POWER TRAIN FAILURE AT 68000 MI IN 10/09/02, REBUILT FAILURE AT 88000 MI 12/20/05. *NM
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.
Power Train complaints
177 reportsI HAVE A 1994 MAZDA 626. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT ONE MONTH AFTER A FACTORY RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN IT. I WAS STRANDED ON I-84 IN PORTLAND OREGON WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS STRANDED IN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS SIDE SWIPED AND SLIGHTLY INJURED. I …
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I HAVE A 1994 MAZDA 626. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT ONE MONTH AFTER A FACTORY RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN IT. I WAS STRANDED ON I-84 IN PORTLAND OREGON WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS STRANDED IN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS SIDE SWIPED AND SLIGHTLY INJURED. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS,POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION BUILT FROM 1994 TO 2002. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECTED THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS THAT WAS INSTALLED WAS $1800.00 AND WAS NOT EVEN THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION THAT CAME WITH THE CAR.THIS WILL BE AT LEAST THE FOURTH TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR IN ITS 105,000 MILE LIFE.
PURCHASED A 1994 MAZDA 626 THAT SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS CONSISTENT WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINTS. IDLES HARD AND JUMPS BETWEEN GEARS, HOLD BUTTON FLASHES AND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. *NM
I THOUGHT I WAS GTOOD TO GO AFTER INSTALLING MY THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IN MY 94 MAZDA 626, ONE YEAR LATER I AM IN THE SAME POSITION I WAS WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED...GOING NOWHERE. FORTUNATELY IT MOVED ENOUGH TO GET TO DEALER WHERE I TRADED MY BELOVED CAR IN FOR A "NEWER" CAR...NO NOT A MAZDA 626.
I OWN A 94 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER. IT HAS 116000 MILES AND NOW THE HOLD(O/D) LIGHT IS BLINKING, IT IS SHIFTING HARD, AND THE RPM'S ARE ACTING FUNNY BETWEEN GEARS. THIS JUST STARTED DURING A SHORT TRIP. THIS HAS BEEN AN OVERALL GOOD CAR, BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS SCREWED UP NOW. I HAVE HEARD THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME P…
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I OWN A 94 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER. IT HAS 116000 MILES AND NOW THE HOLD(O/D) LIGHT IS BLINKING, IT IS SHIFTING HARD, AND THE RPM'S ARE ACTING FUNNY BETWEEN GEARS. THIS JUST STARTED DURING A SHORT TRIP. THIS HAS BEEN AN OVERALL GOOD CAR, BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS SCREWED UP NOW. I HAVE HEARD THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO PAY $2500 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION JUST TO HAVE IT SCREW UP 30000 MILES FROM NOW. THE CD4E IS CRAP AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.
94 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE (3 TIMES), HOLD LIGHT FLASHES, JERKS INTO GEARS.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE. ONLY REVERSE WORKED. BUT DEALER FIXED. LATER, FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, CONTINUED TO STAY IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. ALSO, DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS, STAYS IN 3RD AND OVERDRIVE KICKS IN MUCH EARLIER THAN NORMAL. ALSO, ENGINE TEMPERATURE SEEMS TO BE AB…
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE. ONLY REVERSE WORKED. BUT DEALER FIXED. LATER, FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, CONTINUED TO STAY IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. ALSO, DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS, STAYS IN 3RD AND OVERDRIVE KICKS IN MUCH EARLIER THAN NORMAL. ALSO, ENGINE TEMPERATURE SEEMS TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE.
(1)I BOUGHT A USED 1994 MAZDA 626 WITH AN AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER CD4E TRANSMISSION AND 2.0 LITER ENGINE ON 10/7/04. A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED, I HAD THE CAR KEPT OVERHEATING SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, WHICH COSTED $375. THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM AT FIRST. BY THE TIME …
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(1)I BOUGHT A USED 1994 MAZDA 626 WITH AN AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER CD4E TRANSMISSION AND 2.0 LITER ENGINE ON 10/7/04. A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED, I HAD THE CAR KEPT OVERHEATING SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, WHICH COSTED $375. THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM AT FIRST. BY THE TIME CHRISTMAS CAME, THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY SHOT. IT WOULD REV UP TO 4000 RPM IN FIRST GEAR, AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO THIRD. SECOND GEAR WOULD JUST REV BETWEEN 3000-4000 RPM WHEN I HIT THE ACCELERATOR. I FINALLY GOT THE TRANS REBUILT. IT COSTED ME $1270. THIS WAS ON 1/17/05. THE CAR WAS FINE FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS. 2 DAYS AGO, I NOTICED 2ND GEAR REVING HIGH AGAIN BETWEEN 3-4000 RPM. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HIT THE GAS HARDER THAN NORMAL , SO I TOOK IT LIGHTLY. I WAS WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION IS REVVING HIGH IN LOW GEARS LIKE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY BFORE HAD IT REBUILT. THIS IS REDICULOUS. THERE IS NO WAY YOU SHOULD HAVE TO REBUILD OR REPLACE A TRANSMISSION TWICE WITHIN 6 MONTHS. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD REPAY ME FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN, OR I WILL HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK. THE MACHANIC WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME GAVE ME A 1 YEAR ARRANTY ON IT, BUT I SHOULD STILL BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS INCONVENIENT TRANSMISSION. AM I GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT EVERY 4 MONTHS?
I OWN A 1994 MAZDA 626 - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE "HOLD" LIGHT BLINKING ON MY DASHBOARD DISPLAY, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER OR STAY IN EITHER 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEAR AND NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL OR PROBLEMS DESCRIBING T…
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
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
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.
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