Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Dont Get One - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By historiker33 - November 28 - 8:22 pm

  In 2 years, Ive gone through: 2 wheel bearings Front axle alternator Seat belt $900 valve job Heres the bad thing, and BE ADVISED: A valve job on these cars will often result in the piston rings going bad; this happened to me. There is no easy fix for this - the car needs a new engine and smokes like crazy. The newest versions of these cars are now 13 years old. Do not buy one

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  Mixed feelings - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By DJ - June 18 - 4:56 pm

  One one hand, I love the power and handling you get with such a small sticker price. The Protege killed the Civic and the Corolla in the test drive. Its been a lot of fun!! However, Ive had to throw a lot of money at it in the four years Ive owned it. Ive replaced both wheel bearings twice and the stabilizer links twice also. Very disappointing. The mileage isnt all that great either.

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  2003 protege nightmare - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By scott - May 14 - 1:16 pm

  I bought this car with 15 miles on it. Ive put alot of miles on it. currently i have just under 141, 000. Ive had to have the front bearing replaced 4 times! on each side. ive had the alternator replaced twice. ive changes the oil tank because it actually rusted through, as well as the front exhaust at the intake manifold. ive changed both the oxygen sensor and the speed sensor. Ive also changed the radiator twice. this is a car ive changed the oil and other scheduled maintained every 3-4k miles on it! I can;t believe it got this good of a reliability rating on Edmunds because mine has been a nightmare. plus mine is currently rusting to crap.....what happened?

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  gas tank leaking & rust - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By fuel tamk leaking - February 19 - 7:43 am

  This car Just over 5 years old, the gas tank was leaking, cost me $1400 to replace the pump, gas tank and etc. Complained to Mazda company, but they did not care. I will not buy any Mazda again. The Mazda company cut too much cost to build this Protege, not only the rust on the gas tank, but also other areas. I make a big mistake to buy this mazda protege. Gas tank leaking is a safety issue!! I can accept other problems, but not gas tank.

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  Never Again! - 2003 Mazda Protege
  By elyarne7 - January 12 - 9:41 am

  I bought this car with 29,000 miles on it. That was 3 years ago. It now has 90,000 miles on it. It has only had problem after problem - battery, multiple wheel bearings, tire links, brakes, alternator. The alignment is easily messed up. The car is not well made - its cheap, lightweight and already starting to rust. Its a money pit. Do not buy it! Oh, and my Mazda is the automatic, not 5-speed standard.