2003 Mazda Protege Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2003 Mazda Protege, and owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2003 Mazda Protege. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Mazda Protege have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA; 16 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 67,112 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 27 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechani”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 16, 2020 · Engine
“Rough idle causing to stall while driving, check engine light on for cylinder misfire, found cylinder 4 with a bent spark plug with the gap closed. Replaced all 4 plugs car ran fine for a few months o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 2, 2020 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Mazda Protege/Protege 5. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–22 / 27–28 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S4); Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mazda Protege model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mazda Protege model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 Mazda Protege | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 Mazda Protege | 1 | 37 |
| 1991 Mazda Protege | 1 | 51 |
| 1992 Mazda Protege | 1 | 63 |
| 1993 Mazda Protege | 1 | 44 |
| 1994 Mazda Protege | 1 | 74 |
| 1995 Mazda Protege | 4 | 165 |
| 1996 Mazda Protege | 1 | 70 |
| 1997 Mazda Protege | 1 | 66 |
| 1998 Mazda Protege | 1 | 46 |
| 1999 Mazda Protege | 1 | 88 |
| 2000 Mazda Protege | 1 | 102 |
| 2001 Mazda Protege | 1 | 50 |
| 2002 Mazda Protege | 0 | 98 |
| 2003 Mazda Protege | 0 | 120 |
Checking a specific 2003 Mazda Protege
How do I know if my 2003 Mazda Protege has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mazda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mazda models
- 6263,130 complaints
- MAZDA32,987 complaints
- CX-52,451 complaints
- MAZDA62,234 complaints
- Tribute2,102 complaints
- CX-91,438 complaints
- CX-71,132 complaints
- Mpv938 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.