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Model Year Problem Record

Mazda Protege 2003 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2003 Mazda Protege: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

120Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints
0Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls
0Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations
21Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Did a Recall Cover It?

For each system: what owners reported, matched against the recalls on file for this model year. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Engine41 complaints

41 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts17 complaints

17 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Power Train13 complaints

13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Suspension12 complaints

12 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Tires10 complaints

10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Air Bags10 complaints

10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Equipment3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Speed Control2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Visibility1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Wheels1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

No recall campaigns cover this model year.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20021
20038
200427
20059
20069
200710
200811
20097
20108
20118
20125
20136
20143
20153
20161
20171
20191
20202
How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.