Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Mazda Protege, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train22
- Air bags21
- Tires12
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Electrical system6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Seats4
- Unknown or other4
- Suspension3
- Steering3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 1999 Protege vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Mazda Protege failed the safety check 2.35% of the time — 33% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 122,038 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.0–9.9 L/100 km (about 24–26 mpg US), CO₂ 207–228 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protege · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.8 | 8.0 | 9.0 |
| Protege · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 7.9 | 9.2 |
| Protege · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 8.2 | 9.6 |
| Protege · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.1 | 8.5 | 9.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Mazda Protege.
| 2000234 23 Oct 2000 | Electrical On certain vehicles, if operated at low speeds in a hot and humid environment with the window open, air conditioner running and audio on, condensed water on the… |
| 2000176 28 Aug 2000 | Other Certain vehicles do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Vehicles have an incorrect National Safety Mark (NSM). Correction: Since this non… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 1999 Mazda Protege: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635773 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR CONDITIONING MUSTY / MILDEW ODOR. *TT |
| 635043 | ON SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8 L ENGINE, THE DRIVING PERFORMANCE MAY DETERIORATE, CAUSING HESITATION, ROUGH IDLE, AND / OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION COIL. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO IGNITION COIL EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN 0702F . *TT |
| 635033 | SUBJECT REGARDING GAUGE / SPEEDOMETER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 634454 | INFORMATION ON FUEL INJECTOR(S) REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES. *SLC |
| 634442 | SUBJECT ON SERVICE INFORMATION FOR KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. *SLC |
| 634382 | SUBJECT REGARDING TRUNK KEY DIFFICULT TO INSERT OR UNABLE TO TURN KEY OR CYLINDER FLAP BROKEN. *SLC |
| 634376 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR DOOR WEATHERSTRIP COMING OFF. *SLC |
| 634333 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATES WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0402 STORED IN MEMORY. *SLC |
| 634330 | SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND RELATED COMPONENT REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES. *SLC |
| 631616 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT DOOR GLASS WON'T GO ALL THE WAY DOWN. *JG |
| 628243 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH P0171, P1170, LACK OF POWER, HESITATION. *JG |
| 628240 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIND NOISE FROM WINDSHIELD MOLDING. *JG |
| 628236 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONS. *JG |
| 620898 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP LUUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0402 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 618127 | INFORMATION ON RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE. *JB |
| 615640 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A RATTLING NOISE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH OR WHEN REVVING THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL. *TT |
| 614908 | ON SOME VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VINS, THE DOOR KEY CYLINDER FLAP MAY BREAK ALLOWING A PIECE(S) OF THE FLAP TO ENTER THE CYLINDER THEREBY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO INSERT THE KEY AND CAUSING KEY ROTATION TO STICK. *TT |
| 614124 | CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK OR STAY IN POSITION. *TT |
| 614121 | CONCERNS WITH AN EXHAUST RESONANCE NOISE HEARD FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT APPROXIMATELY 2200 - 2300 RPM DURING ACCELERATION UNDER MODERATE LOADS. *TT |
| 610554 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN EXHAUST RESONANCE NOISE AT APPROXIMATELY 2200 - 2300 RPM. *TT |
| 609947 | INFORMATION DESCRIBING A NO SHIFT CONDITION FROM SECOND OR THIRD GEAR WITH A FLASHING OVERDRIVE OFF (O/D OFF) INDICATOR LIGHT WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0732, P0733 OR P0734 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 609945 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHIPMENT OF SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS DURING OCTOBER 1999. *TT |
| 608126 | SUBJECT REGARDING PAINT DAMAGE - IRON PARTICLES / INDUSTRIAL FALLOUT / ACID RAIN. *TT |
| 607902 | CONCERNS WITH DOOR KEY WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO INSERT AND / OR ROTATE. *TT |
| 607354 | VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE OR JERK WHEN ACCELERATING OR JUST BEFORE SHIFTING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)