1998 Mazda 626: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
410 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
89,278 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 224 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 272 of 410 complaints (66.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 280 | 68.3% |
| Engine operation | 42 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 2.7% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 1.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 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 | 272 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 41 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 14 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 272; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 41; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 14; Power Train: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Electrical System: 9; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 9; Unknown Or Other: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 53 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 78 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 66 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 53; 75,000 to 99,999: 78; 100,000 to 149,999: 66; 150,000 and above: 16
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (78). 186 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 | 24 |
| 2001 | 37 |
| 2002 | 54 |
| 2003 | 74 |
| 2004 | 74 |
| 2005 | 53 |
| 2006 | 31 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 24; 2001: 37; 2002: 54; 2003: 74; 2004: 74; 2005: 53; 2006: 31; 2007: 24; 2008: 16; 2009: 11; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 280 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 42 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 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 10000096 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
EARLY TRANSMISSINON FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000816 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION BLEW AWAY AT 90K MILES INSPITE OF RELIGIOUS TAKE CARE OF CAR ( MAZDA 626 ). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001977 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE THIRD AND FIFTH GEAR SLIPPED BACK AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND IS URGING AN INVESTIGATION. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 27,024 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002669 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY MAZDA 626 1998 ES (V6) IS EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE. I'M NOW ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION AND HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO 1/2 THE VALUE OF THE CAR ITSELF. BOTH TRANSMISSION FAULTED TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, MY GEARS STICK TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAKES THE CAR JERK.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003616 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004643 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
FIFTH AND THIRD SYNCHRONIZERS WORE OUT, CAUSING GEAR SELECTOR TO SLIP SUDDENLY INTO NEUTRAL. *NLM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004666 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005022 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION CHAIN TO THE TUNE OF $800.00 AND AM HORRIFIED TO FIND OUT THAT NHTSA HAS NOT FORCED A RECALL OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE MAZDA 626. AFTER REVIEWING YOUR WEBSITE COMPLAINTS, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT NHTSA IS THINKING, I'M GUESSING THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET, THEREFORE THE DELAY IN CALLING A RECALL. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THIS AGAIN IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER AND THOUGHT I WAS DRIVING ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005022 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V134000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2000-05-09 (May 9, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK.
Consequence: THE BROKEN SPRING MAY GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, RESULTING POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TENSIONER INSTALLED AND REPLACE IT IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AFFECTED TENSIONER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗97V228000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Reported: 1997-12-17 (December 17, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) INSTALLED CAN, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRIGGER A SHIFT IN AIR-FUEL RATIO TO AN OVERLEAN CONDITION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM WITH THE CORRECT ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V243000 · Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Reported: 1998-10-02 (October 2, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A HOT, HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AUDIO UNIT AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE SPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗