1988 Mazda 626: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 28 complaints (53.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 15 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Seat Belts: 15; Structure:Body:Door: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 16; 1996: 7; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004874 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
DEFECTIVE TAILPIPE CAUSED CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER VEHICLE'S INTERIOR CABIN RESULTING IN CONSUMER CONTRACTING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. DEALER DIAGNOSED SEVERAL HOLES ALONG TOP OF TAILPIPE BETWEEN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE MUFFLER. PH TOP SEAM OF EXHAUST PIPE HAD ROTTEN OUT BETWEEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MUFFLER. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127374 · 2005-07-04 (July 4, 2005)
1. BOUGHT A 1998 MAZDA 626 LX. 2. AT 56000 MILES, ENGINE NEEDED A NEW HEADER. 3. AT 57000 MILES, STARTER MOTOR FAILED. 3. AT 60000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. 4. CURRENTLY AT 70000 MILES, NEED NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481012 · 1995-02-05 (February 5, 1995)
INNER/OUTER DOOR LATCHES FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485110 · 1995-06-13 (June 13, 1995)
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-174). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500836 · 1996-01-15 (January 15, 1996)
FRONT LEFT DOOR FAILS TO OPEN, REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504487 · 1996-05-13 (May 13, 1996)
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS RETRACT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504487 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 ↗
Owner report 723128 · 2000-05-24 (May 24, 2000)
AUTOMATIC MOTORIZED SHOULDER RESTRAINTS FAIL TO COMPLETE CYCLE UPON ENGINE START-UP CHOKING PASSENGER. UPON OPENING DOOR AT STOP, RESTRAINTS FAIL TO DISENGAGE TRAPPING OCCUPANT UNTIL MANUALLY DISCONNECTED . RECALL AT DEALER FAILED TO YIELD VIN MATCH. ALSO TOLD VEHICLE TOO OLD TO REPAIR. PROBLEM EXISTS ANYWAY, DUE TO SAME MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS IN CAMPAIGN 88V06300. CAN CAUSE INJURY TO OCUCPANTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723128 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V149000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Reported: 1987-09-17 (September 17, 1987)
FLOOR MAT COULD INTERFERE WITH RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF MAT.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL ANDCREATE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REMOVE PRESENT MAT AND REPLACE WITH NEW IMPROVED MAT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V186000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1987-12-07 (December 7, 1987)
FUEL TANK FIXING BAND RETENTION IS NOT SUFFICIENT, ALLOWING THE BAND TO RUB AGAINST THE FUEL TANK BY VEHICLE VIBRATIONS.
Consequence: THIS COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH COULDRESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Remedy: REPAIR FUEL FIXING BAND BY INSTALLING A RUBBER SHEET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V196000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings
Reported: 1987-12-29 (December 29, 1987)
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR BRAKE DRUMS TRANSPORTED BY TRAIN MAY EXPERIENCE SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE SHOE FROM THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER PISTON.
Consequence: SHOULD SEPARATION OCCUR, REPEATED BRAKE OPERATION MAYDAMAGE THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER DUST BOOT, ALLOWING WATER OR DUST INTRUSION ANDSUBSEQUENT PISTON CONTAMINATION.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND IF NO SEPARATION IS FOUND GREASE WILL BE APPLIED TO THE COMPONENT INTERFACE TO LOWER FRICTION AND AVOID SUBSEQUENT RELATIVE MOTION. IF SEPARATION IS FOUND THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER DUST BOOT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V022000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 1988-02-22 (February 22, 1988)
AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 DEGREE F, FROST MAY ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER EXTENDED CONSTANT SPEED OPERATION.
Consequence: FROST ACCUMULATION ON THE THROTTLE VALVE MAY PREVENT THEVALVE FROM RETURNING SMOOTHLY.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW TYPE THERMOSTAT DESIGNED TO RAISE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND WARM THE THROTTLE BODY TO A LEVEL ABOVE FREEZING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V063000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1988-04-14 (April 14, 1988)
THE DRIVE SPRING THAT DRIVES THE AUTOMATIC BELT MAY BREAK.
Consequence: THIS WOULD PREVENT FULL FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT BELTANCHORAGE FROM THE LOCK POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED.
Remedy: REPLACE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V174000 · Structure:Body:Door
Reported: 1993-10-29 (October 29, 1993)
RESIN MOLDED FRONT HANDLES FAIL AT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATING ROD ATTACHMENT, FREEING THE ROD TO FALL INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. SUBSEQUENT LOWERING OF THE ASSOCIATED WINDOW MAY FORCE THE ACTUATING ROD DOWNWARD AND RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH.
Consequence: INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF THE DOOR LATCH CAUSES THE DOORTO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THEVEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE/LATCH ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗