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 · Aug 3, 2004
Power Train
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE IN COLD START THE HOLD LIGHT FLASHED. AFTER TRANSMISSION WARMED UP IT SLIPPED FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. THEN, IT DID NO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CONSUMER LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY SIM…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE IN COLD START THE HOLD LIGHT FLASHED. AFTER TRANSMISSION WARMED UP IT SLIPPED FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. THEN, IT DID NO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CONSUMER LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10087126
102,900 miles · Jul 28, 2004
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 94 626 WHICH HAS BEEN TREATED WITH KID GLOVES HAS ACTED ERRATIC AND HAS BEEN CAUSING OTHER COMPONENTS OF MY CAR TO SUFFER.ALL THIS AND I HAVE SERVICED IT ACCORDING TO THE MANUEL FAITHFULLY. MY TRANS FLUID HAS ALWAYS BEEN PRISTINE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN RACED OR TOWED OR DRIVEN IN EXTREME WEATHER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082808
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2004
Power Train
I BOUTH A 1994 MAZDA 626 WITH 93,915 MILES IN 2000. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS STARTED COMING ON IN MY CAR, AND IT WON'T SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD. ALL THE DEALERS I HAVE CALLED SAY "WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE JUST REPLACE IT", LIKE THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME.*AK SO I PAID $1800 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR AND GUESS WHAT STILL WITH THE SAM…
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I BOUTH A 1994 MAZDA 626 WITH 93,915 MILES IN 2000. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS STARTED COMING ON IN MY CAR, AND IT WON'T SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD. ALL THE DEALERS I HAVE CALLED SAY "WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE JUST REPLACE IT", LIKE THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME.*AK SO I PAID $1800 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR AND GUESS WHAT STILL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR 6 TIMES BACK FOR TRANSMITION REPAIR AND THE O.D LIGHT STILL FLASHING SOMETIMES, I THINK IS VERY BAD FOR THE COSTUMERS OF MAZDAS 626 TO BE PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR FOR REPAIR SOMETHING THAT WILL BE BROKEN AGAIN WITH THE SAME EXATLY PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10080799
36,000 miles · Jul 10, 2004
Power Train
THE VEHICLE "SLAMS" INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON EARLY 90'S 626'S ARE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED $2,800 TO REPLACE/REPAIR TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW WITH ONLY 18 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I CURRENTLY HAVE 88,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SOMETHIN…
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THE VEHICLE "SLAMS" INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON EARLY 90'S 626'S ARE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED $2,800 TO REPLACE/REPAIR TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW WITH ONLY 18 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I CURRENTLY HAVE 88,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS LIKE ME. THIS VEHICLE COSTS ME CLOSE TO $30,000 TO PURCHASE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10080734
196,000 miles · Jun 25, 2004
Power Train
1994 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HOLD LIGHT BLINKED BEFORE I HAD TO BUY A SECOND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO CORRECT THIS TRANSMISSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10078819
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2004
Power Train
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075596
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2004
EquipmentInjury
AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS INSIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WELL, WHEREIN IT ACTUALLY FILLS THE FLOOR AND SPILLS BACK INTO THE BACK SEAT FLOOR WELL. SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER. MOLD AND MILDEW PROBLEM ON FLOORING, FLOOR MATS, ETC. EVERY YEAR TAKE TO DEALER OR OTHER AUTO BODY TO CLEAN OUT A/C DRAINAGE AREA, STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. M…
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AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS INSIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WELL, WHEREIN IT ACTUALLY FILLS THE FLOOR AND SPILLS BACK INTO THE BACK SEAT FLOOR WELL. SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER. MOLD AND MILDEW PROBLEM ON FLOORING, FLOOR MATS, ETC. EVERY YEAR TAKE TO DEALER OR OTHER AUTO BODY TO CLEAN OUT A/C DRAINAGE AREA, STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. MOLD SMELL CAUSES HEADACHES WHEN IN VEHICLE LONG PERIODS OF TIME. * NM
NHTSA ODI #10073124
61,000 miles · Apr 22, 2004
Power Train
1994 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES/HOUR, SUDDENTLY THE ENGINE SHUDDERED, WITH TRANSMISSION MOVING IN AND OUT ITSELF. ENGINE LOSING POWER AND SPEED. O/D LIGHT BLINKED. *AK MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL OUT OF HIGHWAY. THIS CAR PUT ME AND MY FAMILY INTO DANGER. TOWED THE CAR TO MAZDA DEALER.
NHTSA ODI #10067680
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2004
Power Train
HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION ON 1996 MAZDA 626. VERY HARSH UPWARD SHIFTING SPECIALLY FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR. DOWNWARD SHIFTING IS HARSH AS WELL BUT NOT AS BAD AS UPWARD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10066577
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2004
Power Train
THIS VEHICLE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. ALSO, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND NO ONE WANTED TO HELP HIM . CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $3300.00 FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID FOR HIS DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY WAY SHE HAD…
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THIS VEHICLE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. ALSO, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND NO ONE WANTED TO HELP HIM . CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $3300.00 FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID FOR HIS DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY WAY SHE HAD TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER'S WIFE ALSO DROVE THIS VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. *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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