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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

Seats complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2001
Seats

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SEATS ON THIS CAR-- WHEN YOU LEAN ON THE INSIDE OF THEM, PUTTING YOUR FULL WEIGHT AGAINST ONLY THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT, IT FALLS BACKWARD SUDDENLY. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TENDING TO BABY SEATS FASTENED IN THE BACK., BEHIND YOU. YOU LEAN IN TO HELP BABY, AND WHAM THE CHAIR FALLS INTO A FULL RECLINE.…

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SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SEATS ON THIS CAR-- WHEN YOU LEAN ON THE INSIDE OF THEM, PUTTING YOUR FULL WEIGHT AGAINST ONLY THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT, IT FALLS BACKWARD SUDDENLY. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TENDING TO BABY SEATS FASTENED IN THE BACK., BEHIND YOU. YOU LEAN IN TO HELP BABY, AND WHAM THE CHAIR FALLS INTO A FULL RECLINE. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH SEATS, AND EVEN WITH VERY LIGHTWEIGHT ADULTS. SHOULD SOMEONE BE DRIVING WHEN THEY LEAN, IT COULD MEAN A MASSIVE SAFETY HAZARD. TO MAKE THIS CLEARER, IF YOU SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (BOTH SEATS ARE EFFECTED, BUT FOR EXPLAINATIONS SAKE, WE'LL USE THE PASSENGER SIDE), THEN TURN TOWARD THE CENTER BACK SEAT OF THE CAR, YOUR SHOULDER RESTS AGAINST THE INSIDE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT, PUSHING A LITTLE TO THE INSIDE. WHEN STEADY PRESSURE IS APPLIED, AS YOU HELP THE CHILD, SUDDENLY, IT DROPS YOU BACKWARDS INTO A FULL RECLINE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE LATCH IS TRYING TO CATCH AS IT FALLS-- KIND OF LIKE A KID RUNNING WITH A STICK AGAINST A PLASTIC PICKET FENCE. HOPE THIS HELPS. BTW, IN TESTING IT, YOU MIGHT DO WELL TO HAVE A PERSON LEAN AS IF TURNING TO REACH INTO THE SEAT BEHIND THE SEAT THEY ARE SITTING IN. IT IS STEADY UNBALANCED PRESSURE THAT COLLAPSES IT, NOT SUDDEN IMPACT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755684

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2000
Seats

SEAT MOVED FOWARD,SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVER AT BASE BECOMES TRAPPED BELOW SEAT RECLINER HANDLE, ALLOWING APPX 6INCHES OF SLACK THAT WOULD BE RELEASED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT,IN THEORY CAUSING ME TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717273

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
Seats

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT HAS TOTALLY RECLINED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING IN IT AND I WAS DRIVING (ABOUT 50MPH). THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE BACK INJURIES, WOULD BE A PROBLEM IN A CRASH, AND I CANNOT PUT MY CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT IN THIS CAR UNTIL I PAY FOR A $377 PART (A NUT) TO GET IT FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703394

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 1996
SeatsSteering

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IF WHEELS SLIGHTLY TURNED WHEN PARKED ON INLCLINE, REQUIRING A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL. *DH

NHTSA ODI #505924

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1996
Seats

SEAT MATERIAL IS HIGHLY FLAMABLE, BURNS IN THE INTERIOR DUE TO ASHES OF CIGARETTES.

NHTSA ODI #503933

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1996
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

PASSENGERS SEAT LATCH FAILED, CAUSING SEAT TO RECLINE WITH MINIMAL PRESSURE APPLIED.

NHTSA ODI #504034

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 1995
Seats

HEADREST KEEPS JUMPING UP, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY, DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #968685

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.