10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 1
Average Mileage:
79,799 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Mazda Protege seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Mazda Protege Owner Comments

problem #15

May 252015

Protege

  • 142,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The driver side seat belt latch is no longer working. There appears to be broken parts in the female part.

- Canal Winchester , OH, USA

problem #14

Dec 022014

Protege

  • 131,000 miles
I was pulling up to my residence when the seat belt popped out of the receiver by itself.. I tried to re-latch the seat belt and it would not latch. I attempted a few more times and the seat belt receiver completely fell apart..

- Eagle Mountain, UT, USA

problem #13

Mar 262013

Protege 4-cyl

  • 109,687 miles
The driver seat belt will no longer work. The male end will not connect to the female end. I looked with a flashlight and there were broken pieces inside. It looks like the buckle came apart. I now have to use the passenger side seat belt buckle.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #12

Jan 282013

Protege 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While my son was driving to work on a hill curve turn he lost control on icy wet road and hit a tree he died on 01/29/2013 he was 18 years old he was going to school and working.

- Pomona, NY, USA

problem #11

Dec 182012

Protege 4-cyl

  • 203,000 miles
When engaging seat belt into locking mechanism, the mechanism broke into about seven pieces. It will no longer hold the seat belt.

- Midvale, UT, USA

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problem #10

Jan 012008

Protege

  • 85,000 miles
The front driver side seat belt receptacle (female) on my 2003 Mazda protege5 will not latch, the vehicle has 147,000 miles on it now and is no longer under warranty.

- Lemoore, CA, USA

problem #9

Nov 052011

Protege

  • 151,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Protege. The contact stated that the front driver side seat belt buckle completely fractured when attempting to latch. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the seat belt buckle assembly was replaced. The contact planned to notify the manufacturer regarding the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.

- Fort Lauderdale , FL, USA

problem #8

Apr 152010

Protege

  • 90,000 miles
Front driver seat belt suddenly was incapable of being buckled. Drivers seat belt could not click in receptacle and was not usable. Dealer said it was not covered B/C it was out of warranty and I was responsible for repair which was about $100.

- Lemoyne, PA, USA

problem #7

Apr 202010

Protege

  • 52,000 miles
2003 Mazda Protege LX driver side seatbelt locking clip internal parts shattered after 50,000 miles. Out of warranty now but I have read other websites of people with the exact same problem. Why has a recall not been offered for this highly dangerous seatbelt?

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #6

Feb 102010

Protege

  • miles
Seatbelt broke when I tried to put it on. Inside the female adapter several plastic pieces were broken and floating around rendering my seatbelt useless. I had to plug in my seatbelt to the passenger side.

- Columbia , MO, USA

problem #5

Jan 062010

Protege

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1. December 17, 2009: The seat belt light was on when all seat belts were fastened. 2. January 6, 2010: The drivers seat belt mechanism no longer latches.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #4

Aug 092008

Protege

  • 70,300 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Protege. The contact stated that the rear passenger and driver's side seat belt became jammed in the lock mechanism. The buckle mechanism would not release the seat belt harness strap. The contact is waiting to have the vehicle repaired. The failure and current mileages were less than 70,300.

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #3

Jan 012004

Protege

  • miles
The driver's side seat belt began to stick within the second year of ownership. Currently, it will latch, but during driving, it will unlatch and the seatbelt light will come on. It fluctuates between sticking to the point of having to pull quite violently to unlatch it, or not latching at all.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 112008

Protege

  • 40,000 miles
The seat belt no longer buckles. Initially the buckle would go into the receptacle but not latch unless you pressed real hard and jiggled it around. After about a week, it stopped working all together. The buckle goes into the receptacle but does not latch.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 032005

Protege 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles
I was involved in an auto accident while driving an '03 Mazda protege5. Upon impact my seat belt failed.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

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