Mazda Protege Complaints (2003)

120 consumer complaints on file.

#10286652October 7, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285628September 29, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273142June 8, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269275May 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263194March 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247780November 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241574September 9, 2008
SEAT BELTS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237237August 6, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235896July 27, 2008
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO STICK WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. CURRENTLY, IT WILL LATCH, BUT DURING DRIVING, IT WILL UNLATCH AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT FLUCTUATES BETWEEN STICKING TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO PULL QUITE VIOLENTLY TO UNLATCH IT, OR NOT LATCHING AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231334June 17, 2008
SEAT BELTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230334June 9, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229621June 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219191February 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214914January 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND HICCUP. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAM ON SO I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE CAR HAD A MORE SERIOUS SHUDDER. I GOT IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND THEY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS A MISFIRE IN THE #4 CYLINDER. THE SPARKPLUG WAS SMASHED. NOTHING WAS FOUND IN THE CYLINDER SO THE SPARKPLUG WAS REPLACED AND TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME SHUDDER PROBLEM AND AGAIN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS TIME THE #1 CYLINDER WAS THE PROBLEM AND AGAIN WITH THE SAME SMASHED SPARKPLUG. MY MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY ODD OCCURRENCE AND CHECKED AND FOUND THE RECALL #3005C. MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER THEN SAID MY VIN# DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL AND YET THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE MAZDA IS TRYING TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213701January 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY DAUGHTER DROVE MY MAZDA PROTEGE 5 TO PICK UP MY SON AND TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM A FRIEND'S HOUSE. SHE PARKED THE CAR ON THE FRIEND'S FLAT DRIVEWAY, PLACING IT IN FIRST GEAR. WHILE SHE WAS INSIDE OF THE HOUSE, THE CAR SOMEHOW POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND PICKED UP ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO ROLL ONTO THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS A HILL, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR ENDED UP STRIKING A HOUSE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SHRUBBERY OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. NOBODY COULD FIND ANY APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR/TRANSMISSION. *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213343January 1, 2008
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS ON INCLINES--THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND A WOMAN WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR CAR SITTING NEXT TO ME AT AN INSURANCE HEARING! IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BOTH OUR CARS AND HER FRIEND'S PROPERTY.*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212937December 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE CODES AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209446November 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 WITH ROUGH IDLING AND OTHER ENGINE ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STARTING. *KB WHEN THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE ENGINE, HE FOUND THE SCREWS HAD PASSED THROUGH THE ENGINE AND WERE FOUND IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD SHUTTER AND VARIABLE TUMBLE CONTROL VALVE EMISSION RECALL FOR MAZDA PROTEGE'S, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RANGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195668July 9, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE LIGHT AS LONG AS THE BELT WOULD LATCH. HOWEVER, THE BELT NO LONGER LATCHES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195432July 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
PURCHASED A PRE OWNED 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4000 MILES BEFORE THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER OF PURCHASE. A SCREW ON AN THE INTAKE CAME LOOSE AND WENT INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDER. DAMAGE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA HAS RECALL 3005C FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE EXACT YEAR, MODEL, AND ENGINE AS THE ONE I PURCHASED. HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER WAS A FEW THOUSAND NUMBERS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL RANGE. IM STUCK WITH A 15,000 PIECE OF JUNK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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