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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

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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

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2001
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HAVE POWER WHILE IN DRIVE. IN ORDER TO MAKE VEHICLE ACCELERATE, SHE HAS TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE-2. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER ENDED UP PAYING 1391 DOLLARS FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #893613

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Power Train

MY O/D LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY. THERE ARE QUIRKS IN THE SPEEDOMETER WHEN SET, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT WILL NOT MOVE. THE MAZDA DEALER TOLD ME OFF HAND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE HE DID A ROAD TEST AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SHIFTING HARSHSLY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT BASICALLY THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING…

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MY O/D LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY. THERE ARE QUIRKS IN THE SPEEDOMETER WHEN SET, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT WILL NOT MOVE. THE MAZDA DEALER TOLD ME OFF HAND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE HE DID A ROAD TEST AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SHIFTING HARSHSLY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT BASICALLY THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS WHAT I FOUND ON THE WEBSITE STATING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM MAZDA AND FORD BASICALLY KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE TRANSMISSION THAT I HAVE IN MY CAR FROM THE YEARS AFTER 1994 IS A CD4E BY FORD. NOW THIS VERSION, IS KNOWN TO HAVE TERRIBLE REPAIR RECORD, AND SOME OF IT IS THE TRANSMISSION'S FAULT AND MAZDA. NOW WHEN I FIRST OBTAINED THIS CAR I NEEDED A WORK ORDER DONE ON THIS CAR AND THE PROBLEM GENERATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VERSION I HAVE IS PRONE TO BLOWING OUT THE PUMP GASKET, FAILURE RATE OF THE ORIGINAL FORWARD-CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IS HIGH, AND LINE PRESSURE OCCASSIONALLY GOES OFF THE SCALE. I FEEL THAT THESE COMPAINES SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH NOT PAYING THE BILL, BECAUSE NOW MY CAR IS NOT WORKING AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET TOUCH WITH THE 300 PEOPLE I FOUND ON THE INTERNET A PROTEST THIS MATTER. BECASUSE I CHECKED YOUR RECORD AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING AND YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT. WHY DO YOU EXIST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749536

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2001
Power Train

MY TRASNMISSION WENT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748849

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN JUST OVER 80K MILES EVEN THOUGH MAINTENANCE WAS KEPT EXACTLY INLINE WITH MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE GUIDELINES EVER SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1995.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747604

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Power Train

FAILURE OF CD4E TRANSMISSION ON MAZDA 626. DEALER STANDARD PROCEDURE IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION COSTING $2500 - $3000. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TRANSMISSION HAS FREQUENT FAILURES AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A RECALL ISSUED OR SOMETHING TO HOLD MANUFACTURER LIABLE FOR REPLACEMENT COSTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747483

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE 1ST/2ND, OR 3RD GEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891236

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2001
Power Train

CONSUMER FEELS AS IF THEE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH MAZDA'S TRANSMISSION BECAUSE SHE HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSIOIN WAS REBUILT AGAIN ON JUNE 14TH AND FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON JUNE 25TH. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #889986

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ORIGINALLY FAILED IN APRIL 2000 AT 89000 MILES. I PURCHASED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FROM MAZDA AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN I WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS IN THERE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL. I NOW HAVE 12000 MILES ND AM H19AVING TO ONCE AGAIN REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE 4 FRIENDS THAT OWN O…

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THE TRANSMISSION ORIGINALLY FAILED IN APRIL 2000 AT 89000 MILES. I PURCHASED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FROM MAZDA AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN I WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS IN THERE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL. I NOW HAVE 12000 MILES ND AM H19AVING TO ONCE AGAIN REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE 4 FRIENDS THAT OWN OR HAVE OWNED THE 1994,19 95, OR 96 MAZDA 626 AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #746125

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2001
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WHEN I GOT TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS GETTING READY TO TURN RIGHT, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL FOR A SECOND. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ONLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR BEGAN TO REV AND JERK AROUND, AND ALL THE W…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WHEN I GOT TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS GETTING READY TO TURN RIGHT, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL FOR A SECOND. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ONLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR BEGAN TO REV AND JERK AROUND, AND ALL THE WHILE, I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE BUSY STREET. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ONE IF I WANTED THE CAR TO WORK PROPERLY AGAIN. I WAS A BIT FRUSTRATED AT THE FACT THAT THE MODEL OF THE CAR IS A '95 AND IS IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745635

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Power Train

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING, THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #560970

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.

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

4

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.

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.