2003 Mazda Protege complaints

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLES UNEXPECTEDLY DIED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SECOND TIME WHERE THEY SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. *SC

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. *LA

I AM 6'0" WITH A TEMPERMENTAL BACK AND A 30" PANT INSEAM. IN PRACTICAL TERMS, I MUST HAVE THE SEAT CUSHION AT ITS LOWEST POSITION (FOR HEADROOM); THE SEAT BACK VERTICAL (TO PREVENT BACKACHE); AND THE SEAT MOVED RELATIVELY FORWARD (TO REACH THE PEDALS). MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 IS ONE OF THE FEW CARS I CAN DRIVE COMFORTABLY. THAT'S HIGH PRAISE FOR SUCH A MODEST CAR. >>>>> MY PROBLEM WITH THE PROTEGE IS THE LEVER FOR THE FORE/AFT MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE LEVER IS BELOW THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT CUSHION (INSTEAD OF ALONG THE LEFT SIDE); IT IS SHAPED ROUGHLY LIKE A CAPITAL LETTER "L" LAID HORIZONTALLY; THE INSIDE ANGLE IS ABOUT 120 DEGREES (SO THAT THE LONG SIDE POINTS FORWARD TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR); AND THE LEVER TIP IS "POINTY". >>>>> IF I WEAR "LONG" PANTS WITH BOTTOM CUFFS, THE CUFFS ARE PRONE TO CATCH ON THE SEAT LEVER AS I GET OUT OF THE CAR. BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT EASY TO STOP 235 POUNDS WHEN I'VE BEEN THROWN OFF BALANCE. I'VE REPEATEDLY GOTTEN BRUISED AND/OR SCRAPED HANDS DURING UNGRACEFUL LANDINGS. >>>>> THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS SIMILAR. THESE LEVERS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2003 PROTEGE (AND ANY OTHER RECENT VEHICLE USING THIS DESIGN) SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT LEVERS.*AK >>>>> A REPLACEMENT LEVER SHOULD BE SHAPED SO THAT ITS TIP TUCKS FAR ENOUGH UNDER THE SEAT CUSHION (A COUPLE OF INCHES) TO PREVENT IT FROM CATCHING A PANT CUFF OR PURSE STRAP. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE JOB DONE RIGHT, PLEASE SEE THE 2004 MAZDA 626. >>>>> THIS

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 STALLED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELARATE FROM A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT PROBLEMS. THE DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE THE PROBLEM.*AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE5 WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10-20MPH. THE OTHER PARTY WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DIDN'T WORK (I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT) AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS INFATED. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS MAINLY STRUCTURAL, ESTIMATES TO FIX THE CAR WERE APPROXIMATELY $13,000-$14,000, SUBSEQUENTLY THE CAR WAS 'TOTALED'. TO DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, THE FRAME WAS BENT, THE RIGHT FENDER AND STRUCTURAL PARTS UNDERNEATH WERE BUCKLED AT THE WINDSHIELD, AND QUITE A FEW ENGINE COMPONENTS DESTROYED AS WELL AS ALL OF THE 'COSMETIC' PARTS ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE DAMAGE WAS CLASSIFIED BY THE REPORTING POLICE DEPARTMENT AS "MAJOR". IN THIS ACCIDENT, I RECEIVED A PATELLA (KNEECAP) FRACTURE THAT IS SEVERE ENOUGH TO KEEP ME OFF WORK FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE WEEKS. PHYSICAL THERAPY WILL CONTINUE FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 6-8 WEEKS. MEDICAL BILLS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $8000 OR MORE. ON MARCH 19, 2004, I VISITED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ON JANUARY 4, 2004 (THE CAR HAD ONLY 1204 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF ACCIDENT). I INQUIRED FROM THE AVAILABLE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT "THERE'S A BOX THAT SITS CLOSE TO THE DASH, IN FRONT OF THE RADIO/CD CHANGER. IN THIS BOX IS A CUP WITH A LITTLE BALL IN IT. AROUND THE CUP ARE THE SENSORS THAT, IF THE CUP AND BALL ARE JARRED ENOUGH IN A COLLISION, WILL SET OFF THE AIRBAGS." I HAVE BE

MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AT 18,000 MILES AND ONE MONTH SHY OF BEING A YEAR OLD. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. I HAD MY CAR BACK FOR ONE WEEK AND THE NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT FOR NO REASON AS I WAS DOING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. AFTER REPLACING THE COMPUTER, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, THROTTLE RANGE SENSOR, AND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, MAZDA HAS NOW DECIDED TO REPLACE THE NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN A YEAR OLD CAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING HEAD REST ADJUSTED ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSED THE HEAD REST NOT TO ADJUST PROPERLY TO HEIGHT OF THE HEAD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES OR SUSPENSION. *AK *JB

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THOUGH HE OR THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED MY CONCERN WAS WHY DIDNT THE AIR BAGS GO OFF? EVERYONE I HAVE SPOKE TO ABOUT THIS FELT THERE MAY OF BEEN SOME DEFECT IN THIS CAR BECAUSE OF ALL THE DAMAGE INVOLVED MY SON WAS PULLING OUT OF A SIDE ROAD ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY HE NEVER SAW THE DRIVER AND HIT THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MY SONS CAR WAS TOTALED. HE JUST PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2003 HE HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUSTED AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PARTS I SPOKE TO SENATOR CORMAN REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND HE SAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT I ALSO SPOKE TO MAZDA REGARDING THIS HOWEVER THEY SAID THEY WERENT ALOUD TO INVESTIGATE IT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS OURSELVES THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALSO COMMENTED ON THE AIR BAGS NOT GOING OFF I HAVE PICTURES OF THE WRECKED CAR AND MY SON HAS THE POLICE REPORT IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME DOWN BELOW I LISTED 4 FAILURES THAT WAS ALL THE AIR BAGS AS FOR ANYOTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS I HAVE THE INSURANCE COPY OF THE DAMAGE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

FAILURE OF FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *AK

THERE'S A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTED IN THE MORNING. *AK

LEAKING GEAR OIL FLUID AT THE LINKAGE COUPLING. *LA

TREAD ON THE CENTER RIB OF TIRES STARTED TO BREAK OFF.*MR CONSUMER NOTICED SPLITTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. CONDITION GOTTEN WORSE, TRACTION ON THE TIRES HAD BE AFFECTED AND TIRES TENDED TO SLIP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONCLUDED THE TIRE WERE DEFECTIVE. ONLY THE CENTER RIB AND OUTER SHOULDER BLOCK SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WEAR. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED BRIDGESTONE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE MASTER CAR CARE CENTER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING OWNER'S NEGLECT. A SECOND OPINION WAS OBTAINED BY GOODYEAR GEMINI AUTO SERVICE WHO CONCLUDED IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OR DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WASN'T THE ALIGNMENT BUT DEFECTIVE TIRES. AT THIS TIME, THE REMAINING RIBS STARTED TO SHOW WEAR. *PH

I BELIEVE THAT THE 2003 MAZDA PROTOGE5 BRAKE DESIGN IS FLAWED AND DANGEROUS (5-SPEED MANUAL). I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH MY DEALER (CAPITAL MAZDA, CARY, NC) AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP.*AK THERE IS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, SO MUCH SO THAT I CAN NEARLY PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT WHEN BRAKING, HAVE ACTUALLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS WELL, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE, DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PRESSED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW IT SEEMS AND ONE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION FROM MAZDA. THIS IS A CONDITION THAT WILL LIKELY LEAD TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A POLE.*MR NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR MAZDA TO CORRECT ALL OF THE 2,000 MAZDA SPEED PROTEGE VEHICLES BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS. *PH *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *JB

STRUCTURE: SMALL RUST SPOTS LOCATED ON ALL EXTERIOR SURFACES. *JB

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

ENGINE RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STARTING IN THE MORNING, AND PERIODICALLY RATTLES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING WHEN WARMED UP.

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 STRUCK IMMEDIATELY OVER THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WHEN NOTIFIED, THE MAZDA USA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY (USAA) SHOULD INITIATE ANY REQUIRED ACTION. YET, THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMS THEY ARE NOT "INVOLVED" IF THE AIR BAG DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IS NO ONE BUT ME CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFECTIVE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM DESIGN OR THAT A DEFECTIVE UNIT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN MY CAR?