← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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

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 reports
86,588 miles · Oct 20, 2005
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED. JERKY OR NO REACTION WHEN PLACING INTO GEAR. THE CAR, WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION, ACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GEAR. THEN, SUDDENLY, IT JERKED INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED LIKE IT REGAINED NORMALCY WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AND IT SEEMED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE. I COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE IS A 1995…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION FAILED. JERKY OR NO REACTION WHEN PLACING INTO GEAR. THE CAR, WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION, ACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GEAR. THEN, SUDDENLY, IT JERKED INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED LIKE IT REGAINED NORMALCY WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AND IT SEEMED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE. I COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE IS A 1995 MAZDA 626 AND HAS 86588 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140387

167,000 miles · Oct 19, 2005
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED LITTLE BY LITTLE THEN MAKING A LEFT TURN ON TO INTERSTATE RAMP, TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GOES OUT AND LEAVES ME COASTING IN FRONT OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 7 SECONDS. NOW CAR DOES THAT ABOUT EVERYDAY AND HAS PUT ME IN SOME STICKY SITUATIONS. WAS TOLD MY DEALER THAT NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED.…

Read full complaint

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED LITTLE BY LITTLE THEN MAKING A LEFT TURN ON TO INTERSTATE RAMP, TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GOES OUT AND LEAVES ME COASTING IN FRONT OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 7 SECONDS. NOW CAR DOES THAT ABOUT EVERYDAY AND HAS PUT ME IN SOME STICKY SITUATIONS. WAS TOLD MY DEALER THAT NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140267

101,000 miles · Oct 14, 2005
Power Train

THE O/D STARTED BLINKING WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF EVEN WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. CAR WAS REALLY SHAKING AND I TOOK IT TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THEY TOLD ME IT IS TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST 2090 CAN + TAX TO FIX IT. CAR HAS LESS THAN 103 K. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139692

42,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Power Train

1995 MAZDA 626 PURCHASED USED IN 1998 WITH APPX. 30,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY BURNED OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN JULY 2005. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I ASKED WHY WOULD A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. …

Read full complaint

1995 MAZDA 626 PURCHASED USED IN 1998 WITH APPX. 30,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY BURNED OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN JULY 2005. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I ASKED WHY WOULD A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS ONLY DRIVEN ON WEEKENDS FOR SHORT TRIP. IN THE 7 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE IT WAS ONLY DRIVER 10,000 MILES. I PAID OVER 18,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT GETS ONLY 10,000 MILES? OR 40,000 TOTAL? ASKED MAZDA TO PICK UP THE COST OF REPAIR WHICH IS $4,000 AS THIS IS AS RECURRING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN OF THEIR MODEL VEHICLES DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF A FORD TRANSMISSION IN THESE MAKES//MODESL. MAZDA HAS ADVISED THAT MY WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED. I STATED THAT IT'S NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM BUT A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 3 MONTHS. DEALER HAS NOT CONTACTED ME EXCEPT ONCE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. I, OF COURSE, CANNOT PICK UP THE VEHICLE AS IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT A TRANSMISSION AND I DON'T HAVE $4,000 TO PAY FOR A NEW ONE. I CONTINUE TO CARRY INSURANCE ON A CAR THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN. ADDITIONAL INTERNET RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT MAZDA OWNERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE BAD TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE BURNING OUT PREMATURELY WITH AS LITTLE AS 25,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MAZDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138926

132,000 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Power Train

DT: THERE IS A PROBLEM IS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AR MAY 2005. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD. IT HAS STARTED SHAKING. THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON OCTOBER 5, 2005. AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED HAD IT REPLACED. BUT T…

Read full complaint

DT: THERE IS A PROBLEM IS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AR MAY 2005. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD. IT HAS STARTED SHAKING. THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON OCTOBER 5, 2005. AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED HAD IT REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED ALSO. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10138707

141,000 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Power Train

CAR SHIFTING HARD, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TODAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138706

72,000 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Power Train

95 MAZDA 626 LX, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 71000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138119

94,000 miles · Sep 19, 2005
Power Train

1995 MAZDA 626 LX . ~ 94,000 MILES. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE (CD4E FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) *JB

NHTSA ODI #10137017

179,000 miles · Sep 19, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THERE WAS A RECALL ON MAZDA 626, 1995 FOR A POWER TRAIN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID IT DOES NOT PERTAIN MY VIN#. I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE AND MY MOTOR. PLEASE HELP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136923

110,000 miles · Aug 31, 2005
Power Train

THIS IS MY SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION IN 4 YEARS. THE MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134914

Official recalls

2

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

4

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.