Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Mazda Protege owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Brakes failed which caused consumer to hit a steel beam pole. There there were no brake indicators prior to accident, after the impact airbags did not deploy, and consumer sustained major injuries. Consumer hasn't received a response fron Mazda north America. Scc.
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.
I bought a formerly wrecked car with frontal damage. The airbags had not deployed. I noticed the problem on other 99 proteges and thought I should report it. There seems to be a possible defect in the airbag deployment.
Consumer was involved in a 40 MPH front end collision, and front driver's and passenger's airbags failed to deploy. Consumers head hit windshield. Dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.
While driving consumer's vehicle hit the rear end of another vehicle. Front air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained neck and back injuries. Vehicle was totaled.
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
The above description is the first time the transmission had been repaired. Now at 47,000 miles, the transmission is out again. Joey
The consumer was involved in a frontal collision, where the air bags did not deploy. Ts scc
Airbag complaints in other Protege years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Mazda Protege?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Mazda Protege, 24% of the model year's 88 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Mazda Protege airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Mazda Protege, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Mazda Protege airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 0 fires and 15 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.