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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

Other model years Selected year
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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

What owners actually said

282 reports
100,100 miles · Jan 20, 2006
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HOLD LIGHT COME ON AND OFF,WILL NOT OPERATE IN DRIVE,REVERSE OR ANY OTHER GEAR. TRANS SEEM TO BE OVER HEATING. LOUD SQUEAKING SOUNDS LIKE A FAN BELT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148244

68,703 miles · Dec 23, 2005
Power Train

POWER TRAIN FAILURE AT 68000 MI IN 10/09/02, REBUILT FAILURE AT 88000 MI 12/20/05. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10145990

105,516 miles · Aug 23, 2005
Power TrainCrashInjury

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10133992

192,200 miles · Jul 29, 2005
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10130628

178,000 miles · Jul 13, 2005
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10128542

116,000 miles · Jul 6, 2005
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10127629

225,000 miles · Jun 10, 2005
Power Train

94 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE (3 TIMES), HOLD LIGHT FLASHES, JERKS INTO GEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10124976

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2005
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10122458

91,700 miles · May 14, 2005
Power Train

(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?

NHTSA ODI #10120907

134,660 miles · May 13, 2005
Power Train

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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

NHTSA ODI #10120866

Official recalls

2

15V674000 · 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

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.