1999 Mazda PROTEGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,065 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 82 complaints (18.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 17.1% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.5% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 15 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Air Bags: 7; Tires: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Electrical System: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 57 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 20; 2001: 11; 2002: 13; 2003: 20; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000826 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
I BOUGHT A NEW MAZDA PROTEGE IN 1999. I HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION TO MAKE SURE MY CAR WAS TAKEN CARE OF. I DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE DONE WHEN THEY WERE DUE. AFTER ALL THE CARE I TOOK, MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON DEC. 31, 2002 WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $2200 TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THE CAR SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 66,000 MILES. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS? I ALSO FEEL THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE LIABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010809 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
1999 MAZDA PROTEGE RECEIVED O/D OFF LIGHT, SPEEDOMETER DROPPED OUT AND SLIPPAGE IN GEARS, (O/D), BROUGHT TO SCHWARTZ MAZDA, SHREWSBURY, NJ, THEY SOLD ME A NEW TRANSMISSION, (76000 MILES ON ODOMETER), CAR STILL HAD SAME TROUBLE. ADVISED MAZDA THAT I FELT THIS IS A MISDIAGNOSIS, PER NHTSB TECH SERVICE BULLETIN OF SPEED SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION WHICH PRESENTS SAME SYMPTOMS, THEY WOULD NOT CREDIT THE $2073 COST OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER DID NOT SEE THIS TROUBLE WHICH IS WHAT I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, AFTER 3 MORE RETURN VISITS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034563 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
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 CHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052132 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER STERNUM FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007280 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NORTH CAROLINA'S LETTER TO MAZDA CORPORATION ASKED FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT CONCERNING A CRASH DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AND NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES. ADD TO 568358. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019418 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 47,899 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194870 · 2007-06-28 (June 28, 2007)
WE OWN A MAZDA PROTEGE 1999. BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS & BRIGHT LIGHTS FAILED. WE TRIED REPLACING BULBS & A RELAY, NEITHER OF WHICH WORKED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE ELECTRICAL SHOP. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE INTERNAL WIRING FOR THESE COMPONENTS BURNED OUT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN INTERNAL FIRE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE WIRES WERE NOT EXPOSED UNDER THE HOOD SO WE COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY WERE WEARING THIN. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MAZDA USA AS THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10194870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10403706 · 2011-05-29 (May 29, 2011)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10403706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027140 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD THAN STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES,PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 568376 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK INTO A LOWER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE (VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY), ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND IT STALLED AT WHICH TIME IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, THE DEALER THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NO GUAR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 568376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734181 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
ENGINE LOSES POWER SIGNIFICANTLY OR SOMETIMES GOES UPTO 5000RPM IN 5 MPH SPEED WITHOUT ANY SIGN. STALLS MIDDLE OF A STREET WITHOUT ANY SIGN, AS WELL. AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA'S EXPENSE ON AUGUST 15. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM REPEATED TO OCCUR AGAIN IN TWO MONTH; AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER (IN MI) THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE PROBLEM OCCURANCE. COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, AND IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734181 at NHTSA ↗