IllustrationTHE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS WITH NOTICEABLE HARSH JERKS WHICH IS ANNOYING AND IS VERY MUCH INTENSE AND HARSH IN COLD CONDITIONS. *AK
1999 Mazda Protege
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Mazda Protege do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 66.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Protege years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
625–50K
1050–75K
575–100K
3100–150K
0150K+
25 reports with mileage · 63 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports1 fire reports15 injury reports
Power Train complaints
22 reportsI'VE READ THAT LATE MODEL YEARS WITH THE AT HAVE EXPERIENCED RANDOM HARD SHIFTS WHILE GOING AT MODERATE SPEEDS. I WAS ACCELERATING GENTLY FROM 35 TO 40 MPG ON A VERY GENTLE SLOPE WHEN I FELT AS IF THE CAR HIT A LARGE BUMP OR RIDGE. CURIOUS AND WORRIED, I TURNED BACK AND RETRACED MY PATH TO SEE IF IT WOULD REPEAT. IT DIDN'T, BUT …
Read full complaint
I'VE READ THAT LATE MODEL YEARS WITH THE AT HAVE EXPERIENCED RANDOM HARD SHIFTS WHILE GOING AT MODERATE SPEEDS. I WAS ACCELERATING GENTLY FROM 35 TO 40 MPG ON A VERY GENTLE SLOPE WHEN I FELT AS IF THE CAR HIT A LARGE BUMP OR RIDGE. CURIOUS AND WORRIED, I TURNED BACK AND RETRACED MY PATH TO SEE IF IT WOULD REPEAT. IT DIDN'T, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL DEVELOP INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM LATER. I'VE READ FROM OTHER OWNERS OF LATE MODEL PROTEGES WITH THE AT THAT THEY MAY ABRUPTLY SEIZE WHILE IN OPERATION. BLAME IS PINNED ON THE FORD-DESIGNED AT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES SHOULD THIS TRANSMISSION FAIL SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC.
Official recalls
100V301000 · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
Oct 5, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PARTICULAR FACTORY INSTALLED AUDIO UNIT. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AT LOW SPEED IN A HOT AND HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN, AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, AND AUDIO ON, CONDENSED WATER ON THE A/C DUCT SURFACE COULD DROP AND ENTER INTO THE AUDIO UNIT, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE REAR RIGHT LOUDSPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.