| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2003 Mazda Protege repairs by problem area
Engine (39%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (3%)
Brakes and Traction Control (6%)
Suspension and Steering (25%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (17%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (8%)
Other (1%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 454 repairs.
2003 Mazda Protege body repair cost distribution
$2500+ (0%)
$1000 - $2499 (4%)
$500 - $999 (4%)
$100 - $499 (11%)
< $100 (82%)
Chart based on 28 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 48000 mi | Finish flaking off wheels. New wheels ordered. Wrong wheels ordered, so not installed. Will have to go back. |
| 49000 mi | Wheels finally replaced. Extra trip required so Mazda could approve use of polished wheels like those that originally came on the car. I had these swapped for regular painted alloys at time of purchase. |
| 77000 mi US $5 |
Repaired rust around the rear wheel openings and along the lower inner seam of the driver's door. Repaired rust around the rear wheel openings and along the lower inner seam of the driver's door. |
| 92000 mi US $575 |
Repaired rust around rear wheel openings and on the lower inside surface of the driver's door. |
| 115000 mi | Removed rust from three fenders and welds under hood, treated areas with rust converter, touched-up. Had to remove a few inches of flange from the forward edge of the left rear wheel opening. Not a complete repair. |
| 1 mi US $400 |
Repaired deep rust on part of the underbody and inside rear wheel openings prior to sale. |
| 108500 mi C $56 |
Took car to bodyshop to assess extreme rust. Told body of car probably has 1.5 years before unsafe to drive.... |
| 108500 mi | Extreme rust on body. Hole in floor of car so just decided to give up. |
| 83700 mi C $10 |
Some rust in the back wheel well. |
| 88040 mi | only loose heat shield causing slight rattle. car drives like new! |
| 101060 mi | some rust |
| 87000 mi US $17 |
License plate light housing plastic broken, so that bulb (which still lit) dangled down by license plate. |
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 128960 mi | 2. Significant rust in underneath in the rear, approaching perforation. |
| 39000 mi | Rattling from engine bay before engine warmed up. The heat shield had come loose. Dealer reattached under owarranty. |
| 117000 mi | rot around rear wheelwell |
| 68200 mi | rust on hatch and rear fenders. |
2003 Mazda Protege
Engine not specified
| 86800 mi | Car was rusting under the paint over rear tire wells, body shop refused to fix the car as they were concerned the $ for repairs would exceed value of the car as well that there was additional rust under the plastic moldings. |
| 89900 mi C $250 |
Passenger side running board trim was removed as the fasteners were rusted through and part would eventually fall off |
2003 Mazda Protege 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 170hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 52000 mi US $23 |
Adhesive for factory rear bumper skirt molding had failed and was sagging. Removed rear skirt and cleaned all molding adhesive off from rear skirt & bumper. Body shop technicians replaced all adhesive and mounted rear bumper skirt within factory specification. |
2003 Mazda Protege 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 40000 mi | Dash rattle. |
| 93000 mi | Rusting on bottom of doors and rear fenders. |
| 49000 mi US $50 |
Rust forming under driver door seam. Removed rubberized rail, removed drain plugs (other doors didn't have them??), removed loose paint and rust, sealed with POR-15 Rust forming under driver door seam. Removed rubberized rail, removed drain plugs (other doors didn't have them??), removed loose paint and rust, sealed with POR-15 |
| 54000 mi US $250 |
Repaired rust on lower front fenders, at rocker panels. Repaired rust on front, upper strut tower mounts. Repaired rust on lower seam of driver door (second repair; seam collects moisture, not sure about longer-term fix) Inside, rear, passenger-side door handle broke in half. Repaired rust on lower front fenders, at rocker panels. Repaired rust on front, upper strut tower mounts. Repaired rust on lower seam of driver door (second repair; seam collects moisture, not sure about longer-term fix) Inside, rear, passenger-side door handle broke in half. |
2003 Mazda Protege 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 37000 mi US $47 |
Heat shield on underside had rusted and loosened. Auto shop removed same, but did not replace. |
2003 Mazda Protege 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 148900 mi C $1500 |
Rust treatment and new coat of paint. |
| 111000 mi US $71 |
Replaced both RH interior door handles (broken). |
| 114409 mi US $96 |
and broken LR inside door handle |
See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.
