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
What owners actually said
282 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TEN DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE ON 10/20/98, IT WAS BOUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SELLER THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY AN EXCELLERATION PROBLEM THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AND AS SOON AS HE PROCEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE TO STOP (EVEN AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES). THEY TOL…
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TEN DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE ON 10/20/98, IT WAS BOUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SELLER THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY AN EXCELLERATION PROBLEM THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AND AS SOON AS HE PROCEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE TO STOP (EVEN AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES). THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THAT IF IT CONTINUED I SHOULD GIVE THEM A CALL AND A MECHANIC WOULD TRY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I CALLED BACK TWO DAYS LATER AFTER ALMOST KILLING MYSELF, MY CHILDREN AND POSSIBLY SOMEONE ELSE. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO HAVE THEIR MECHANICS LOOK AT IT. WELL, THREE DAYS LATER I PICKED UP MY CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED. I GAVE CAR THE ANOTHER 2 MONTHS OF DRIVING WITH CAUTION, UNTIL ALMOST ANOTHER TRAGGIC ACCIDENT OCCURED. I THEN DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE MAZDA DEALER TO GET EXPERT HELP, AFTER SPENDING $1000 WITH THEM, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AFTER 2-1/2 MONTHS LATER. I THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE ANYBODY COULD DO. I AM VERY DESPERATE FOR SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER, ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIVES OF MYSELF AND CHILDREN AND OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BURUEA AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM BOTH AGENCY'S. YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS
NHTSA ODI #714213
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1999
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #714172
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VACUUM HOSE FAILED, CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL. YH
NHTSA ODI #549567
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1999
Electrical System
WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WILLCUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. RPM GOES DOWN TO ZERO. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR NEED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #851908
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Power Train
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. …
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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
NHTSA ODI #713327
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, HAS JERKY SHIFTS, VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY
NHTSA ODI #713146
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #849619
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE, AS IF IN NEUTRAL. DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE ALREADY. NEEDS THIRD TRANSMISSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848568
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1999
Power Train
WHEN TRAVELING AT REGULAR SPEED SPEEDOMETER JUMPS BACK AND FORTH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848370
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING UP HILL VEHICLE BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR DOWN SHIFTING PROBLEMS. FINAL REPAIRES COMPLETED ON THE SB - FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP REPLACED. *AK
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.
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
2
RQ99022 · 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.
1994 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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