1994 Mazda 626: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
213 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
112,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 134 of 213 complaints (62.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 128 | 60.1% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 4.2% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 | 134 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 134; Power Train: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 149 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 | 12 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 13; 2000: 34; 2001: 30; 2002: 32; 2003: 28; 2004: 23; 2005: 20; 2006: 7; 2007: 5; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 128 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10000146 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
HAVING CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1994 MAZDA 626. HAD IT REBUILT AT 140000 MILES. AFTER REPAIR CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH PLUG BREAKING. CONSTANT RPMS STALLING AND NO POWER. NOW AT DECELERATING AT 20 MPH IT KICKS BACK. TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP ALSO AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO RECALL OR DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. LINKS BELOW ARE RELATED TO MY SITUATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. EXACT INCIDENT DATES ARE UNKNOWN AS IT HAPPENS CONSTAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000147 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
HAVING CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1994 MAZDA 626. HAD IT REBUILT AT 140000 MILES. AFTER REPAIR CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH PLUG BREAKING. CONSTANT RPMS STALLING AND NO POWER. NOW AT DECELERATING AT 20 MPH IT KICKS BACK. TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP ALSO AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO RECALL OR DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. LINKS BELOW ARE RELATED TO MY SITUATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. EXACT INCIDENT DATES ARE UNKNOWN AS IT HAPPENS CONSTAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001613 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002166 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THE DASHBOARD AND TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009162 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010104 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 56000 MILES! TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME IS VERY BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL OF ALL MAZDA 626'S FROM '94 TO '02*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016027 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020597 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 1994 MADZA 626. THE HOLD LIGHTS CAME ON. I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN TODAY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020597 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V674000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V358000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 1999-12-17 (December 17, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Consequence: THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LEVER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗