2002 Mazda Protege vs 2003 Mazda Protege
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Mazda Protege | 2003 Mazda Protege |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 98 | 120 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 99 | 96 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported mileage | 62,502 mi | 68,364 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda Protege | Mazda Protege |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 34 |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 17 |
| Power Train | 17 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 10 |
| Tires | 9 | 10 |
| Suspension | 3 | 11 |
| Structure | 9 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 9 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 5 | 17 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 11 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 5 |
2002 Mazda Protege
2003 Mazda Protege
Compare all Mazda Protege vs Mazda Protege years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.