IllustrationIVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE AND IM GOING TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE ITS SLIPPING . *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
What owners actually said
488 reportsI WAS DRIVING MY 1995 MAZDA 626 TO WORK ON 08/05/2004 AND ABOUT A MILE FROM WORK, MY O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. ONCE I GOT TO WORK, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. I CALLED A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY MY TRANSMISSION AND IT MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN WENT ON CARTRAC…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 1995 MAZDA 626 TO WORK ON 08/05/2004 AND ABOUT A MILE FROM WORK, MY O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. ONCE I GOT TO WORK, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. I CALLED A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY MY TRANSMISSION AND IT MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN WENT ON CARTRACKERS.COM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST MAZDA 626'S. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND SURELY CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE A PAYMENT ON A NEW VEHICLE. PLEASE MAKE MAZDA CORRECT THEIR PROBLEM!!!*AK
I PURCHASED A 1995 MAZDA 626 WITH 04,000 ON 106,000 THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR IS REALLY A FORD CD4E. ALL OVER THE INTERNET THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE PAID $2,500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IT IS BEING INSTALLED NOW. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL…
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I PURCHASED A 1995 MAZDA 626 WITH 04,000 ON 106,000 THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR IS REALLY A FORD CD4E. ALL OVER THE INTERNET THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE PAID $2,500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IT IS BEING INSTALLED NOW. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL?*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AROUND 1999. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT ($2300). HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT IN MAY 2003. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN JUNE 2004 ($1700). I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE, SHE HAD NEVER ENDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. EVENTU…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE AROUND 1999. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT ($2300). HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT IN MAY 2003. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN JUNE 2004 ($1700). I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE, SHE HAD NEVER ENDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. EVENTUALLY SHE TRADED THE CAR IN BECAUSE IT WAS COSTING HER MORE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE THAN THE WORTH OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
1995 MAZDA 626 UTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (FORD CD4E) FAILURE NO REPAIRS INITIATED DUE TO UNRELIABLE NATURE OF TRANSMISSION AND EXTREMELY HIGH COST ($2200-2500). FOR HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/189.HTML. *AK
CAR DETAILS: MAZDA ODEL 626, YEAR OF MFG: 1995, 4 DOOR, AUTO TRANSMISSION, NO. OF MILES (TILL THE DATE OF COMPLAINT): 87,410 MILES. THIS IS A USED CAR AND I BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER 2003. THE MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT WAS ABOUT 84,500. *AK PROBLEM: 1) EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE: THERE WAS A SLIP IN THE CAR EVERY TIME THE…
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CAR DETAILS: MAZDA ODEL 626, YEAR OF MFG: 1995, 4 DOOR, AUTO TRANSMISSION, NO. OF MILES (TILL THE DATE OF COMPLAINT): 87,410 MILES. THIS IS A USED CAR AND I BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER 2003. THE MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT WAS ABOUT 84,500. *AK PROBLEM: 1) EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE: THERE WAS A SLIP IN THE CAR EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS STARTED FROM REST. I SHOWED IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM TO BE DUE TO NEW BRAKE PADS WHICH I HAD GOT CHANGED ABOUT TWO MONTHS BACK.I USE THE CAR MAINLY INSIDE THE CITY AND IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY FINE. I DROVE IT ONLY ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES (THIS WAS ON THE DAY OF COMPLAINT) AND WHILE COMING ON THE WAY I SAW THAT THE CAR WAS HAVING LOT OF JERKS WHENEVER I SLOWED DOWN OR STOPPED AT ANY SIGNAL. ALSO THE PICK UP OF THE CAR WAS VERY POOR. THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT PICK THE POWER THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING AND I HAD A PROBLEM EVEN GETTING TO 30 MPH. AS SOON AS I SAW THIS I DID NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER. THE VERY NEXT DAY I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. 2) THE FAILURE: THE TRASMISSION OIL IN THE CAR WAS LOW, THE GEAR TEETH IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BROKEN; THE CLUTCH PLATES WERE WORN OUT; THE LEFT AXEL HAD EATEN AWAY THE SLEEVE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON THE LEFT SIDE.THE WORN OUT METAL (OF THE GEAR) WAS SUPPOSEDLY CARRIED OVER TO OTHER PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED SOME OTHER GEARS TO GET DAMAGED. 3) PRESENTLY THE CAR AND THE OLD TRANSMISSION BOTH ARE WITH MY MECHANIC. I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY DECISION SO FAR AS THE COST OF REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION IS MORE THAN THE COST OF THE CAR ITSELF.
TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT FOR 2ND TIME. FIRST REBUILT AT 114K000 NOW AT 119K000, NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 5,000 MILES. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
MY MAZDA 1995 626 KEEPS HAVING THE THE "O/D LIGHT OFF" BLINKING AND THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE ALOT WHEN I TURN THE A/C ON.*AK
MADZA 626 95 O/D OFF AND CAR SKAKING ALL THE TIME WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM!!!*AK
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.