Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2003 Mazda protege has 38 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
38
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 28, 2020 | ENGINE | ROUGH IDLE CAUSING TO STALL WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR CYLINDER MISFIRE, FOUND CYLINDE... |
| Jan 22, 2020 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STAL... |
| Aug 1, 2013 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE... |
| Jul 16, 2013 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK E... |
| Mar 26, 2013 | ENGINE | I RECENTLY PURCHASED A '03 MAZDA PROTEGE5. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YESTERDAY AT 65 MPH, I HEARD ... |
| Oct 21, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | THE CAR SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEREBY THE SCREWS INSIDE THE INTAKE HAD COME LOOS... |
| Aug 24, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | THE TIGHTENING TORQUE OF THE SCREWS USED FOR MOUNTING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SHUTTER VALVE LOOSENED AND... |
| Nov 1, 2010 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | MY SON BOUGHT A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5, BACK IN LATE JULY 2010. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ON AUGUST 3RD, 201... |
| Aug 19, 2010 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH FOR 40 MINUTES, THE CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING, JERKING, MAKING N... |
| Jun 21, 2010 | ENGINE | ON AT LEAST 3-5 OCCASIONS THIS 2.0L ENGINE HAS SUFFERED THE EXACT SAME FATE AS NHTSA ID# 10422484. ... |
| Jan 11, 2010 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | MY 03 PROTEGE HAS VICS SCREWS FALLING OUT AND ALL ISSUES THAT COMES WITH IT. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED ... |
| Sep 23, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A NO-START CO... |
| Jul 30, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. WHILE IDLING THE ENGINE, IT MISFIRED AND TWO OF THE CYLI... |
| May 18, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | MY 2002 PROTEGE 5 (BUILT DECEMBER 2002) HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, DUE TO LOOSE VICS SCREWS ... |
| Apr 10, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA SPEED PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SE... |
| Apr 16, 2008 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED... |
| Feb 21, 2008 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP, FOUND PROBLEM... |
| Dec 20, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND HICCUP. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAM ON SO I PULLED O... |
| Aug 1, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 WITH ROUGH IDLING AND OTHER ENGINE ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAD A RO... |
| Jun 15, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | PURCHASED A PRE OWNED 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE ... |