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
What owners actually said
88 reports
66,500 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Tires
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND DAMAGED THE FENDER WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. FIRESTONE, SIZE P185/65R14, DOT# H406JDNO79. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE A/C, RADIO AND REDUCED SPEED TO LISTEN AND DETERMINE THE CAUS…
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TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND DAMAGED THE FENDER WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. FIRESTONE, SIZE P185/65R14, DOT# H406JDNO79. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE A/C, RADIO AND REDUCED SPEED TO LISTEN AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ONLY TWO EXITS AWAY FROM THEIR EXIT, THE CONSUMER HEARD A THUD. HE PULLED OVER AND SAW THE RIGHT REAR FENDER HANGING OFF TO THE CURB AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS BALD. ALL THE TREAD ON THE SURFACE WAS GONE. HE CHANGED THE TIRE, SECURED THE FENDER WITH DUCT TAPE AND WENT TO SEARS TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. CONSUMER SENT THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE FOR INSPECTION AND COMPENSATION. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE TIRE WAS OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE TO CARRY THE LOAD. THE INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE WAS EVIDENT BY THE DEFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE TIRE BEAD AREA. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE TIRE FAILURE WASN'T THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP. THE TIRE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER UPON HIS REQUEST. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ESTIMATED DAMAGES AT $902.54. *PH *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10034563
40,000 miles · Sep 16, 2003
Power Train
1999 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH 40K MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CAR PURCHASED NEW AND CARED FOR, AT RECENT SERVICE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO HAVE SLIPPAGE IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND TRANS WILL NOT "LOCK UP". REBUILD STARTS AT $1700 AND GOES UP. MAZDA SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS RELATING TO TRANSMISSIONS AND NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRO…
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1999 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH 40K MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CAR PURCHASED NEW AND CARED FOR, AT RECENT SERVICE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO HAVE SLIPPAGE IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND TRANS WILL NOT "LOCK UP". REBUILD STARTS AT $1700 AND GOES UP. MAZDA SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS RELATING TO TRANSMISSIONS AND NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. TRANSMISSION SHOP INDICATES MAZDA'S TRANSMISSIONS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR (AS MUCH AS LEXUS). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10039009
57,000 miles · Aug 21, 2003
Power Train
THE CAR HESITATES BEFORE TAKING OFF AFTER STOPPING. WHEN IT DOES SWITCH INTO THE RIGHT GEAR AND MOVE FORWARD, IT IS AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE IT JERKS FORWARD HARD. THE CAR THEN DOES NOT ACCELERATE VERY WELL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10033263
32,612 miles · Jul 25, 2003
Power Train
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION.*MR THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED A 32600 MILES. THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10031919
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2003
Tires
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029489
102,000 miles · Jul 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD THAN STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES,PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10027140
52,000 miles · Jun 17, 2003
Wheels
YOUR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED INVESTIGATION INTO SLOW TIRE LEAKS DUE TO BAD STEEL WHEELS ON GM PRODUCTS PROMPTED ME TO WRITE ABOUT THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH MY 99 MAZDA PROTEGE ALLOY WHEEL THAT I JUST REPLACED AT FULL COST. MAZDA TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THE TYPE OF DEFECT THAT I HAD--A PINHOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHEEL.…
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YOUR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED INVESTIGATION INTO SLOW TIRE LEAKS DUE TO BAD STEEL WHEELS ON GM PRODUCTS PROMPTED ME TO WRITE ABOUT THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH MY 99 MAZDA PROTEGE ALLOY WHEEL THAT I JUST REPLACED AT FULL COST. MAZDA TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THE TYPE OF DEFECT THAT I HAD--A PINHOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHEEL. OF ALL THE YEARS OF OWNING AN AUTOMOBILE, I WAS NEVER CONFRONTED WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. ANY CORRELATION? ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THESE WHEELS? THANKS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10023277
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2003
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, SUDDENLY INTERMITTENTLY THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS ON, ENGINE SLOWED DOWN TO 40MPH. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE THREE TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10022337
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2003
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING THE STRUTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10020461
47,899 miles · May 15, 2003
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
DUE TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HIT A STEEL POLE AND DAMAGED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MR SCC *JB
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.
1999 Mazda Protege Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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