Illustration1996 MAZDA 626 78,000 O/D LIGHT BLINK AFTER APP 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING CAR STARTS TO SLIP. CHECK ENGENE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER APP 45 MINUTES. GAS PEDAL STICKS ON TAKE OFF USUALLY LOSSENS UP WHEN DRIVING. WAS TOLD REPAIRS WILL TOP 3,000 CANT AFFORD!
1996 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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
40–25K
425–50K
1750–75K
3775–100K
38100–150K
15150K+
115 reports with mileage · 244 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 239 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
35 crash reports2 fire reports30 injury reports
Power Train complaints
239 reportsTRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 1996 MAZDA 626 AT 72,000 MILES. RIGHT AFTER REPARIS, O/D LIGHT FLASHES ON EXTENDED TRIPS. WILL DROP OUT OF OD CAUSING CAR TO DANGEROUSLY SLOW DOWN. DEALER IS ENCOURAGING ANOTHER TRANSMISSION REBUILD FOR ANOTHER $2,500. THIS IS ABSURD!
I HAVE A 96 MAZDA 626 AND THE CAR HAD 25,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED.I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 4 TIMES TOTALING ABOUT 8,200 DOLLARS. IT IS THE NOTORIOUS CD43 TRANS. THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS A TRANS. SERVICES DONE AROUND 22,000 MILES BUT THIS DOESN'T SE…
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I HAVE A 96 MAZDA 626 AND THE CAR HAD 25,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED.I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 4 TIMES TOTALING ABOUT 8,200 DOLLARS. IT IS THE NOTORIOUS CD43 TRANS. THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS A TRANS. SERVICES DONE AROUND 22,000 MILES BUT THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE MAZDA/FORD CORP. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION SO I WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS RIDICULOUS PRICE AGAIN. I REALLY LOVE THIS CAR AND NOTHING ELSE HAS EVER WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR.
PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION WHEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. MOST TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANT ME TO REBUILD IT FOR ABOUT $1600, SAME AS WILKINS MAZDA DEALERSHIP. ONE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAYS IT COULD BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM. EITHER WAY MAZDA SHOULD PAY TO FIX IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ALMOST ALL MAZDA 626 4CYL 2.0L TRANSMISSIONS F…
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PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION WHEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. MOST TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANT ME TO REBUILD IT FOR ABOUT $1600, SAME AS WILKINS MAZDA DEALERSHIP. ONE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAYS IT COULD BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM. EITHER WAY MAZDA SHOULD PAY TO FIX IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ALMOST ALL MAZDA 626 4CYL 2.0L TRANSMISSIONS FROM WHAT I CAN SEE ON THE INTERNET AND FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM TRANSMISSION SHOPS. CURRENTLY I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MY CAR AT 45 MPH FOR OVER 15-20 MINUTES WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL OVER FOR AT LEAST TEN MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY. I ALSO HAVE TO DRIVE ON STREETS WITHOUT SHOULDERS SO I JUST PULL OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE DURING RUSH HOUR THANKS TO FORD'S SLEEK DESIGN. IT'S REALLY A COMPETITION TO TOYOTA'S LEXUS AND HONDA'S ACCORD AND NISSAN'S INFINITY...SIKE!!!*JB
MY TRASMISION WENT OUT GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ON HWY 299, I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 11 MONTHS & HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, HEATER SWITCH, TIMING BELT, BRAKES, TIRES...WHAT DO I DO NOW? I STILL HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT ON MY LOAN & CAN'T AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION OR A NEW CAR!!*AK
TRANSMISSION IN MY '96 MAZDA 626 IS SHOT AFTER 98,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS MAZDA WILL DO NOTHING AND EVERYTHING I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP ANYONE.
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
I HAVE A MAZDA, 626, 1996 AND 1ST TRAMSMISSION WENT OUT AT 30.000 MILES. NOW MY 2ND IS GOING OUT AT 120,000 MILES. I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR MAZDA AND FORD.WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.*AK
I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX. WITH IN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF HAVING THIS CAR I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NOW SEVEN MONTHS LATER MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS STARTING FLASHING AND IT DOESNT WANT TO GO..MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION FIXED AGAIN ..THIS TIME SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH SECOND GEAR. I HAVE READ THOUS…
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I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX. WITH IN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF HAVING THIS CAR I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NOW SEVEN MONTHS LATER MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS STARTING FLASHING AND IT DOESNT WANT TO GO..MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION FIXED AGAIN ..THIS TIME SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH SECOND GEAR. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CAR .SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS I FEEL A RECALL IS NEEDED ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS.*AK
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH 1996 MAZDA 626-I BOUGHT THE CAR (A DEMONSTRATOR) FROM ALLENTOWN MAZDA IN ALLENTOWN PA. ON MAY15, 1997 WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT 2 MILES BEFORE I WAS ABOUT TO GET ONTO ONTO THE NE EXTENSION OF THE PA TURNPIKE. AS I PULLED OUT, THE CAR BARELY PICKED UP ENOUGH SPEED TO MAKE THE TURN AN…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH 1996 MAZDA 626-I BOUGHT THE CAR (A DEMONSTRATOR) FROM ALLENTOWN MAZDA IN ALLENTOWN PA. ON MAY15, 1997 WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT 2 MILES BEFORE I WAS ABOUT TO GET ONTO ONTO THE NE EXTENSION OF THE PA TURNPIKE. AS I PULLED OUT, THE CAR BARELY PICKED UP ENOUGH SPEED TO MAKE THE TURN AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE REVVED, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED - AT 56,000 MILES! I HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT INTO IT FOR $2000. THERE IS NOW 86,000 ON THE CAR AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND I AM AFRAID, AFTER READING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE'S PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS ALSO BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY, ALMOST FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS ALSO BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR AND WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF DIS-SATISFIED MAZDA OWNERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MAZDA ACCOUNTABLE IN SOME WAY FOR THESE EXPENSIVE, DANGEROUS, AND CHRONIC PROBLEMS.*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.