IllustrationWHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ENGINE "PEGGED" OUT, AND HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RUINED TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *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 PURCHASED A MAZDA 626 FROM AUTO SERVICE COMPANY IN 1998. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE CAR HAD 40865 MILES ON IT. IN OCT OF 1999 THE VEHICLE HAD A BAD CV AXLE THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO RADER MAZDA AND THE AXLE HAD BEEN REPLACED. NOV OF 1999 I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICED THAT THE CAR KEPT IDLING HIGHER, BUT WASN'T GOING ANY FASTER, …
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I PURCHASED A MAZDA 626 FROM AUTO SERVICE COMPANY IN 1998. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE CAR HAD 40865 MILES ON IT. IN OCT OF 1999 THE VEHICLE HAD A BAD CV AXLE THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO RADER MAZDA AND THE AXLE HAD BEEN REPLACED. NOV OF 1999 I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICED THAT THE CAR KEPT IDLING HIGHER, BUT WASN'T GOING ANY FASTER, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO RADER MAZDA IN AUGUSTA GA, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT A BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSIONS. I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM RADER MAZDA TWO WEEKS LATER I WAS ON MY WAY TO NY FOR THANKSGIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. RADER MAZDA PUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN THE AUTOMOBILE. A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CV JOINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD GONE BAD THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO UNIVERSAL AUTO REPAIR THE JOINT WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE CAR NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THE WARRANTY FROM THE FIRST 2 REPAIRS EXPIRED AFTER 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. AUTO SERVICE COMPANY SOLD ME A LEMON, WHICH WAS A RENTAL CAR AND THEY DIDN'T MENTION ONE TIME THAT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM A RENTAL CAR COMPANY. HAD I KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE CAR. *AK
CONSUMER HAD TO REPAIR BRAKES TOO OFTEN. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE DRIVING BRAKES SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED AS FREQUENTLY. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS FLASHED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY ON DASH. ALSO, A 19 DAY OLD BATTERY WAS DEAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.*AK THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. *YH
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PERVASTIVE, RECURRING PROBLEM IN 94-97 MAZDAS AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE OVER DRIVEN, INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.*AK
THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COME ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT BROKE WHILE TRUNING, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF. VEHICLE TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
MAZDA CORP. DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS. MAZDA DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES 626'S HAVE TRANSMISSION FAULTS DUE TO RADIATORS BEING TOO SMALL AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT., BUT DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. ADVISED EXTERNAL COOLANT SHOULD BE ATTACHED AFTER REPAIR. VIA THIS WEBSITE, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS EX…
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MAZDA CORP. DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS. MAZDA DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES 626'S HAVE TRANSMISSION FAULTS DUE TO RADIATORS BEING TOO SMALL AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT., BUT DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. ADVISED EXTERNAL COOLANT SHOULD BE ATTACHED AFTER REPAIR. VIA THIS WEBSITE, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS EXIST. DOES MAZDA NOT READ THIS WEBSITE? CUSTOMER VERY DISSATISFIED WITH MAZDA . WENT OUT ON INTERSTATE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO AWARE OF 626'S TRANSMISSION'S REPUTATION. MAZDA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT SAYS NOTHING WILL BE DONE TO RECALL TRANSMISSIONS. TO-DATE THIS IS THE 274TH COMPLAINT FILED ON THIS WEBSITE. WHEN WILL ACTION BE TAKEN; AND NOT THE CONSUMER BE TAKEN!!!*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.