Most common 1999 Mazda Protege problems
Share of the 88 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Protege complaints by model year
Best Protege years: 1998, 2001, 1997. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
1999 Mazda Protege recalls (1)
Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
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…
Remedy: Dealers will affix aluminum tape over the audio unit to prevent water from entering.
What 1999 Mazda Protege owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 22 →
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 to service dept, they finally replace speed sensor, now problem is gone, but now I have a new transmission that I did not need. They never produced any diagnostic back up to the transmission failing, I took them at their word that this is what the car needed, when all along the speed sensor fixed the trouble. …
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 issues with transmission issues etc. …
Air bags all 21 →
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.
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.
Wheels & tires
Tire tread separated from tire and damaged the fender while driving at normal speed. Firestone, size p185/65r14, dot# h406jdno79. Dealer notified. 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 changed the tire, secured the fender with duct tape and went to sears to purchase a new tire. Consumer sent the tire to Firestone/Bridgestone for inspection and compensation. Consumer was informed that there inspection showed that the tire was operated for an unknown period of time with insufficient air pressure to carry the load. …
Your recently announced investigation into slow tire leaks due to bad steel wheels on GM products prompted me to write about the same experience with my 99 Mazda Protege alloy wheel that I just replaced at full cost. Mazda told me they have had no complaints on the type of defect that I had--a pinhole in the middle of the wheel. Of all the years of owning an automobile, I was never confronted with this type of problem. Any correlation? Any other complaints on these wheels? Thanks.
1999 Mazda Protege engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 31 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mazda Protege a good car?
Based on 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Protege rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Protege at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mazda Protege?
The transmission & drivetrain — 22 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the air bags (21) and wheels & tires (13).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mazda Protege have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 Mazda Protege, the most recent from October 5, 2000 (radio/tape deck/cd etc.). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Protege?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998, 2001 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Mazda Protege years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Mazda Protege problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.