IllustrationO/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING VERY HARD. I AM IN THE MILITARY, AND STATIONED OVERSEAS. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP AT ALL.
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 reportsTHE CAR IS FLASHING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTEDLY FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS AND TODAY THE O/D LIGHT FLASHED ONCE. LAST WEEK THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ON REVERSE OR IN DRIVE AND THEN DID IT VERY "HARD". TODAY, WHEN IDLE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO FIRST GEAR FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THEN SHIFT HARD AND DRIVE NORMALLY.*AK
"O/D OFF" LIGHT FLASHES; CAR SHIFTS ROUGH AS ACCELERATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER; TOLD IT WAS A COMMON SENSOR PROBLEM WHICH THEY CLAIM THEY ADJUSTED. PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER 4 DAYS. REDIAGNOSIS AT DEALER (WHICH TOOK 3 DAYS) STATED TCC SOLENOID. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, AND STATED THAT DEALER PUT IT IN WRIT…
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"O/D OFF" LIGHT FLASHES; CAR SHIFTS ROUGH AS ACCELERATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER; TOLD IT WAS A COMMON SENSOR PROBLEM WHICH THEY CLAIM THEY ADJUSTED. PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER 4 DAYS. REDIAGNOSIS AT DEALER (WHICH TOOK 3 DAYS) STATED TCC SOLENOID. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, AND STATED THAT DEALER PUT IT IN WRITING THAT IT WAS THE TCC SOLENOID. THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID FOR $353. SIX DAYS LATER PROBLEM RETURNED, SLIGHTLY WORSE. CALLED TRANSMISSION PLACE BACK. WAS INFORMED THAT THE TCC SOLONOID WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REPLACED THE PART BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS, PER THE DEALER. CAR REDIAGNOSED; PROBLEM IS A CODE 628; CLUTCH CONVERTER, AND THAT IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MAZDA, COMMONLY RESULTING IN REGULAR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS EVERY 15,000-25,000 MILES.
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS, NOR WOULD IT ACCELERATE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON 3-27-98, AND CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER STATED UNLESS PARTS WERE ON RECALL, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.*AK
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE ORIGINAL DEALER PAY OFF BALANCE OF LOAN IN SUPPORT OF PURCHASE OF NEW CAR. VALUE IS NOW ONLY $2000 (PAID $12995 12/98) BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BALISE MAZDA OPERATION RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A FAILURE WITH 1995 4 CYLINDER TRANSMISSIONS. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS LONGSTAND…
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TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE ORIGINAL DEALER PAY OFF BALANCE OF LOAN IN SUPPORT OF PURCHASE OF NEW CAR. VALUE IS NOW ONLY $2000 (PAID $12995 12/98) BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BALISE MAZDA OPERATION RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A FAILURE WITH 1995 4 CYLINDER TRANSMISSIONS. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS LONGSTANDING PROBLEMS WITH MID 1990 4 CYLINDER MAZDA 626. AM NOW STUCK WITH A LEMON AND $2500 BILL ON CAR WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES.*AK
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
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
MY TRASNMISSION WENT OUT. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
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
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.