2003 Mazda Protege: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 145 complaints
145
Total Complaints
69,800mi
Median Mileage
SEAT BELTS
Top Issue
18
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

20,120 25th Percentile
69,800 Median Mileage
100,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SEAT BELTS
15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
13
TIRES
8
SUSPENSION
7
STEERING
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
6
ENGINE
6
AIR BAGS
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3

Severity Assessment

18
Crashes
3
Fires
11
Injuries
3
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"FAILURE OF SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. ON DATE INDICATED THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE5 STRUCK A METAL UTILITY POLE WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS, YET THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS A DIRECT AND NOT GLANCING BLOW THE MAIN FORCE OF WHICH STRU..."
"ENGINE RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STARTING IN THE MORNING, AND PERIODICALLY RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING WHEN WARMED UP."
"RPM NEEDLE JUMPS FROM 700 RPMS TO 3000 RPMS WHEN STOPPED FOR NO REASON AND FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE OR WHEN COASTING. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. PH"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28