IllustrationHAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED NEEDS ANOTHER ONE IN LESS THEN A YEAR, HOLD LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN IN REVERSE DOESN'T REVERSE ALL THE TIME, WHEN ACCELERATING JERKS AND STAYS IN GEAR TOO LONG, HESIATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *AK
1994 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Mazda 626 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 626 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 64 of 282 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports6 fire reports14 injury reports
Power Train complaints
177 reportsHOLD LIGHT FLASHES; WHEN IN DRIVE ACTS LIKE IN NEUTRAL, STAYS IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, CONTACTED MAXDA STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT COULDN'T DO WORK? TOOK TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP, THEY REPLACED LESS THEN A YEAR LATER SAME PROBLEMS AND MORE. *AK
CONSUMER HAS HAD THE SUSPENSION BOLTS TIGHTENED AND NEW TIRES PUT ON DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. (NO TIRE MAKE/MODEL PROVIDED). *MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION KEEPS GOING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE ORIGINAL RIGHT BEFORE IT FAILED. I HAVE CONTACTED OTHER MAZDA 626 OWNERS OF THE SAME YEAR MODEL AND THEY HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS
INITIALLY, "HOLD" LIGHT FLASHED AND CAR JERKED AS ACCELERATING TO 45. 2 DAYS LATER, THIS WORSENED AND BEGAN TO HAPPEN ALSO ACCELERATING TO 25-30. UNWILLING TO CAUSE ACCIDENT, TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATES TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. CAR IS JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD (NO WARRANTY) BUT UNDER 50,000 MILES. …
Read full complaint
INITIALLY, "HOLD" LIGHT FLASHED AND CAR JERKED AS ACCELERATING TO 45. 2 DAYS LATER, THIS WORSENED AND BEGAN TO HAPPEN ALSO ACCELERATING TO 25-30. UNWILLING TO CAUSE ACCIDENT, TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATES TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. CAR IS JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD (NO WARRANTY) BUT UNDER 50,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER SEEMED SMOOTH
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, HAS JERKY SHIFTS, VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY
TRAVELLING DOWN THE HIGWAY AND VEHICLE LOST POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN. OVERDRIVE/GEAR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING WHICH SLOWED CAR DOWN. PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER . HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE, AS IF IN NEUTRAL. DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE ALREADY. NEEDS THIRD TRANSMISSION. *AK
Official recalls
215V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Oct 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 & remedy
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.
99V358000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Dec 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2RQ99022 · Headlight Failure
Opened Dec 20, 1999 · Closed Aug 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.