IllustrationI HEARD THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR . IT IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED . NO DEFECT LISTED. *AK
1995 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Mazda 626 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 626 years →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
50–25K
625–50K
1550–75K
3475–100K
47100–150K
26150K+
133 reports with mileage · 355 unknown
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 337 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports8 fire reports33 injury reports
Power Train complaints
337 reportsVEHICLE WOULD STALL AND GEARS LURCHS WHEN CHANGING DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
MY O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AT 60K MILES. I TOOK IT TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NO CODES. IT BEGAN TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, USUALLY AFTER DRIVING 2 HRS AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. FREQUENT CHECKS FOR CODES, CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID GAVE US HOPE , BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED EACH TIME. THE LASTEST WAS THE FLASHING O/D O…
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MY O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AT 60K MILES. I TOOK IT TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NO CODES. IT BEGAN TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, USUALLY AFTER DRIVING 2 HRS AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. FREQUENT CHECKS FOR CODES, CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID GAVE US HOPE , BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED EACH TIME. THE LASTEST WAS THE FLASHING O/D OFF LITE AND DROPPING OUT OF O/D ON ITS OWN. THE MAZDA PEOPLE SAID THE FLUID WAS OVERHEATED AND HAD BEEN OVER FILLED. THEY CHANGED THE FLUID. WHEN THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, THEY FOUND THE CODES 628 AND 652. THEY SAY THAT THE TOURQUE CONVERTER WAS SHREADING AND IMPEDING THE CIRCULATION THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE BOTTOM LINE IS ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA DEALER I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AN ADD ON COOLER FOR THE FLUID. WHAT A GREAT DESIGN THIS TRANSAXLE MUST BE. MANY FAILURES WITH ORIGINAL MILEAGE UNDER 80K, REPLACEMENTS FAIL, WARRANTIES DON'T LAST LONG, AND FORD/MAZDA DON'T SEEM TO CARE THAT THEIR PRODUCTS ARE FAILING WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *AK
WHEN DRIVNG OR ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO HANG IN 'GEAR'. I HAVE TO LET GO OF THE GAS AND RE-APPLY THE GAS AND IT KICKS INTO THE NEXT GEAR, BUT EVEN THEN, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING VERY SLOWLY. I DID NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO SEND A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. I DO LIVE IN CANADA, SO YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT THE ADDRESS THAT …
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WHEN DRIVNG OR ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO HANG IN 'GEAR'. I HAVE TO LET GO OF THE GAS AND RE-APPLY THE GAS AND IT KICKS INTO THE NEXT GEAR, BUT EVEN THEN, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING VERY SLOWLY. I DID NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO SEND A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. I DO LIVE IN CANADA, SO YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT THE ADDRESS THAT I GAVE TO MAYBE GIVE ME SOME TIPS OR SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO...THANK-YOU. *AK
I HAVE READ SO MANY SAD STORYS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE POOR FORD CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THE MAZDA 626 IN 5/25/99. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN IN 7/20/99. I SENT IT TO THE SHOP NAMED COTTMAN TRANSMISSION. THEY CHARGED ME $1999 FOR FIXING IT. BUT THEY DID NOT FIXED IT WELL. IN 1/17/2002, THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD AGAIN. …
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I HAVE READ SO MANY SAD STORYS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE POOR FORD CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THE MAZDA 626 IN 5/25/99. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN IN 7/20/99. I SENT IT TO THE SHOP NAMED COTTMAN TRANSMISSION. THEY CHARGED ME $1999 FOR FIXING IT. BUT THEY DID NOT FIXED IT WELL. IN 1/17/2002, THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD AGAIN. I SENT IT TO AAMCO, THEY SAID THAT DUE TO WRONG INSTALLATION, THE PATH FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLOCKED. SO THE METAL PARTS CONTACT TO EACH OTHER. I HAVE TO PAY $2500 FOR THE REPAIR. I AM SO ANGRY. I THINK MAZDA COMPANY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BAD TRANSMISSION.*AK
WHEN DRIVING OVER DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE GOES INTO A HIGHER GEAR. DRIVER STATES THAT WHEN PRESSING OVERDRIVE BUTTON IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT CITY SPEED ENGINE STARTED OVER HEATING, AND THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAS CAUSED THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH TRANSMISSION WILL START LOSING POWER AND JERKING. CONSUMER HAS TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC.*AK *JG
CAR CAN BARELY GET POWER TO GO. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP TRIED TO STEP THE CAR JUST REVEV UP. IS ONLY ABLE TO 10 MPH.*AK
SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING SPEEDOMETER WILL GO BACK TO ZERO. GAUGES ON DASH WILL START TO ACT ERRACTICALLY. VEHICLE STAYED IN THIRD GEAR. ALSO, HAD TO STOP VEHICLE AND LET IT SIT, AND THEN START VEHICLE BACK UP, AND EVERYTHING ACTED NORMALLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. CO…
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SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING SPEEDOMETER WILL GO BACK TO ZERO. GAUGES ON DASH WILL START TO ACT ERRACTICALLY. VEHICLE STAYED IN THIRD GEAR. ALSO, HAD TO STOP VEHICLE AND LET IT SIT, AND THEN START VEHICLE BACK UP, AND EVERYTHING ACTED NORMALLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. CONTACTED MAZDA, AND MAZDA INDICATED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 99I005000 ON 1994 MODEL. *AK *SLC
Official recalls
215V674000 · 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.
98V249000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Oct 8, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
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
4RQ99022 · 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.
EA97012 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened May 23, 1997 · Closed Oct 9, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN 20 OR 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 25 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROADWAY.MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OFALL 1995 AND 1996 MODELS OF THE MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AS WELL AS A SMALL NUMBER OF 1997 MAZDA 626 MODELS, EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME SAS UNIT.THE SAS UNIT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG SYSTEMIT CONTAINS A BUILT-IN CRASH SENSOR TO DETECT VEHICLE DECELERATION DURING A COLLISION.AFFECTED MODELS WERE ASSEMBLED FROM JUNE 1, 1994 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 AND HAVE A VIN WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: MAZDA 626:1YVGE22**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE22**V5599030 MAZDA MX-6: 1YVGE31**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE31**T5589965ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE AN UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPOYMENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS.
PE97006 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jan 30, 1997 · Closed May 23, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN JANUARY OF 1997, ODI OPENED A PE BASED ON 9 ODI COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 51 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS INCLUDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 21 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.IN FOUR OF THESE INCIDENTS THE DRIVER CLAIMS TO HAVE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CURB AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.IN ADDITION THERE ARE FOUR INCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVER ALLEGES THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER A TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING.LESS COMMON INCIDENTS INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY, CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS, WHILE BEING TOWED, WHILE BRAKING, AFTER HITTING A CURB, AND AFTER HITTING A MANHOLE COVER.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORTS GATHERED TO DATE, THE SENSORS USED IN THE VEHICLES, AND TO ASSESS THE IMPACT THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS ON HIGHWAY SAFETY.