2003 Mazda Protege air bags problems
10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2003 Mazda Protege — 8% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“2003 mazda protege would not pass 2019 virginia safety inspection due to defective passenger side airbag. Dealer cannot replace because mazda has discontinued that part. Under virginia law, car cannot be operated without valid inspection certificate. Inspection disclosed no other disqualifying…”
filed Aug 30, 2019
“2003 mazda protege 5 was traveling approximately 45mph and struck a moving vehicle in the rear quarter panel. No air bag was deployed in the mazda protege 5. The other vehicle's airbags deployed.”
filed Mar 6, 2016
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Air Bags problems in other Protege years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Protege | 9 | 9% |
| 2001 Protege | 11 | 22% |
| 2000 Protege | 25 | 25% |
| 1999 Protege | 21 | 24% |
| 1998 Protege | 3 | 7% |
| 1997 Protege | 12 | 18% |
| 1996 Protege | 24 | 34% |
| 1995 Protege | 41 | 25% |
| 1994 Protege | 1 | 1% |
| 1992 Protege | 1 | 2% |
| 1991 Protege | 1 | 2% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 Mazda Protege
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.