There are 5 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2003 Mazda Protegein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
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
THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIRE HAD BLOWNED. THE DRIVER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH BACK RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING. TIRE MAKE: BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P195/55R15. THE TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR DAMAGE AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN ON FOR 25,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP (PEPBOYS) AND THEY FOUND THAT THE INSIDE STEEL BELT HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. I REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH ANOTHER BRAND (COST $100), AND STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED BRIDGESTONE TIRE FOR EVIDENCE.*AK
TREAD ON THE CENTER RIB OF TIRES STARTED TO BREAK OFF.*MR CONSUMER NOTICED SPLITTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. CONDITION GOTTEN WORSE, TRACTION ON THE TIRES HAD BE AFFECTED AND TIRES TENDED TO SLIP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONCLUDED THE TIRE WERE DEFECTIVE. ONLY THE CENTER RIB AND OUTER SHOULDER BLOCK SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WEAR. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED BRIDGESTONE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE MASTER CAR CARE CENTER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING OWNER'S NEGLECT. A SECOND OPINION WAS OBTAINED BY GOODYEAR GEMINI AUTO SERVICE WHO CONCLUDED IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OR DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WASN'T THE ALIGNMENT BUT DEFECTIVE TIRES. AT THIS TIME, THE REMAINING RIBS STARTED TO SHOW WEAR. *PH
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026