1999 Mazda PROTEGE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10001101 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING RADIATOR FAN RELAY BECAME INOPERABLE. CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD, DEALER WILL REPLACE FAN RELAY, BUT IT WILL COST $350.00. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002271 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 92,532 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002271 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 10009951 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER SHIP REPLACED THE REAR STRUTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009951 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 10017145 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017210 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017210 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V301000 · Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Reported: 2000-10-05 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗