Reliability research -- looking for P5s

[P5w3kids]

Starting this month we have a new question to measure, as objectively as possible, the severity of a problem. Many people have been asking for reliability stats that weight problems by how severe they are, and once we have enough responses with the revised survey we'll start providing this.

Also, updated reliability stats this month.

As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated results for the Protege to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 84 -- about average

2002-2002.5: 69 -- better than average

2001: 61 -- better than average

2000: 66 -- better than average

1999: 109 -- about average

Small sample sizes for the 1999, 2000, and 2001, so these results are much less precise.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2003, the percentage with no repairs is about 57, and the percentage of lemons is about 9.

Mazda Protege Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

Thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[cutchemist]

Just discovered the website and think it is a great idea. Signed up as a 2003 P5!!

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated results for the Protege to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of this year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003-2003.5: 89 -- about average

2002-2002.5: 71 -- better than average

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2003, the percentage with no repairs is about 50, and the percentage of lemons is about 5.

Mazda Protege Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

Thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[cutchemist]

We have updated results for the Protege to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of this year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003-2003.5: 89 -- about average

2002-2002.5: 71 -- better than average

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2003, the percentage with no repairs is about 50, and the percentage of lemons is about 5.

Mazda Protege Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

Thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

Just wondering about your opinion on this type of matter. I just recently had to replace my lower control arm, bearing and hub. However, it was not due to reliability I would say but rather the massive potholes Winnipeg has during the change of season. I hit a massive one and within 3 days all these parts failed. Should those types of repairs count?

 

[wagon]

1. Headlight bulbs should be readily available at any local auto supply; Autozone, Checker, etc. Bulb life in our cars is short and shorter, apparently as a result of an electrical anomaly that no one seems to be fully define, except for constant vibration from bulbs slightly loose in their wire retainers.

However, my last change six months ago to a pair of Sylvania Silver Star Ultras has lasted longer than any combination except OEM 55 watters, which were puny output and didn't last that long, anyway.

The headlights are an install problem 100%.
There are a few ways they can be installed and seem fine but they are not. There is ONE correct way and they will last when done correct.

 

[P5w3kids]

Just wondering about your opinion on this type of matter. I just recently had to replace my lower control arm, bearing and hub. However, it was not due to reliability I would say but rather the massive potholes Winnipeg has during the change of season. I hit a massive one and within 3 days all these parts failed. Should those types of repairs count?

Repairs caused by the hitting "normal" potholes count. But if you hit one so large that it would likely have damaged most cars, and that you know caused the problem, I don't count that. If the pothole was large enough to have singularly caused damage to all three parts then I'm surprised the tire and wheel were okay, though.

Still not sure? Report it with a description like you have here and we'll sort it out.

 

[P5w3kids]

The headlights are an install problem 100%.
There are a few ways they can be installed and seem fine but they are not. There is ONE correct way and they will last when done correct.

Can you provide further detail? Some people here might want to know the wrong vs. right way. I know I would. I had the dealer do mine, but can they be counted on to know the "right way?"

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated results for the Protege to include owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003-2003.5: 82 -- about average

2002-2002.5: 76 -- better than average

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2003, the percentage with no repairs is about 53, and the percentage of lemons is about 8.

Mazda Protege Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participant we could provide more precise information.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated results for the Protege to include owner experiences through June 30, 2011.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003-2003.5: 96 -- about average

2002-2002.5: 89 -- about average

2001: 70 -- better than average

2000: 120 -- about average

1999: 107 -- about average

Small sample sizes for the 1999-2001, so these results are much less precise.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the Protege these are:

2003: 56, 11

2002: 58, 4

Mazda Protege Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participant we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Protege (on our redesigned site) to include owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003-2003.5: 96 -- about average

2002-2002.5: 90 -- better than average

2001: 67 -- better than average

2000: 92 -- better than average

Small sample sizes for the 2000 and 2001, so these our reliability stats are much less precise.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the Protege these are:

2003: 67, 13

Too few responses for other years.

Mazda Protege Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

Thank you, once again, to Antoine, this forum, and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates later this month and in May. With more participant we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[pkane]

I quickly scanned this thread, but wanted to give my reason for the cupholder change as someone who owns a 2002 P5 and 2 2003 P5s for a total of 3 yes 3 P5s. The 2002 with the flip-top has design issues. When you flip up the top, you don't have access to small cubby. More importantly it is not as deep as the 2003 and the 2002 will not safely hold more than 12 oz can. The 2003 is deep enough t safely hold a 20oz drink.

Another difference is the automatic transmission. The shifter in 2002 was a standard shifter, but in 2002.5 and up, you get the tiptronic version. I am not sure if this was mentioned, sorry if a repeat.

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Protege to include owner experiences through September 30, 2012.


Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:


2003-2003.5: 67, better than average


2002-2002.5: 93, about average


2001: 180, worse than average but very small sample size, so likely not accurate


2000: 85, better than average but very small sample size


We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.


For the Protege these are:


2003: 55, 7


Too few responses for other years.


We'll have further updates in February and May. We'd love to fully cover all years from 1998 on--just a matter of getting enough owners involved. More always better!


To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:


Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Protege to include owner experiences through December 31, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003-2003.5: 55, low

2002-2002.5: 65, low

2001: 140, high but very small sample size, so likely not accurate

2000: 86, low but very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the Protege these are:

2003: 57, < 1

Too few responses for other years.

Thank you, once again, to Antoine, this forum, and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Protege to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Protege: 51, low
2002 Protege: 69, low
2001 Protege: 148, high, very small sample size
2000 Protege: 123, high, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:
2003 Protege: 54, < 1

We'll have further updates in August and in November.

For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Protege to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013. (Another source is about 14 months behind.)

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Protege: 37, low
2002 Protege: 76, low

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2003 Protege: 68, < 1

We'll have further updates in November and February.

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Protege to include owner experiences through September 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Protege: 63, low
2002 Protege: 51, low
2001 Protege: 99, moderate, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2003 Protege: 59, 7

We'll have further updates in February and in May. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

We've updated our reliability stats for the Protege to include owner experiences through December 31, 2013.


Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:


2003 Protege: 55, low
2002 Protege: 63, low


We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:


2003 Protege: 70, 7


We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.


To see the repairs behind these stats, and to sign up to help improve this information:


Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

Our reliability stats for the Protege now include owner experiences through March 31, 2014, making them nearly a year ahead of other sources.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Protege: 73, low
2002 Protege: 77, low
2001 Protege: 104, moderate, very small sample size
2000 Protege: 55, low, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2003 Protege: 64, 4

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. Next update in August.

For a deeper dive, including the stats for other cars and repair descriptions, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mazda Protege reliability ratings and comparisons

 

[P5w3kids]

On a personal note, I sold my Protege5 this month after discovering that I'd only driven it about 800 miles in the past year. Wanted to keep the car forever, but Mazda's rust prevention wasn't up to the task. Figured I should sell it to someone who'd get a lot of use out of it before rust does it in.