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
90,504 miles · Oct 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ALTERNATOR OR WATER PUMP BELT BROKE DUE TO WATER PUMP PULLEY ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND REQUIRE REBUILDING PROCESS. WATER PUMP PULLEY IS POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE AND NOT ALIGNED WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND HARMONIC BALANCER. V-BELT SHREDS OVER TIME DUE TO MISALIGNMENT AND LOST OF CHARGING AND COOLIN…
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THE ALTERNATOR OR WATER PUMP BELT BROKE DUE TO WATER PUMP PULLEY ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND REQUIRE REBUILDING PROCESS. WATER PUMP PULLEY IS POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE AND NOT ALIGNED WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND HARMONIC BALANCER. V-BELT SHREDS OVER TIME DUE TO MISALIGNMENT AND LOST OF CHARGING AND COOLING IS INSTANT. WATER PUMP PULLEY ALIGNMENT SHOULD BE CHECKED AND ADJUSTED IF NEEDED, DURING ENGINE ASSEMBLY. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041181
83,456 miles · Oct 3, 2003
Power Train
CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE & NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041159
93,021 miles · Sep 28, 2003
Power Train
1994 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MAZDA/FORD 1994 THROUGH 1998 CD4E TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE PROBLEMATIC ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION DEALERSHIPS. THEY ALL INDICATED THE COST OF REPAIRS AND/OR REBUILTS WOULD RUN $2500.00 PLUS... WITH MINIMAL OR LIMITED WARRANTY ON REPAIRS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT AN AUTOMOTIVE MAN…
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1994 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MAZDA/FORD 1994 THROUGH 1998 CD4E TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE PROBLEMATIC ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION DEALERSHIPS. THEY ALL INDICATED THE COST OF REPAIRS AND/OR REBUILTS WOULD RUN $2500.00 PLUS... WITH MINIMAL OR LIMITED WARRANTY ON REPAIRS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT AN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURE RECALL ON THE MAZDA/FORD 1994 THROUGH 1998 CD4E TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
NHTSA ODI #10040836
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED. PARTS HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10038092
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032161
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2003
Suspension
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT COIL SPRING. DEALER STATED THAT A COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN BUT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE WORK. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO THE CONSUMER BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10031772
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2003
Exterior Lighting
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN PUTTING TURN SIGNAL ON HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10031511
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Exterior Lighting
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WITH NO WARNING HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10031329
8,000 miles · Jul 28, 2003
Exterior Lighting
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS HEADLIGHTS AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 358 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10031272
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2003
Unknown Or Other
AIR VENT BLOWS INSULATION PARTICLES INTO DRIVER'S FACE AND EYES - POTENTIALLY DISABLING DRIVER DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE
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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