WERE OUT OF SORTS. IT WAS LATER DEEMED A PROBLEM. 3)FAULTY BELTS, DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING, WHICH TECHNICIANS HAVE TOLD US WAS FROM AN OVERHEATING ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY CREATED BY THE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 4)LEAKING RADIATOR TECHNICIANS HAVE INDICATED THIS IS DUE TO THE ONGOING OVERHEATING PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE INTERCHANGES WITH MAZDA PERSONNEL REGARDING A ?LEMON? VEHICLE WE PURCHASED IN 2003 OR 2004. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE DRIVE IT MINIMALLY AND IT ONLY HAD 30,000 PLUS MILES ON T WITHIN THE 4 YEAR, 50,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED. THAT SAID, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE, THE CAR HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IN AN ?OFF? POSITION, THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE ALARM SOUNDED ERRANTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR RAN HOT, AND HAD OTHER ISSUES WE MENTIONED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL MODULE AND/OR ALARM SYSTEM. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION MULTIPLE TIMES, AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE RESPONSES FROM SERVICE TECHNICIANS: 1)NOTHING WRONG 2)NEEDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, OIL, PLUGS, POINTS, ETC 3)MULTIPLE BATTERY REPLACEMENTS DUE TO DEAD BATTERIES AND DRAINING ISSUES 4)CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT ( THE CAR HAD 3 SETS OF TIRE REPLACEMENTS AT 40K) 5)FAULTY BELTS ( WE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT) 6)SHUTTER VALVE ( RECALL WAS NOT REPLACED) 7)WATER PUMP LEAK 8)ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOT DEFINABLE, BUT BATTERY DRAINS 9)ENGINE RUNS HOT AND ROUGH 10) FIRE IN ENGINE ON FREEWAY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH FOR 40 MINUTES, THE CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING, JERKING, MAKING NOISES, LOSING ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT INITIALLY FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS TAKING THEIR FOOT ON AND OFF THE GAS. WE PULLED OFF ROAD AND WERE TOWED TO OUR GARAGE. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG FOR CYLINDER 4 WAS SMASHED SHUT, HE REPLACED IT AND TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SINCE THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME WE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IN DEC OF 2009 THE SPARK PLUG FOR CYLINDER 1 HAD SAME PROBLEM THEN AGAIN IN FEB 2010 IT WAS THE PLUGS FOR 1 & 4. EACH TIME WE WERE DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR HIGHER WHEN CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MAZDA IS TELLING US NOTHING IS IN THE ENGINE, THE COMPRESSION IS FINE AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY SPARK PLUGS ARE GETTING SMASHED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED OUR MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS BAD SPARK PLUG AND REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE, THE SECOND TIME WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD FIND NOTHING. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY ARE SAYING THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS TAKE THE ENGINE APART AND LOOK BUT HAVE NO GUARANTEE OF FINDING ANYTHING AND IT COULD COST $1500. THEY REMOVED SPARK PLUG, CHECKED FOR DEBRIS AND TESTED THE COMPRESSION. THEY ALSO USED A MAGNET TO SEARCH FOR FOREIGN BODY IN CYLINDER AND FOUND NOTHING. *TR

ON AT LEAST 3-5 OCCASIONS THIS 2.0L ENGINE HAS SUFFERED THE EXACT SAME FATE AS NHTSA ID# 10422484. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, MISFIRING, ASSOCIATED NOISE SOUNDING LIKE A BOLT / SCREW BOUNCING AROUND IN THE ENGINE FOR MAYBE 15 SECONDS, THEN WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. EACH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A DIFFERENT CYLINDER MISFIRE, UPON SPARK PLUG REMOVAL IT WAS FOUND THE GAP WAS CLOSED CAUSING NO SPARK. EACH TIME, A NEW PLUG WAS INSTALLED AND CORRECTED THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM. AFTER SEEING THESE COMPLAINTS AND A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE I REALIZED I'VE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. DON'T KNOW IF MY VIN # IS IN THE EFFECTED RANGE OR NOT. CAR NOW HAS 123105 MILES. WOULD HOPE THAT MAZDA WOULD COVER ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE LX DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT LOCKING CLIP INTERNAL PARTS SHATTERED AFTER 50,000 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY NOW BUT I HAVE READ OTHER WEBSITES OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN OFFERED FOR THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS SEATBELT? *TR

FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT SUDDENLY WAS INCAPABLE OF BEING BUCKLED. DRIVERS SEAT BELT COULD NOT CLICK IN RECEPTACLE AND WAS NOT USABLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED B/C IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR WHICH WAS ABOUT $100. *TR

SEATBELT BROKE WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT ON. INSIDE THE FEMALE ADAPTER SEVERAL PLASTIC PIECES WERE BROKEN AND FLOATING AROUND RENDERING MY SEATBELT USELESS. I HAD TO PLUG IN MY SEATBELT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE.*TR

I OWN A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5, AND I HAVE AUTOMATIC/REMOTE KEY UNLOCKS DOORS. ONE DAY IT JUST STOP WORKING, I HAD TO START TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IT WOULD NOT BE MUCH OF A BOTHER HAD IT BE ANOTHER DOOR, BUT JUST THE MAIN ONE I USE BROKE. I WENT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WANTED $250 TO FIX IT, SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW CAR DOOR ACTUATOR. NOT 2 MONTHS PAST, AND THE BACK DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE TOO, A DOOR I HARDLY USED. IT WAS A CHEAP PLASTIC PART WITH IN THE ACTUATOR THAT BROKE FOR NO GOOD REASON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE YET TO COME UP WITH $500 TO FIX BOTH DOORS. *TR

MY 03 PROTEGE HAS VICS SCREWS FALLING OUT AND ALL ISSUES THAT COMES WITH IT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY UNTOUCHED BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO HOW MANY TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD ISSUES AND CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS. SO I HAVE TO TURN MY TAGS IN WITHIN THE MONTH BECAUSE MAZDA WONT RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE BEING THEIR RECALL SINCE MY VIN IS OUT OF THEIR WINDOW FOR CARS BEING DEFECTIVE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM; WHY THOSE MONTHS WHEN WE HAVE THE SAME PARTS? MAZDA CLAIMS ITS THE TORQUE BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS THE SCREWS FALLING OUT INCLUDING THE BUTTERFLIES. WHY WAS THE TORQUE DIFFERENT THOSE 3 MONTHS? IF MAZDA IS SAYING THE RECALL IS DUE TO THE TORQUE BEING WRONG AND THE SCREWS ARE FALLING OUT THEN WHY ARE SO MANY VEHICLES THAT ARE IN AND OUT OF THE VIN NUMBER NEEDED TO BE REQUIRED FOR FREE REPAIR? WHY ARE SO MANY VEHICLES BEING CHECKED AND MECHANICS FINDING SCREWS AND BUTTERFLIES IN OTHER AREAS OTHER THAN WHERE THEY SHOULD BE? IF THE RECALL IS DUE TO TORQUE, THEN WHY ARE YOU REPLACING THE ORIGINAL SCREWS? IF TORQUE IS THE CASE WHY NOT JUST USE THE CORRECT TORQUE USAGE, YOU KNOW THE TORQUE THAT'S IN MY CAR! WHY ARE PROTEGES WITH THE VINS OUT OF THE RECALL WINDOW HAVING THE SAME CORRECTIVE ACTION WHEN THEY GO TO GET THE REPAIR AND GET THE SAME PARTS WHEN THEY HAD THE CORRECT TORQUE IN THE FIRST PLACE! ITS CLEAR THIS RECALL ISN'T ABOUT TORQUE, THIS IS ABOUT IT THE RECALL PART BEING FAULTY NO MATTER WHAT TORQUE WAS USED. WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND EASIER FOR YOU JUST TO USE THE REQUIRED TORQUE RATHER THAN NEW PARTS SINCE YOU SAY. MAZDA DOESN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND FIX THEIR FAULTY PART. WE NEED HELP! *TR

1. DECEMBER 17, 2009: THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON WHEN ALL SEAT BELTS WERE FASTENED. 2. JANUARY 6, 2010: THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT MECHANISM NO LONGER LATCHES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A NO-START CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY SCREWS THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM THE BUTTERFLY SHUTTERS INSIDE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $1000.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT SHE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT CONNECT WITH THE BASE LATCH. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE LATCH BECAME VERY DIFFICULT CLOSE. THE LATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89500. UPDATED 01/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/05/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. WHILE IDLING THE ENGINE, IT MISFIRED AND TWO OF THE CYLINDERS DID NOT MAKE A CONNECTION. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN REMOVED A SCREW FROM THE CYLINDER WITHIN THE ENGINE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LOSING SCREWS AND AFFECTING THE CYLINDERS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH MAZDA PROTG'S. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE BRACKETS ON TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER THAT ARE NOT COATED OR COATED PROPERLY TO PREVENT RUSTING. THE RUST ON MY CAR AND MAY OTHERS IS SEEN COVERING THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER. AS YOU KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE AT THIS POINT ON VEHICLES. IF THE RUST ADVANCES ENOUGH ' THE STRUT AND WHEEL CAN AND WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD. THE RESULT WILL BE A VEHICLE LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING INTO WHATEVER IS AROUND. MAZDA IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THIS ISSUE. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE CAN BE HURT OR KILLED BY THIS. I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM (UNABLE TO SUBMIT THROUGH THIS SITE) AND A LINK TO AN AUTOMOTIVE WEB SITE WITH ADDITIONAL PICTURES AND COMMENTS. HTTP://WWW.THETRUTHABOUTCARS.COM/PISTON-SLAP-MAZDA-PROTEGE5-IN-GOD-WE-RUST/. *TR

MY 2002 PROTEGE 5 (BUILT DECEMBER 2002) HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, DUE TO LOOSE VICS SCREWS FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COMING LOOSE AND BEING SUCKED INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THESE SCREWS SHEARED OFF THE TOP OF MY SPARK PLUG, AND DESTROYED MY PISTON AND VALVES. THE OUTWARD SYMPTOMS WAS A LOUD 'COIN IN THE WASHING MACHINE' SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS OPENED, 3 OF 8 VICS SCREWS WERE OFF COMPLETELY, AND THE REMAINING 5 WERE LOOSE. THIS IS CLEARLY THE IDENTICAL DEFECT TO A RECALL FOR PROTEGE 5'S BUILT SHORTLY AFTER MY VEHICLE (EMISSIONS RECALL 3005C), BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. READING ONLINE BOARDS FOR PROTEGE OWNERS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT DEFECT EFFECTING BOTH OWNERS IN AND OUT OF RECALL RANGE, AND THAT THIS VICS RECALL SHOULD BE WIDENED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL OWNERS. QUOTES FROM MAZDA FOR REPAIR ARE ~$5000 FOR A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD, VALVES AND PISTONS, AND LABOR TO REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA SPEED PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VARIABLE TUMBLE CONTROL SYSTEM SHUTTER VALVE BECAME STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE FAILURE PREVENTED AIR FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON THE REGULAR MAZDA PROTEGE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MAZDA SPEED PROTEGE HAD NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

THE 2003-2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE POORLY DESIGNED LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEEN A FAILURE RATE OF OVER 125 DOCUMENTED CASES ONLINE. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND RESIDENTIAL SPEEDS. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS TO BE AT RISK FOR ROADSIDE REAR END CRASHES DUE TO LOSS OF POWER ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER IS CHANGING LANES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND MAZDA USA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISSUING A RECALL. 2003-2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THE ISSUE RE-APPEAR AND FAIL AGAIN. HERE IS A LINK TO THE DOCUMENTED LIST OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAIL. (HTTP://WWW.MSPROTEGE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=64821&PAGE=29). SOME FAILURES HAVE EVEN BEEN DANGEROUS. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA LOOK DEEPLY INTO THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULB (HEADLIGHT) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MAZDA RECENTLY BURNED OUT. > FIRST COMPLAINT--BECAUSE OF A CRAMPED ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE BULB IS DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. I HAVE SMALLISH HANDS FOR A MAN. THERE WAS BARELY ROOM TO ACCESS THE BULB SOCKET (HOLDER) ON THE OUTSIDE CORNER OF THE HEADLIGHT "POD". > SECOND COMPLAINT--THE BULB HOLDER WAS COMPLEX. THE BULB PLUGS INTO AN "INTERNAL" SOCKET; THIS PAIR SLIDES INTO THE HEADLIGHT "POD"; THE PAIR IS THEN HELD IN PLACE BY A WIRE CLIP; EVERYTHING THUS FAR GETS COVERED BY A RUBBER GASKET; AND LASTLY, THERE'S AN "EXTERNAL" CONNECTION (PLUG). > THIRD COMPLAINT--THE HEADLIGHT "POD" IS A INTRINSICALLY LOUSY DESIGN. EVEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, I COULDN'T SEE THE CATCH-POINT FOR THE WIRE CLIP. > FOURTH COMPLAINT--THE "POD" ITSELF IS FRAIL. IT'S APPARENTLY PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC APPARENTLY AGES BADLY. MY GENTLE ATTEMPT TO REFASTEN THE WIRE CLIP BROKE SOMETHING ON THE BACK OF THE "POD"--I DON'T KNOW WHAT. SO I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE "POD" ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF OVER $400. > NOTE--I'D PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THREE HEADLIGHT BULBS ON THIS CAR; AND THOUGH SUCCESSFUL, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROCESS EACH TIME. > THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW! > AN OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE ANY SAFETY-RELATED LIGHT BULB ON THE OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE WITH 1) NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE MECHANICALLY, EG, A TEEN BARBIE-BIMBO; 2) ONLY MODEST HAND DEXTERITY, EG, AN OLD FART WITH ARTHRITIS; 3) NO TOOL MORE COMPLEX THAN A COMMONPLACE SCREWDRIVER; AND 4) WITHOUT AN OWNER'S MANUAL, EG, AN OLDER USED CAR. > THE GOAL HERE IS TO EMPOWER AN OWNER TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLE IN SAFEST CONDITION. I REQUEST THAT THE USDOT ISSUE AND ENFORCE SUITABLE STANDARDS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF "FAMILY" VEHICLES. > IT'S TOO '!@#$% LATE TO HELP ME. I DOUBT WHETHER I'LL EVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED IN THE LOCK MECHANISM. THE BUCKLE MECHANISM WOULD NOT RELEASE THE SEAT BELT HARNESS STRAP. THE CONTACT IS WAITING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 70,300.

TWO GENERAL TIRES PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME .ONE TIRE BLEW OUT AND WHEN I WHEN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WAS TOLD THAT BOTH THE VALVE STEMS IN BOTH THESE TIRES WERE ROTTEN AND THE FIRST ONE GAVE WAY CAUSING A BLOW-OUT WHILE DRIVING .IN CHECKING THE OTHER TIRE THE VALVE STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TERRIFYING !!*TR

THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER BUCKLES. INITIALLY THE BUCKLE WOULD GO INTO THE RECEPTACLE BUT NOT LATCH UNLESS YOU PRESSED REAL HARD AND JIGGLED IT AROUND. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE BUCKLE GOES INTO THE RECEPTACLE BUT DOES NOT LATCH. *TR

WITHIN 15 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES OF PURCHASE, MICHELIN PILOT PRIMACY 195/55R15 TIRE SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MICHELIN ONLY OFFERED TO REFUND 25% OF TIRE COST (AND ONLY FOR A NEW MICHELIN TIRED). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT HEARD LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS A BLOWN ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS ENGINE FAILURE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,289 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,490.

LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP, FOUND PROBLEM TO BE BUTTERFLY VALVE SCREWS BACKING OUT AND FALLING INTO INTAKE MANIFOLD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST ~$900.00. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE (FEMALE) ON MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE5 WILL NOT LATCH, THE VEHICLE HAS 147,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR