2003 Mazda Protege Suspension Problems

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

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

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

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SPLIT IN HALF AND THE STRUT WENT THROUGH THE FENDER ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FEELS THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY HITTING SOMETHING IN THE ROAD; THE CONTACT DISAGREED. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK

THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE 2003.5 MAZDASPEED PROTEGE HAS A VERY BAD NOISE WHICH YOU CAN HEAR WHEN PASSING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR ANY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A SODA CAN BEING CRUSHED. THE NOISE IS MORE PRONOUCED IN WET OR COLD CONDITIONS. NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE SINCE 2ND MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER HAS VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM 2 TIMES AND INDICATES THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE IT. VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS NOT A UNKOWN ISSUE AND HAS AFFECT MANY (IF NOT ALL) OWNER OF THIS MODEL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES OR SUSPENSION. *AK *JB