IllustrationFAILURE 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
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 reportsTRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE 1ST/2ND, OR 3RD GEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
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
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
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON ROAD. STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM.
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
WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING, THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB
IN AUGUST, 1997 AT 49,560 MILES THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY LES MARKS CHEVROLET THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WELL IN NOVEMBER, 2000 AT 101,702 MILES THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD (BY TRANSMISSION MAGICIAN) THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REP…
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IN AUGUST, 1997 AT 49,560 MILES THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY LES MARKS CHEVROLET THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WELL IN NOVEMBER, 2000 AT 101,702 MILES THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD (BY TRANSMISSION MAGICIAN) THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I AM SPENDING $1,774.00 TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATION AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ABNORMALLY.*AK
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5 WEEKS AGO FROM A SMALL CAR DEALER AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. I TOOK THE CAR TO TIM MARBURGER MAZDA IN CONCORD, NC TO HAVE THEM PLACE IT ON THE COMPUTER TO BE CERTAIN THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IT WAS. THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD OVERHEA…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 5 WEEKS AGO FROM A SMALL CAR DEALER AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. I TOOK THE CAR TO TIM MARBURGER MAZDA IN CONCORD, NC TO HAVE THEM PLACE IT ON THE COMPUTER TO BE CERTAIN THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IT WAS. THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD OVERHEATED AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2835.00. IN DOING RESEARCH THROUGH TELEPHONE AND THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. IN FACT, WHILE I WAS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, A CUSTOMER WHO WAS WAITING TOLD ME SHE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. I PULLED UP THE WEBSITE, WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/TRANS.HTML AND DISCOVERED THAT MAZDA HAD AN INFORMAL RECALL ON THE '94 626'S DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE A CAR THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT ON THAT NEEDS MAJOR REPAIR AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, MAZDA SHOULD BEAR SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY.*AK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS I AM GOING TO BE GETTING MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN THE ORDEAL AND THAT BY RESEARCHING I HAVE COME ACCROSS NUMEROUS COMLAINT SITE ON THE WEB ABOUT THE FORTH GENERATION 626 TRANSMITION FAILURES. FEEL FREE TO EMAIL.*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.