IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45MPH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
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
What owners actually said
88 reportsI AM HAVING ALL OF THESE LOOKED AT WHEN I TURN IT IN FOR REPAIRS; THE CARPET/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSES A MAJOR SHOCK UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE BRAKE PEDAL DESIGN IS INADEQUATE, PAD IS TOO NARROW AND SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH ANTI SKID SURFACE. *MJS
FUEL LINE HAD A CRACK WHICHD CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. CURRENTLY AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
METAL RODS IN DRIVER'S SEAT CAN BE FELT IN BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK WHEN SITTING. BELIEVED THIS CAN CAUSE BACK INJURIES IF INVOVLED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION, IT MAY FORCE THE RODS UP AGAINST THE DRIVER'S BACK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THE AIRBAGS. THE ACCIDENT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CRACK THE CASING UNDER THE BUMPER. WHY DID THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY? PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION!!!
BRAKES FADED RESULTING IN ACCIDENT, AFTER ACCIDENT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *ET
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT AN IMPACT OF 40 MPH IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO UNLATCH. DRIVER HAD TO CRAWL OUT OF BELT TO GET FREE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BELT. *AK
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS WITH NOTICEABLE HARSH JERKS WHICH IS ANNOYING AND IS VERY MUCH INTENSE AND HARSH IN COLD CONDITIONS. *AK
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.