2003 Mazda Protege engine problems
41 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Mazda Protege, which is 28% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 41 28% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 35 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 9 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 35 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 70,000 miles, and 34% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury.
What owners wrote
While approaching a stop sign, the engine stalled causing the brakes and power steering not to work. I was unable to stop at the stop sign and ran into the embankment on the other side. This car has had a history of engine stalling while running.
While driving normally to my home after work the car stalled at a stop light. )when restarted there was a loud clanking/hammering noise from the engine for about 15 seconds then the sound went away, the cell lit up and the engine started shaking. When checked for codes a misfire on cylinder -4 was found. (the spark plug on cylinder 4 had been smashed flat by a foreign object that caused the hammering noise, nothing was found inside the cylinder , using a magnet.
Other problems reported for the 2003 Mazda Protege
- Seat belts 17 complaints
Engine problems in other years
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990