2003 Mazda Protege Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 8%of 120 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 17,750miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Mazda Protege, 8% of the 120 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 17,750 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was taking a corner on hwy 36 and hit gravel on the side of the road. The car went off the road did a nose dive into a ditch flip forward end over end, slid and rolled twice. Non of the air bags deployed. Neither driver or passenger. I am not positive but my car should have had side curtain air bags but they did not deploy either.”
NHTSA complaint #10149590, filed 2006-02, 45,000 miles“I was involved in a head-on collision in my 2003 Mazda protege5 while traveling approximately 10-20mph. The other party was traveling approximately 20-25mph. Upon impact, the seat belt pretensioner didn't work (I was wearing my seat belt) and none of the airbags infated. The damage to the car was mainly structural, estimates to fix the car were approximately $13,000-$14,000, subsequently the car was 'totaled'. …”
NHTSA complaint #10062776, filed 2004-03, 1,204 miles“My son was involved in an auto accident and none of the front or side air bags went off. Though he or the other driver was not seriously injured my concern was why didnt the air bags go off? Everyone I have spoke to about this felt there may of been some defect in this car because of all the damage involved my son was pulling out of a side road onto the main highway he never saw the driver and hit the car on the passenger side my sons car was totaled. …”
NHTSA complaint #10057066, filed 2004-02, 14,666 miles“I have a 2003 Mazda Protege. When I purchased the car, I paid extra for a side airbags and anti-lock brake package. On monday, december 20th of 2004, I was broad sided by a 1990 huge chevy work pick up. I was going 40 MPH, I estimate the truck at the same. My side airbags failed to deploy. If I had not seen the truck coming and offset the angle of impact, my brother and I would most likely be in the hospital right now. When I contacted Mazda consumer affairs, I was told that they were not guaranteed to deploy and ?made a note in my file they failed to deploy.? …”
NHTSA complaint #10104696, filed 2004-12, 15,500 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10840175, filed 2016-03, 150,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10021000Oct 4, 2006Non genuine accessories affect air bag operation.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 8% |
| 2002 | 9 | 9% |
| 2001 | 11 | 22% |
| 2000 | 25 | 25% |
| 1999 | 21 | 24% |
| 1998 | 3 | 7% |
| 1997 | 12 | 18% |
| 1996 | 24 | 34% |
| 1995 | 41 | 25% |
| 1994 | 1 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mazda Protege
34 complaintsSeat belts
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsTires
10 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsEquipment
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mazda Protege
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology