The 1999 Mazda Protege has 3 safety recalls and 88 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (22 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints88filed by owners
Crashes · fires21 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths16 · 0reported in complaints
1999 Mazda Protege in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006 · 61,944 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
NHTSA recall 00V301000 · Oct 5, 2000 · 23,000 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE REAR RIGHT LOUDSPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1999 Mazda Protege 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Protege
27mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 31 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Protege
26mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Protege
25mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
Protege
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Clutch assembly
22
1
0
0
57,000 mi
Air bags Frontal
21
21
0
15
75,833 mi
Tires Tread/belt; Sidewall
13
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
8
0
0
0
64,032 mi
Electrical system Wiring; Wiring › Interior/under dash
6
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Pedals and linkages
6
3
0
4
—
Seats Front assembly › Power adjust
4
1
0
1
—
Unknown or other
4
0
0
0
—
Steering Steering wheel/handle bar; Linkages › Tie rod assembly
3
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front; Rear
3
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly
2
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline Delivery
2
0
1
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Feb 1, 2018Engine THE PLASTIC DIP STICK TO CHECK OIL SNAPPED OFF
Mar 3, 2009 · 57,000 milesElectrical system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRING FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Feb 7, 2007 · 76,987 milesElectrical system CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NO MATTER WHAT THE READING SAYS CHANGE ALL PARTS WILL GO OFF BUT BACK ON AND FAIL INSPECTION MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGE THREE TIMES AND CAYLI. CONVERTER TWICE. *TR
Apr 15, 2011Electrical system THE HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK ON LOW BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS STILL WORK. UPON REMOVING THE STEERING COLUMN COVER AND UNPLUGGING THE WIRING HARNESS I FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR IS LITERALLY BURNED AND MELTED AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION IN THE HARNESS. MAZDA NO LONGER MAKES THE PART AND I CANNOT HAVE IT FIXED BY A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE PART IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN A USED SALVAGED VEHICLE. *TR
Jan 18, 2010 · 140,000 milesSeat belts PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE SEAT BELT WAS RARELY IF EVER USED UNTIL THE CAR SEAT WAS INSTALLED. *TR
Sep 21, 2009 · 127,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags › Frontal TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE SUSTAINED MODERATE HEAD INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 217,000.
Mar 22, 2009Tires › Valve FAULTY TIRE VALVES (DILL ACP 123 TR 418) ON A 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE DEFLATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL RELATING TO THE VALVE STEMS BY DILL-ACP MODEL TR-418. RECALL# 08T0228000. *JB SEE ALSO 10496085 *SY UPDATED 06/23/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SINCE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TIRE FAILURE, DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE STEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE STEM WAS CRACKED AND THE REAR TIRE WAS SPLIT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REASON FOR THE SPLIT WAS DUE TO HEAT BUILD-UP, BECAUSE HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THE TIRE, BEFORE HE REALIZED THE TIRE HAD DEFLATED. UPDATED 10/24/12 UPDATED 02/07/13
Sep 1, 2007 · 75,000 milesPower train › Manual transmission PROBLEM MAZDA TRANSMISSION FAILURE .MAZDA PROTEGE 1999 THIS CAR HAD A MAJOR ENGINE OVERHAUL RECENT ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW. ONE MONTH AFTER OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION FAILED. MAZDA REFUSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS FIXED FAILURE AGAIN . AGAIN TRANSMISSION NOT COVERED OUT OF WARRANTY. ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT SO FAR $3,500. AS OF NOW I CANT DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE THE CAR CANT BE MOVED DUE TO MALFUNCTION. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS VIN NUMBER ON THIS MAZDA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT OFF LAMP FLASHING NO SHIFT CONDITION 3RD GEAR SHIFT RATION SET ERRATIC SHIFTS…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
