QUOTE(guywalls @ Jun 2 2008, 06:11 PM)

Is this normal?
Unfotunately.
This is due to how dispositons work within combat. Generally companions have lower personallity, and don't have boosts due to fame, so they often have lower dispositions toward them than the player. Additionally, allies tend to respond faster to combat, and by them targeting the attacker first, they end up more likely to get the attackers attention.
The best solution is to just console to adjust their personallity to 100, and to never raise yours past 80. Then you have a higher chance of things remaining hostile toward you. The same is true for horses.