2001 Mazda 626 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
78,346 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 140 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 125 of 188 complaints (66.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 132 | 70.2% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.1% |
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 | 125 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Equipment | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 125; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Power Train: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 5; Electrical System: 4; Equipment: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 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 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 34 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2005 | 37 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2001: 5; 2002: 9; 2003: 17; 2004: 31; 2005: 37; 2006: 24; 2007: 21; 2008: 18; 2009: 9; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 132 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10017526 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017981 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION BURN OUT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015602 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021089 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
I OWN A 2001 MAZDA 626 WITH 45,000 MILES. HIGH MILEAGE DO TO 90%HIWAY DRIVING IN MY WORK. AT ABOUT 38000 MILES NOTICED A VIOLENT VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT HI SPEED AND A LOUD CLUNK WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER ADVISED ME TO GET THE ROTORS TURNED WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT AT AROUND 80000 TO 90000 MILES. THEY SAID THE CLUNKING SOUND IS NORMAL WHEN THE ROTORS ARE WARPED. DEALER SAID WARRNTY DOES NOT COVER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DEFECTIVE BRAKE AT 38000 HIGHWAY MILES IS NOT ROUTINE IN MY OPINION. LAST…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037099 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WATER LEAKED INTO SUN ROOF. LAST WEEK THE CAR STALLED. TOWED IT TO MARLIN MAZDA. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $65 FOR A NEW BATTERY.CONSUMER CANCELLED WARRANTY, STATING SLUDGE IN ENGINE. THAT WAS A LIE. TOWED VEHICLE TO OCEAN MAZDA, THEY DID NOT FIND SLUDGE. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE WARRANTY WA SCANCELLED BY MARLIN MAZDA (CODE W8). OCEAN MAZDA SAID THIS CODE DID NOT EXIST. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW 03/2001. MY FACTORY WARRANTY WAS FOR 3 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. CONSUMER ONLY HAD 38…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070769 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE 03/2001. I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM MARLIN MAZDA. THIS CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE SUNROOF AND CORNER ROOF BETWEEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER DOOR LEAKED WATER WHEN IT WOULD RAIN. JANUARY 2003 MY CAR RAN HOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT BLOWING.THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEAD ON MY ENGINE AND THAT SOME HOSE WAS NOT CONNECTED, THIS IS WHY MY AIR WASN'T BLOWING? MY CAR STALLED ON ME 08/27/03. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WASN'T EVEN HOT. TOWED TO MARLIN MAZDA.I PAID FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070619 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 MADZA 626 WITH ABOUT 59000 MILES (CAN'T BE ACCURATE BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP). HE HIT A PICK-UP TRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE GOING APPROXIMALLY 40 MILES PER HOUR. A CAR IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK STOPPED QUICKLY WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED. WHEN THE TRUCK STOPPED, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP. THE TRUCK HAD A LARGE IRON ROUND BUMPER GUARD. MY HUSBAND HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG WITH HIS BODY BEING THROW FORWARD. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF HIS HEAD INJURY AND BACK PAIN HE HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITA…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143866 · 2005-11-29 (November 29, 2005)
DUE TO A LOW QUALITY OF MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION, IT STOPPED ON THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TO ILLUSTRATE, TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A USED 2001 MAZDA 626, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION'S WEAKNESS [NO POWER, SLUGGISH AND UNRESPONSIVE]. TO CLAIM, IMMEDIATELY I CALLED TO THE MAZDA-DEALERSHIP SALES DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAIN THE ISSUES AND I REQUESTED A REPAIR OR SERVICE. AFTER A SHORT CONVERSATION WITH THE SALES DEPARTMENT FOR RETURNING THE CAR, MR. DAVE WILSON AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS, SO HE TRANSFERRED MY CALL TO THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE CENTER…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,693 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065857 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
IN AUGUST 2001, I PURCHASED A MAZDA 626. IN MAY 2003, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AT 23,000 MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR SUB-TANK. AT 31,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 11 DAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, THERMOSTAT GASKET, AND THE THROTTLE BODY GASKET. *AK MY CAR IS NEARING THE END OF ITS 3 YEAR/36,000 WARRANTY AND I AM FRIGHTENED ABOUT HOW MUCH FUTURE REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121970 · 2005-05-23 (May 23, 2005)
IN AUGUST 2001, I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MAZDA 626. IN MAY 2003, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AT 23,000 MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR SUB-TANK. AT 31,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 11 DAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, THERMOSTAT GASKET AND THE THROTTLE BODY GASKET. NOW AT 48,000 MILES, I RETURNED FROM A TRIP, GOT IN MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121970 at NHTSA ↗