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 reports

85,000 miles · Jan 17, 2009

Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO GO INTO REVERSE. DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID PROBLEM WAS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL AND INDICATING TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED REBUILD. TRANSMISSION REBUILD FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255409

161,523 miles · Dec 10, 2008

SuspensionTires

1. TIRES MAKE A LOUD "WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP" SOUND THAT INCREASE SPEED AND VOLUME AS THE CAR ACCELERATES. 2. THE NOISE IS TIRE SEPARATION, THE NOISE IS CONSTANT AND CONTINUALLY GETTING LOUDER. THE TIRES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY COMPLETELY SHREDDED APART YET. 3. WE HAVE REPLACED BOTH CV BOOTS, BOTH HALF SHAFTS, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, HAD B…

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NHTSA ODI #10251312

113,000 miles · Nov 28, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007 AND FROM THE START THERE WERE PROBLEMS. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT POPS ON AND OFF, KEEPS OVERHEATING EVEN AFTER HAD FULL FLUID FLUSH, REPLACED OLD BATTERY WITH NEW ONE AND CAR CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF, TAKES 10 MIN TO START. I GOT IT FIXED IN MARCH OF 2008 FOR THE PROBLEMS STATED ABOVE AND AGAIN IN SEPT 2008 FOR SAME PROBLEMS BUT WITH A DIFFERENT COMPANY. THEY SAID ITS BECAUSE 2 OUT OF THE 4 CYLINDERS ARE REALLY LOW. IF THAT'S THE CASE WHY DIDN'T THE OTHER COMPANY ADVISE ME OF THAT SAME PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR WON'T START. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR ND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST SERIOUS ISSUE WAS THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR OLD. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND RESTART IT AND GO HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250032

160,000 miles · Nov 15, 2008

Power Train

CAR DEMONSTRATES KNOWN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR - O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF, ERRATIC GEAR SHIFTING RESULTING IN DANGEROUS OPERATION ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248901

105,234 miles · Oct 29, 2008

Power Train

CAR DEMONSTRATES KNOWN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR - O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF, ERRATIC GEAR SHIFTING RESULTING IN DANGEROUS OPERATION ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247106

92,500 miles · Oct 16, 2008

Power Train

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY 1995 MAZDA 626'S TRANSMISSION. IT IS ONLY AT 93,000 MILES, AND I THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. IT SHIFTS VERY HARD INTO GEAR. WHEN IT IS IN DRIVE, SOMETIMES IT SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL IF I AM IDLING. I USUALLY HAVE TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE FOR IT TO GET BACK IN GEAR. I …

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NHTSA ODI #10245724

153,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008

Power Train

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I OWN A 1995 MAZDA 626 AND WAS MADE AWARE THAT IT HAS DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE O/D LIGHTS CONSTANTLY BLINKS ON AND THE CAR JERKS AND SHAKES AT STOPS. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AND DID SOME RESEARCH AS A RESULT. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION AT LEAST TWICE. IT TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION BUILT BY FORD WAS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS, AND MAZDA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238796

177,000 miles · Aug 13, 2008

Power Train

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA 626. WHILE AT A BANK DRIVE-THRU WINDOW, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SHE WANTED A SECOND OPINION SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 177,000.

NHTSA ODI #10237992

158,024 miles · Jun 12, 2008

Power Train

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I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR SINCE SEPT. 2007. IT IS A 1995 MAZDA 626 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I STARTED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION SOON AFTER BUYING THE CAR. IT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, ESPECIALLY IF I WAS PARKED ON A HILL. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY LAST SUNDAY WHEN I WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND TRIED TO REVERSE OUT OF THE SPACE. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT A GARAGE BEFORE PURCHASING AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230883

174,000 miles · Jun 7, 2008

Power Train

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1995 MAZDA 626 LX. PURCHASED IN 1/2007 WITH 148,000 MILES. IN 5/2007 THE TRANS WENT OUT. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO OVERDRIVE. THE FLUID SMELLED BURNED. HAD A USED ONE PUT IN. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE CD4E TRANSMISSIONS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURE JUST WASN'T TOLD WHY. 4/2008 TRANS WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD A REBUILD TRANS PUT IN. DROVE IT FOR 1-1/2 HOURS THEN DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO REV AND WOULDN'T GO OUT OF 2ND GEAR. JUST FOUND OUT IT IS IN NEED OF AN AFTERMARKET COOLER AND AN EPC SOLENOID. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND OUT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS MAZDA FAULT FOR USING A FORD TRANS. MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WOULD NEVER OWN ANOTHER MAZDA OR FORD PRODUCT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230240

Official recalls

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

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.