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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 →
88Owner complaints

Model-year median: 66

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
70
199666
199746
199888
1999102
200050
200198
2002
Compare all Protege years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
22Air Bags
21Tires
12Engine And Engine Cooling
8Electrical System
6
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Seats
4Unknown Or Other
4Steering
3Suspension
3Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seat Belts
2Engine
1Equipment
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Steering complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Power TrainSteering

THE VEHICALS TACOMETER WAS FLUTTERING AND THE VEHICAL WAS STALLING AT LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE BROUGHT THE VEHICAL TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM STATING THE INTAKE MANAFOILD GASKET WAS CRACKED. JUST BARELY OVER THE WARENTY WE FOLD A ENGINE PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE ODD AS WELL A…

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THE VEHICALS TACOMETER WAS FLUTTERING AND THE VEHICAL WAS STALLING AT LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE BROUGHT THE VEHICAL TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM STATING THE INTAKE MANAFOILD GASKET WAS CRACKED. JUST BARELY OVER THE WARENTY WE FOLD A ENGINE PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE ODD AS WELL AS THE DEALER DID. WE ARE SEEKING SOME KIND OF RETURNDED FUNDS FROM MAZDA FOR THE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756655

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Steering

GEAR CASING INSIDE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY LOOSE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED REPLACING. *AK ACCIDNET HAD OCCURED AT LESS THAN 5000 MILES, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE 18,000 MILES LATER, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED REPLACING IT STATING THE PREVIOUS …

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GEAR CASING INSIDE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY LOOSE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED REPLACING. *AK ACCIDNET HAD OCCURED AT LESS THAN 5000 MILES, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE 18,000 MILES LATER, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED REPLACING IT STATING THE PREVIOUS SALVAGE TITLE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #882818

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Steering

STEERING WHEEL CAST AROUND PART WITH GEAR TO ATTACH TO STEERING COLUMN--CASTING FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742305

Official recalls

1

00V301000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.