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
122,000 miles · Jan 6, 2005
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A MAZDA 626 LX MODEL 1994. SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY PARTS/DESIGN OF VEHICLE (AS INDICATED BY THE LARGE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINS POSTED IN VARIOUS WEBSITES). SPEED SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED,AND THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED TOO. CLASS ACTION SU…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A MAZDA 626 LX MODEL 1994. SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY PARTS/DESIGN OF VEHICLE (AS INDICATED BY THE LARGE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINS POSTED IN VARIOUS WEBSITES). SPEED SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED,AND THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED TOO. CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, BUT MAZDA DOES NOT ACCEPT THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10105843
109,999 miles · Dec 16, 2004
Power Train
1.)I PURCHASED A 1994 MAZDA 626 W/AT AND 2.0L ENGINE. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT TWELVE MILES BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I DROVE IT HOME, AND THAT EVENING THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED ABOUT 4 QUARTS INTO MY LAWN. I HAD NOT DRIVEN IT IN A WRECKLESS MATTER WHATSOEVER. SINCE THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON THE REBUILD, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO …
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1.)I PURCHASED A 1994 MAZDA 626 W/AT AND 2.0L ENGINE. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT TWELVE MILES BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I DROVE IT HOME, AND THAT EVENING THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED ABOUT 4 QUARTS INTO MY LAWN. I HAD NOT DRIVEN IT IN A WRECKLESS MATTER WHATSOEVER. SINCE THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON THE REBUILD, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM WHERE I HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH IT OVER THE NEXT 4 MONTHS. DURING THESE EVENTS, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE TONS OF OTHER 626 OWNERS LIKE ME HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. 2.)IT'S INFLICTED MORE THAN USUAL STRAIN ON MY ENGINE, I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, IT HAS COSTED ME LOTS OF MONEY. ON TOP OF THIS, MY NEW TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. 3.)THE TRANSMISSION SHOP EVENTUALLY ENDED UP SWAPPING THE TRANSMISSION OUT TWICE AND REPLACED COUNTLESS PART. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10103964
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO COAST DOWN TO 30 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO BEYOND SECOND GEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10103679
84,000 miles · Oct 25, 2004
Power Train
VEHICLE STOPPED ON A BRIDGE AT 45 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP GEARS, NOR GO INTO REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10097653
120,000 miles · Oct 18, 2004
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM IT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT AROUND 60K MILES. NOW ITS AT 120K MILES AND IT FAILED COMPLETELY.
NHTSA ODI #10095936
95,000 miles · Oct 3, 2004
Power Train
1994 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.1 THE CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH A PULL WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OTHER THEN THAT NO WARNING. ALL I WAS DOING WAS BACKING OUT MY DRIVEWAY. 2 THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE.*AK 3 THE CAR IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE JUNKED BEING THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION IS WORTH MORE THE…
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1994 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.1 THE CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH A PULL WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OTHER THEN THAT NO WARNING. ALL I WAS DOING WAS BACKING OUT MY DRIVEWAY. 2 THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE.*AK 3 THE CAR IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE JUNKED BEING THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION IS WORTH MORE THEN THE CAR
NHTSA ODI #10093537
124,000 miles · Sep 27, 2004
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. LIGHT IS FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS NOT TO BE RECALLED OR FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10093213
138,000 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Power Train
1994 MAZDA 626 HAS RECURRENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAD TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, THEN IT SHAKES AND VIBRATES HORRIBLY AND NOW HOLD LIGHT FLASHES AND IT WON'T GO INTO GEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10086437
154,500 miles · Aug 7, 2004
Power Train
INTERMITTANT SURGING FROM TRANSMISSION, FLASHING HOLD LIGHT. SOME TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, THEN TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 150K MLES. UNABLE TO MOVE AT ALL. THE TANSMISSION WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED WITH A USED ONE. YES THE OLD TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE..PLEASE COME AND TAKE IT AWAY!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086353
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2004
Power Train
A CONSTANT FLASING OF THE O/D LIGHT AFTER LONG TRIPS.*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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