Model year guide

1999 Mazda Protege

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 Mazda Protege is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 15 on record.

1999 Mazda Protege — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1999 Mazda Protege at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints91
Combined23–27 mpg
Typical price$916

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1999 Mazda Protege recalls 3

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc. NHTSA Campaign #00V301000 · 05/10/2000

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.

Fix: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1999 Mazda Protege common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

1999 Mazda Protege safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Frontal crash test — 1999 Mazda Protege 4-DR.Frontal crash test

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1999 Mazda Protege 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1999 Mazda Protege MPG & running costs

Combined23–27 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,675
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume106 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$1,375 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 1999 Mazda Protege worth?

Low
$525
Typical price
$916
High
$1,600

From 8 comparable 1999 Mazda Protege listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1999 Mazda Protege costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,375
Fuel only$13,375
Per mile$0.18

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
174.0 in
Width
67.3 in
Height
55.5 in
Wheelbase
102.8 in
Curb weight
2,436–2,518 lb
Front track
57.9 in
Rear track
57.9 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1999 Mazda Protege — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 98

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 98.

Speedometer replacement procedure

Bulletin 09-016-23 · Electrical System · Feb 2023

Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the shaft seal. Follow the inspection guideli…

Bulletin 02-004-22a · Suspension · Nov 2022

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer.

Bulletin 09-024-22 · Electrical System · Jul 2022

This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, in…

Bulletin 01-006-22 · Electrical System · Jun 2022

Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the shaft seal. Follow the inspection guideli…

Bulletin 02-004-22 · Suspension · May 2022

Accessory instructions can be found on OneMazda under Dealer Resources - Parts & Accessories.

Bulletin SA-014-22 · Equipment · Mar 2022

The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000 is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this Service Bulletin to test Mazda vehicle batter…

Bulletin 01-003/22 · Equipment, Electrical System · Mar 2022

Battery Maintenance: This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in st…

Bulletin 01-006-21-3779b · Electrical System · Dec 2021

Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Cooler and Lines Flushing Procedure: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission (A/T) oil cooler and lines must be power flushed completely before an overhauled or replacement A/T is installed (except SKYACTIV-DRIVE). The most common cau…

Bulletin 05-002-21-3854 · Power Train · Dec 2021

This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, in…

Bulletin 01-006-21-3779a · Electrical System, Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2021

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PROTEGE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1999 Mazda Protege. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

On certain vehicles, if operated at low speeds in a hot and humid environment with the window open, air conditioner running and audio on, condensed water on the A/C duct surface may drop and enter into the audio unit, causing a short circuit. If the short circuit occurs at one specific set of terminals, the rear right speaker can overheat and possibly catch fire. Correction: De…

Transport Canada #2000234 · Oct 2000

Other

Certain vehicles do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Vehicles have an incorrect National Safety Mark (NSM). Correction: Since this non-compliance does not present a risk to vehicle safety, no further action will be taken.

Transport Canada #2000176 · Aug 2000

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Mazda Protege

The Mazda Familia , also marketed prominently as the Mazda 323, Mazda Protegé and Mazda Allegro, is a small family car that was manufactured by Mazda between 1963 and 2003. The Familia line was replaced by the Mazda3/Axela for 2004.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1999 Mazda Protege trims & engines on record

Trims
LX · ES
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl 95 hp · 110 hp

1999 Mazda Protege vehicles on record

1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ222XX0169985 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2228X0140985 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2222X0127486 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2220X0162950 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2227X0107587 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2226X0140757 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2226X0129791 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2228X0173565 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ2219X0149069 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege ESJM1BJ2213X0129772 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2221X0103504 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda Protege LXJM1BJ2222X0118075 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda ProtegeJM1BJ2210X0165113 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda ProtegeJM1BJ2222X0145714 1999 Mazda Protege 1999 Mazda ProtegeJM1BJ2221Y0210991

Other Mazda Protege model years

2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

1999 Mazda Protege — frequently asked questions

Does the 1999 Mazda Protege have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1999 Mazda Protege. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mazda Protege?

Across all 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, air bags, tires.

What is the 1999 Mazda Protege safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1999 Mazda Protege crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1999 Mazda Protege get?

The 1999 Mazda Protege has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

How much is a 1999 Mazda Protege worth?

Comparable 1999 Mazda Protege listings run roughly $525–$1,600, typically around $916 (from 8 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.