U.S. public vehicle records

Mazda 626 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,660 owner complaints analyzed

18 distinct recall campaigns

89,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1979 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,296 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,668 of 2,660 complaints (62.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	1,634	61.4%
Engine operation	139	5.2%
Braking behavior	110	4.1%
Electrical and battery issues	75	2.8%
Steering behavior	47	1.8%
Fuel system concerns	18	0.7%

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

1,668

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

105

Air Bags:Frontal

Power Train

Unknown Or Other

Seat Belts

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	1668
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	105
Air Bags:Frontal	91
Power Train	80
Unknown Or Other	63
Seat Belts	58
Electrical System	53
Engine And Engine Cooling	48

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1,668; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 105; Air Bags:Frontal: 91; Power Train: 80; Unknown Or Other: 63; Seat Belts: 58; Electrical System: 53; Engine And Engine Cooling: 48

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

285

75,000 to 99,999

373

100,000 to 149,999

370

150,000 and above

115

Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 98; 50,000 to 74,999: 285; 75,000 to 99,999: 373; 100,000 to 149,999: 370; 150,000 and above: 115

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (373). 1,364 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.

1995

134

1996

2000

225

2001

252

2002

297

2003

352

2004

349

2005

314

2006

215

2007

143

2008

110

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

1995: 134; 1996: 77; 2000: 225; 2001: 252; 2002: 297; 2003: 352; 2004: 349; 2005: 314; 2006: 215; 2007: 143; 2008: 110; 2009: 65; 2010: 35; 2011: 13; 2012: 13; 2013: 7; 2014: 6; 2015: 15; 2016: 22; 2017: 9; 2018: 5; 2019: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,634 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 139 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 110 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 887091 · 2001-04-30 (April 30, 2001)

TRANSMISSION LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH POSSIBLY DUE TO FAULTY COMPUTER WHICH COULD THROW VEHICLE INTO 2 GEARS AT ONECE. *AK THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PLANETARY HEAD INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE AND LOCKING OF TRANSMISSION. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057133 · 2004-02-13 (February 13, 2004)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION FAILED. FIRST FAILED IN JULY AND TRANSMISION REPLACED AND NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN O/D LIGHT FLASHING, HARD SHIFT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO O/D.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 235,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057133 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 969501 · 1995-07-28 (July 28, 1995)

VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO IDENTIFYING CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969501 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967366 · 1995-06-19 (June 19, 1995)

CAR SOMETIMES STALL/STARTING PROBLEMS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967366 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039097 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)

1983 MAZDA 626 EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE RATCHET FAILED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039097 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 986880 · 1996-07-15 (July 15, 1996)

WHILE GOING 35MPH THE REAR LEFT WHEEL FLEW OFF. *AK CONSUMER ALSO HAD REAR BRAKE SERVICE PERFORMED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10124948 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)

DT: THE VEHICLE NEEDED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND TURNING THE KEY DOESN'T HELP AT ALL. THERE IS NO SOUND OF THE ENGINE TURNING ON. THE OWNER IS UPSET BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN# 90V118000. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 38,423 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 717112 · 2000-01-09 (January 9, 2000)

POWER DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER FUNCTION FROM THE MAIN DRIVERS DOOR LOCK, TAPE DECK DIED WITH AT TAPE INSIDE, REAR DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LATCH CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE USING THE HANDLE-MUST BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, BACKUP LIGHT/LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK REGARDLESS OF BULBS..WIRING IS DEAD, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY INTO NEUTRAL, JUST DIED ENTIRELY AFTER BEING PARKED. TRANSMISSION WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE..NOT A FLUID ISSUE. ALSO HAVE HAD MULTIPLE THERMOSTAT FAILURES IN THE WINTER RE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717112 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968133 · 1995-07-03 (July 3, 1995)

CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT, HE WAS REAR ENDED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DIDN'T RESTRAIN, CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968133 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135155 · 2005-09-02 (September 2, 2005)

I WAS DRIVING AROUND A 25 MPH CORNER WHEN MY BACK END STARTED SLIDING,I TRIED TO CORRECT IT BY TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE OPPISITE DIRECTION,BUT IT JUST KEPT SLIDING AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT.ABOUT A YEAR LATER MY HUSBAND WAS ROUNDING SAME CORNER AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM.WE BOTH WERE DOING THE SPEED LIMIT AT THE TIME OF BOTH ACCIDENTS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135155 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 958386 · 1995-01-06 (January 6, 1995)

GAS TANK RUSTED FROM OUTSIDE IN, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958386 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505427 · 1996-06-01 (June 1, 1996)

FUEL TANK SPLIT AT WELD, CAUSING GASOLINE LEAK. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505427 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

1987: 1; 1988: 6; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 0; 1993: 1; 1994: 2; 1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1997: 3; 1998: 4; 1999: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Mazda 626 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1979	0	2	Not available
1980	0	2	0
1981	0	2	0
1982	0	2	0
1983	2	0	-2
1985	4	0	Not available
1986	7	2	+2
1987	18	1	-1
1988	28	6	+5
1989	26	1	-5
1990	32	1	0
1991	45	1	0
1992	16	0	-1
1993	82	1	+1
1994	213	2	+1
1995	380	2	0
1996	287	2	0
1997	301	3	+1
1998	410	4	+1
1999	308	2	-2
2000	217	1	-1
2001	188	0	-1
2002	87	0	0
2003	9	0	0