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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Mazda 626 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

87 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

72,600 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 87 complaints (64.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting6372.4%
Braking behavior66.9%
Steering behavior55.7%
Engine operation22.3%
Electrical and battery issues11.1%
Fuel system concerns11.1%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
56
Power Train
10
Electrical System
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Power Train:Manual Transmission
2
Seat Belts
2
Suspension:Front
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission56
Power Train10
Electrical System3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Power Train:Manual Transmission2
Seat Belts2
Suspension:Front2

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 56; Power Train: 10; Electrical System: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Suspension:Front: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
17
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99917
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 27 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.

2002
3
2003
8
2004
5
2005
14
2006
12
2007
13
2008
6
2009
8
2010
6
2012
3
2013
1
2014
2
2015
1
2016
3
2017
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20023
20038
20045
200514
200612
200713
20086
20098
20106
20123
20131
20142
20151
20163
20171
20201

2002: 3; 2003: 8; 2004: 5; 2005: 14; 2006: 12; 2007: 13; 2008: 6; 2009: 8; 2010: 6; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 63 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10045572 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)

2002 MAZDA 626 LX, TRANSMISSION IS JERKY, BROUGHT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, TOLD ME THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF 626'S. VERY WORRIED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN SOON IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE. GOING TO CONTACT MAZDA TODAY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045572 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047415 · 2003-11-23 (November 23, 2003)

MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE AGAIN WITH MY MAZDA 626. SECOND TIME SINCE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 5,000 MILES AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. SECOND MAJOR FAILURE CAME JUST THE OTHER DAY. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059664 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, NOTHING WAS FOUND. *LA THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE TIE RODS, A NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, WHICH THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE RIGHT LOWER GRAVEL SHIELD, THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A RATTLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059664 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100882 · 2004-12-01 (December 1, 2004)

MY TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN YOU PUT IN GEAR AND WHEN YOU BRAKE AND HIT THE GAS. THE TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE SOMETHING IS WRONG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SENATOR MAZDA ON FLORIN RD IN SAC. AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNDS THAT NEEDED REPLACING BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER CAR REPAIR PLACE THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE MOUNDS OR THE TRANSMISSION THAT THE 626 HAS A JERKY TRANSMISSION AND TO WATCH IT IN THE FUTURE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033983 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)

WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033983 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10094579 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES. CONSUMER WAS PREGNANT, AND HIT HER HEAD AND CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS INJURED. BOTH CONSUMER AND THE PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094579 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10118125 · 2005-04-19 (April 19, 2005)

HEARD NOISE AND BAD VIBRATION FROM FRONT LEFT , IT GOT WORSE AND LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. AROUND TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED, HEARD LOUD NOISE ON FRONT RIGHT, GOT LOUDER WHEN TURNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED FRONT RIGHT BEARING. CAR ALWAYS SERVICED AT DEALER, TWO WEEKS BEFORE TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR PULLING TO THE RIGHT. DEALER STATED IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING. DID THAT NEXT DAY AND SAME THING HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. I H…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10311419 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, 2002 MAZDA 626, TWICE IN LAST 6 MONTHS. CAR LURCHES, STALLS, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS, HAVE BEEN STUCK ON BUSY FREEWAY. ALSO FUEL PUMP JUST CUTS OFF AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10311419 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208602 · 2007-11-10 (November 10, 2007)

I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA 626 4CYL WITH 71,200 MILES. I HAD JUST PAID IT OFF LAST MONTH AND COME TO FIND OUT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON ME. WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS AS IF GEARS ARE GRINDING. THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY CONNECTION WAS LOOSE. OTHER THAN THAT THERE WAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS AND HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. I HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE DEFECTED TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN THE VEHICLE CONTINUING WITH GRINDING NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 72,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208602 at NHTSA ↗