1997 Mazda 626: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
301 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 161 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 201 of 301 complaints (66.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 198 | 65.8% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 4.0% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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 | 201 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 201; Unknown Or Other: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Electrical System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Power Train: 8; Air Bags: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 34 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 7
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 140 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 41 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2004 | 44 |
| 2005 | 49 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 21; 2001: 41; 2002: 34; 2003: 43; 2004: 44; 2005: 49; 2006: 21; 2007: 11; 2008: 21; 2009: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 198 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10000418 · 2002-12-29 (December 29, 2002)
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OUT OF MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626 V4 AUTOMATIC. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SHOP 3 TIMES NOW AND ONE OF THE TIMES IT HAD TO BE TOWED, AND THEY CANNOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND CONSTANTLY FLASH AND THE CAR WOULD START SHIFTING HARD AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO PASSING GEAR AT ALL. BUT ONCE IT SETS FOR A FEW HOURS AND COOLS DOWN, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON ANYMORE AND THE MECHANIC SHOP TELLS ME THAT THE CAR HAS RESET IT'S SELF AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003316 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR WENT AT 63000 MILES, TOLD BY THE DEALER "ROSENTHAL MAZDA" THAT THIS WAS COMMON. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, " THE 626'S ARE IN HERE ALL THE TIME TO HAVE THE TRANNIES REBUILT, YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY YOURS LASTED TO 60K" BULLCRAP, SHOULDN'T THERE BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY ON MAZDA/FORD'S PART. ALL OVER THE NET YOU SEE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANNY ON THIS PIECE OF CRAP YET THE NHTSA DOES NOTHING, WHAT A JOKE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003350 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1997 MAZDA 626
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007461 · 2002-10-06 (October 6, 2002)
1997 MAZDA 626. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768151
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008724 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014946 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED. WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE NOT SWITCHING GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE TCC SOLENOID. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015685 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN BLINKED, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016798 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA IN 2001. SECOND, WHEN CAR WAS PLACED IN "PARK" IT BECAME STUCK. IT COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM PARK, COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY, AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A COMPUTER CHIP IN THE CONSOLE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016798 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 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 ↗98V206001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 1998-09-08 (September 8, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TENSIONER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V249000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 1998-10-08 (October 8, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗