1999 Mazda 626 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
308 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 209 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 214 of 308 complaints (69.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 215 | 69.8% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 8.4% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 5.2% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 214 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 214; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 61 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 64 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 61; 75,000 to 99,999: 64; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 99 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2000: 14; 2001: 12; 2002: 24; 2003: 54; 2004: 59; 2005: 45; 2006: 40; 2007: 23; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 215 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001845 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002169 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN THE "OVERDRIVE" LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ON/OFF. CONSUMER THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER HOOD AND REAR OF VEHICLE AND QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004765 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING . RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017132 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
THE CAR SHIFTED REALLY HARD WHEN I PUT THE GEAR ON REVERSE. IT SHIFTED SO HARD THAT THE ENGINE ALMOST STALLED. THE CAR ALSO JERKS AND HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2,500. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING AND THE MECHANICS, AFTER 2 WEEKS, STILL CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 45,000 MILES. I WISH I HAD CHECKED THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND SAW ALL THE TRANSMISSION COMPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027106 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 19,000 MILES. RECENTLY AT 32,000 MILES THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047063 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY CAR STALLING AND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, I PULLED UP SOME RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND THESE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHEN I CALLED THE MAZDA SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT DIDN'T AFFECT MY CAR. CLEARLY IT DOES IF I'M HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160165 · 2006-06-19 (June 19, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WAS LOSING SPEED EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN HOPING TO REGAIN SPEED. I DID NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED, AND IT CONTINUED TO DROP. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BREAK IN TRAFFIC WHERE I COULD TURN INTO A SMALL PARKING LOT TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM TRAFFIC. AS I BEGAN TO MAKE THE TURN I NOTICED THAT I HAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR MANUALLY. WHEN I GOT INTO THE PARKING LOT, I HAD HELP ATTEMPTING TO JUMP THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THAT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132025 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
DT: THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE ON AUGUST 7, 2005. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS APPEARED, AND NO NOISES WERE HEARD. OWNER FELT THE ENGINE DIED AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. THE OWNER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE TWICE, BUT IT DID NOT RESTART. THEN HE CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO, IN TURN, CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WAS BURNED AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $3000-$4000. BUT OWNER WILL TALK WITH MAZDA BEFOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149321 · 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)
IF ONLY I DID MORE RESEARCH ON THE 626! WIFE DROVE 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED CABLE LINKAGE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. WIFE TRIES TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE, BUT COULDN'T. O/D LIGHT FLICKERING ON AND OFF , FLUID COMING OUT OF DIP STICK ONTO MOTOR. MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANS IS COMPLETELY GONE OR SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 101,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149321 at NHTSA ↗