1999 Mazda Protege Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 24%of 88 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,834miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Mazda Protege, 24% of the 88 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,834 miles. 21 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10052132, filed 2003-12, 74,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10050508, filed 2003-12, 77,667 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #742426, filed 2001-03“My main complaint is the airbags. The accident was serious enough to crack the casing under the bumper. Why did the airbag not deploy? Please provide me with information!!!”
NHTSA complaint #711233, filed 2000-04“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10284876, filed 2009-09, 127,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10021000Oct 4, 2006Non genuine accessories affect air bag operation.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 8% |
| 2002 | 9 | 9% |
| 2001 | 11 | 22% |
| 2000 | 25 | 25% |
| 1999 | 21 | 24% |
| 1998 | 3 | 7% |
| 1997 | 12 | 18% |
| 1996 | 24 | 34% |
| 1995 | 41 | 25% |
| 1994 | 1 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1999 Mazda Protege
22 complaintsTires
12 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Mazda Protege
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology