1999 Mazda Protege ES review from North America
"High maintenance makes up for cheap price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Blower motor had to be replaced. It now needs replaced again.
Window seals have pulled loose from doors.
Trunk leaks.
Noisy due to windows.
Struts need replaced.
Link spring broke & had to be replaced.
Timing belt had to be replaced at low miles.
Transmission slips.
Valves rattle.
Hard to start even after tune-up.
Locking mechanism had to be replaced.
Electric window switch had to be replaced.
General comments?
The car is nice looking and very affordable.
However it requires a lot of maintenance & undependable.
Recommended reviews
  | A good responsive car overall. |
| 1998 - Protege LX (same as US ES) 1.8 Great, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 5/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 200 miles |
| Most recent distance | 78000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda Protege |
| Date of Entry | 25th March, 2003 |