Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Mazda Protege owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine and timing belt needed to be replaced. The engine was taken apart and the mechanic found a screw inside of the intake valve. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.
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 only to have the same issue cylinder misfire with cylinder 4 with another bent plug gap closed. Possible something loose inside cylinder 4 causing the misfire issues to the plug. Mileage 130,280
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.
While driving on highway at about 60 MPH for 40 minutes, the car began sputtering, jerking, making noises, losing acceleration and the check engine light came on. It initially felt like someone was taking their foot on and off the gas. We pulled off road and were towed to our garage. Mechanic found that the spark plug for cylinder 4 was smashed shut, he replaced it and told us to take it to the dealer since this was the 3rd time we had this problem. In dec of 2009 the spark plug for cylinder 1 had same problem then again in feb 2010 it was the plugs for 1 & 4. Each time we were driving at 55 MPH or higher when car began to sputter then check engine light came on. Mazda is telling us nothing is in the engine, the compression is fine and they have no idea why spark plugs are getting smashed. …
My son bought a 2003 Mazda Protege 5, back in late July 2010. Shortly thereafter, on August 3rd, 2010 in fact, he knowing of an open recall, had the car serviced at the local Mazda dealership. Apparently they performed part a of recall 3005c and did a compression check and slapped a "recall completed" sticker under the hood. Come late August, my son takes the car away to school. On November 1st, 2010, he calls complaining of a "'loud engine noise". 2 days later, we had the car towed to a nearby performance shop. They investigated and noticed the recall 3005c sticker under the hood. Knowing this, the performance shop recommended we take the car to the local Mazda dealership nearby my sons' school. This second dealership verified with a borescope that there was damage in cylinders 1 and 3. …
One of the butterfly valves on the intake manifold fell off completely. This happened when the last of the two screws holding it on came loose and fell-off and was sucked into the engine. When the part was dismantled, there were only five of the original eight screws remaining. Only one of the four valves was completely connected when the unit was opened. I was driving normally down road and luckily this happened as I was parking my car. The event happened on 7/22/05 and the Mazda dealership stated that although they have seen this occur before, there is no TSB or recall. I will need to replace this part of the manifold at a cost of more that $1000 dollars. On a Mazda enthusist website that I frequent, at least ten other members have had the same problem with results varying from complete engine replacement, to the same supposed fix as I need. …
My 2002 Protege 5 (built December 2002) had a catastrophic engine failure, due to loose vics screws from the intake manifold coming loose and being sucked into the combustion chamber. These screws sheared off the top of my spark plug, and destroyed my piston and valves. The outward symptoms was a loud 'coin in the washing machine' sound coming from my engine, followed by a sudden loss of power and stalling. After the engine was opened, 3 of 8 vics screws were off completely, and the remaining 5 were loose. This is clearly the identical defect to a recall for Protege 5's built shortly after my vehicle (emissions recall 3005c), but my vehicle was not covered in the recall. Reading online boards for Protege owners, it is clear that this is a frequent defect effecting both owners in and out of recall range, and that this vics recall should be widened to include additional owners. …
While driving normally to my home after work the car stalled at a stop light. )when restarted there was a loud clanking/hammering noise from the engine for about 15 seconds then the sound went away, the cell lit up and the engine started shaking. When checked for codes a misfire on cylinder -4 was found. (the spark plug on cylinder 4 had been smashed flat by a foreign object that caused the hammering noise, nothing was found inside the cylinder , using a magnet. The spark plug was replaced and the car worked as normal. Upon investigation on the internet I found recall 3005c for the vehicle that describes my problem and if not fixed can cause engine failure. …
My engine failed causing a sudden loss of power. I was able to pull over safely. My car required about $1,000 worth of repairs, using used parts, and I have permanent engine damage that will ultimately shorten the life of my engine. The root cause of the engine failure was due to loose screws located in the air intake manifold, that allowed for a baffle or butterfly valve to break and enter my engine. This very same problem was recalled by Mazda for vehicles made from March of 2003 to July of 2003, mine was manufactured in February of 2003, and therefore was not recalled. I know of at least three other people who also have experienced this very same issue who have not been included in the recall. I have had two separate Mazda service managers confirm this was the same problem as the recall - loose screws in air intake manifold. …
While driving to work my car began to shudder and hiccup. Then the engine light cam on so I pulled off the highway. I started it back up and the car had a more serious shudder. I got it to a local service station and they ran a computer diagnostic and said it was a misfire in the #4 cylinder. The sparkplug was smashed. Nothing was found in the cylinder so the sparkplug was replaced and temporarily fixed the problem. Two weeks later the same shudder problem and again the engine light came on. This time the #1 cylinder was the problem and again with the same smashed sparkplug. My mechanic thought it was a very odd occurrence and checked and found the recall #3005c. My local Mazda dealer then said my VIN# did not fall within the range of the recall and yet there seems to be many people with this problem. It looks like Mazda is trying to avoid this problem.
Engine complaints in other Protege years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Mazda Protege?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Mazda Protege, 33% of the model year's 120 complaints. The component named most often is engine (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Mazda Protege engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2003 Mazda Protege. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Mazda Protege engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.