1999 Mazda 626: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
308 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 209 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 214 of 308 complaints (69.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 215 | 69.8% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 8.4% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 5.2% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.0% |
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 | 214 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 214; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 61 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 64 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 61; 75,000 to 99,999: 64; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 99 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 | 14 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2000: 14; 2001: 12; 2002: 24; 2003: 54; 2004: 59; 2005: 45; 2006: 40; 2007: 23; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 215 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 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 10000606 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
1999 MAZDA TRAANSMISSION PROBLEMS
Owner-reported narrative. 35,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001845 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002169 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN THE "OVERDRIVE" LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ON/OFF. CONSUMER THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER HOOD AND REAR OF VEHICLE AND QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002767 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
IN JUNE 1999, I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626. I HAVE 27,743 MILES ON IT. (I RIDE MOSTLY IN MY HUSBAND'S SUV). TWO DAYS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I SAY WARRANTY OR NOT AT 27,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE SLIPPING--UNLESS THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. I REFUSE TO PAY $2000+ FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AM SEEKING ARBITRATION AGAINST THE DEALER. I AM ASTONISHED TO SEE ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 626 TRANSMSSION I READ ON "THE COMPLAINT ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,740 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004765 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING . RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008012 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
1999 MAZDA 626...JUST OVER 70K MILES...O/D LIGHT FLASHING...TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 2ND GEAR...HARD SHIFTING...RESEARCH REVEALED MANY MORE DRIVERS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008047 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM, IRREGULAR RPM'S WHEN IDLING, POPPING NOISE IN FRONT (SUSPENSION?) WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED I.E. HIGHWAYS, INTERIOR LIGHT FAULTY,
Owner-reported narrative. 40,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009884 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,028 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009884 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.
00V074000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 2000-03-07 (March 7, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN RESERVOIR TANK CAPS ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WERE PRODUCED WITH A WORN OUT DIE AND LACK VENTILATION HOLES. AS A RESULT, THE PRESSURE IN THE RESERVOIR TANK CAN DROP GRADUALLY AS THE BRAKE PAD OR SHOE WEARS AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DROPS. ALSO, THE PRESSURE COULD REACH A POINT THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER AND DRUM CYLINDER ARE PULLED BACK BY THE VACUUM IN THE RESERVOIR TANK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A LONG TIME.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFICIENCY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RESERVOIR CAP AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗