2003 Mazda Protege Body and Trim Problems and Repair Histories
2003 Mazda Protege Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim problems reported via the Car Repair History and Car Reliability Surveys
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Mazda Protege
2003 Mazda Proteges for which no Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim problems have been reported are not displayed. So the 2003 Mazda Protege problems and repair histories you see here should not be used to infer car Body and Trim problem frequency.
For 2003 Mazda Protege Body and Trim problem frequency, check the Car Reliability Survey result. For the problems behind the score, check the 2003 Mazda Protege Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim problems and repair histories that follow it.
Mazda Protege Reliability through December 31, 2012
General NotesModels and statistics marked with an asterisk (*) have very low sample sizes. These results, visible only to logged-in members, provide only a rough estimate of car reliability.Any result under 20 repair trips per 100 cars is likely a result of the small sample size, and should be expected to increase to 20 or so in future updates.
New models often start out with high repair rates, and then improve as the manufacturer identifies and addresses common problems. MethodologyOnly successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
| Year | Make/Model | Trips/Year/100 Cars | Compared to all models for the same year | |
| 2003 | Mazda Protege | 42 Proteges, 10.0 months of data per Protege, average 110200 miles Moderate repair frequency, but watch out for rust where the roads are salted.54 |
Fewest Trips
Most Trips
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see reported repairs |
Non-members can see only ten 2003 Mazda Protege Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim problems and repair histories. Log in or join us to see them all.
Repair costs are in local units.
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| Mazda Protege5 in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2007 | 75640 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2008 | 83700 | 10 | Some rust in the back wheel well. |
| Sep | 2009 | 88040 | 0 | only loose heat shield causing slight rattle. car drives like new! |
| Aug | 2011 | 101060 | 0 | some rust |
| Mazda Protege5 in Texas, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2008 | 83000 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2008 | 87000 | 17 | License plate light housing plastic broken, so that bulb (which still lit) dangled down by license plate. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda Protege5 in Michigan, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2006 | 34000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2007 | 48000 | 0 | Finish flaking off wheels. New wheels ordered. Wrong wheels ordered, so not installed. Will have to go back. |
| Nov | 2007 | 49000 | 0 | Wheels finally replaced. Extra trip required so Mazda could approve use of polished wheels like those that originally came on the car. I had these swapped for regular painted alloys at time of purchase. |
| Oct | 2009 | 77000 | 5 | Repaired rust around the rear wheel openings and along the lower inner seam of the driver's door. |
| Nov | 2010 | 92000 | 575 | Repaired rust around rear wheel openings and on the lower inside surface of the driver's door. |
| Mar | 2013 | 114000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| Mazda Protege5 in Virginia, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2006 | 28000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2007 | 39000 | 0 | Rattling from engine bay before engine warmed up. The heat shield had come loose. Dealer reattached under owarranty. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda Protege5 in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2006 | 27280 | First odometer entry | |
| Mar | 2011 | 68200 | 0 | rust on hatch and rear fenders. |
| Mazda Protege5 in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2011 | 85560 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2011 | 86800 | 0 | Car was rusting under the paint over rear tire wells, body shop refused to fix the car as they were concerned the $ for repairs would exceed value of the car as well that there was additional rust under the plastic moldings. |
| Jan | 2012 | 89900 | 250 | Passenger side running board trim was removed as the fasteners were rusted through and part would eventually fall off |
2003 Mazda Protege 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| Mazda Protege in Alberta, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2009 | 65100 | First odometer entry | |
| Feb | 2012 | 93000 | 0 | Rusting on bottom of doors and rear fenders. |
| Mazda Protege in West Virginia, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| May | 2008 | 39000 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2009 | 49000 | 50 | Rust forming under driver door seam. Removed rubberized rail, removed drain plugs (other doors didn't have them??), removed loose paint and rust, sealed with POR-15 |
| Aug | 2010 | 55000 | 250 | Inside, rear, passenger-side door handle broke in half. Repaired rust on lower front fenders, at rocker panels. Repaired rust on front, upper strut tower mounts. Repaired rust on lower seam of driver door (second repair; seam collects moisture, not sure about longer-term fix) |
| Jan | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda Protege in Washington, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2007 | 0 | Dash rattle. | |
| Oct | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2003 Mazda Protege 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| Mazda Protege in Massachusetts, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jan | 2011 | 35000 | First odometer entry | |
| Feb | 2011 | 37000 | 47 | Heat shield on underside had rusted and loosened. Auto shop removed same, but did not replace. |
| Dec | 2012 | 40000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2002.5 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| Mazda Protege5 in New York, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2007 | 55000 | First odometer entry | |
| Mar | 2010 | 80000 | 1400 | Significant thru the panel rust on both rear wheel arches, causing the rear bumper to lose its connection points to the body. The connector has rusted away, leaving bumper to rattle in the wind. Also other rust ie bottom of all doors |
| Apr | 2011 | 89000 | 0 | Sold with substantial rust. |
Expert 2003 Mazda Protege Repair Advice
Non-members can see only ten 2003 Mazda Protege Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim problems and repair histories. Log in or join us to see them all.
What People Are Saying about Problems with the 2003 Mazda Protege
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