Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1999 Mazda Protege. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗MAZDA/AUDIO UNIT
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (88)
88 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 88 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 22 | 25% |
| Air bags | 21 | 23.9% |
| Tires | 12 | 13.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 9.1% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 6.8% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 6.8% |
| Seats | 4 | 4.5% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 4.5% |
| Steering | 3 | 3.4% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3.4% |
How 1999 compares with other Protege years
Best and worst Protege years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 74 | 1 |
| 1995 | 165 | 4 |
| 1996 | 70 | 1 |
| 1997 | 66 | 1 |
| 1998 | 46 | 1 |
| 1999 | 88 | 1 |
| 2000 | 102 | 1 |
| 2001 | 50 | 1 |
| 2002 | 98 | 0 |
| 2003 | 120 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 329 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 31 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1999 Protege for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1999 Mazda Protege FAQ
How many recalls does the 1999 Mazda Protege have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 00V301000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1999 Mazda Protege problems?
Owners filed 88 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (22), Air bags (21), Tires (12) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1999 Mazda Protege get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 25 city, 31 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1999 Protege compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Mazda Protege model years at least five years old, the 1998 drew the fewest complaints (46) and the 1995 the most (165). The 1999 drew 88. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.