2002 Mazda Protege Complaints

I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. WERE THE UPPER PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT ATTACHES TO THE CAR BODY, THE CAR BODY METAL IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND STARTING TO SEPARATE ON THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DID TAKE THE CAR TO A MAZDA BODY SHOP AND THEY QUOTED ME IN THE AREA OF $1,000.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE FIX AS THIS IS AN AREA HIGH IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT SUBJECT TO THE ELEMENTS. BASICALLY MAZDA HAS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE METAL, THE ANTI CORROSION TREATMENT OR THE FINISH TREATMENT TO THE METAL. THIS IS IN A PROTECTED AREA AND IF PROPERLY MADE SHOULD NEVER RUST. NEEDLESS TO SAY, A GOOD SOLID MOTOR MOUNT IS A CRITICAL ITEM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ABOUT JUNE 1ST 2010. *TR

DRIVERS FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK IN. *LN

2002 MAZDA POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES. PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, NOW ON ITS 3RD UNIT.. CAR, A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 HAS APPROX. 102,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST FAILURE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE WITH LOSS OF STEERING WITH NO WARNING NOTICED. 2ND PUMP LEAK WAS DETERMINED BY MECHANIC CAUSING ERRATIC STEERING PROBLEMS. FIRST PUMP (ON CAR WHEN NEW) FAILED AT 87,000 MILES, 2ND OCCRRED SOME 10,000 MILES LATER. THE THIRD PUMP HAS ONLY 3K MILES AND NO WAY OF TELLING HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. MAZDA DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY. PUMPS HAS BEEN REPLACED 2X AND ON ITS THIRD PUMP ON THIS CAR. OLD PART NOT LIKELY AVAILABLE. MAZDA TOLD OWNER THEY HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS (EVER?) WITH POWER STEERING PUMPS, A LIE. CHECK INTERNET FOR POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES. CURRENTLY RECALLING 500,000 POWER STEERING PUMPS ON OTHER YEARS. BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT ADMITTED THEIR COMPLETE PROBLEMS ON THESE UNITS TO THIS DATE. *TR

2002 PROTEGE HEATER FAN SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND MELTED PLUG AND SWITCH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE BUT IT WAS SMOKING WHEN IT FRIED AND CAUSED THE 4TH SPEED OF THE FAN NOT TO WORK I HAD TO SPLICE A NEW PLUG IN TO FIX THE ISSUE AND TO KEEP IT FROM CATCHING FIRE I HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE STATED THAT THE POLE STRUCK A BUILDING AND CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,624 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 2/22/11 *CN UPDATED 07/01/11