IllustrationTRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAILED. ALSO THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR TRANSMISSION, AND NO WARNING INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN IN OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT WHAT TO DO WHEN OVERDRIVE BUTTON ILLUMINATES. *AK
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTING SHAKING AND WENT DEAD. VEHICLEWAS DRIVEN TO A BODYSHOP IN FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEABLE IN FIRST GEAR AND REVERSE, AND THEN ONLY REVERSE.TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MAZDA WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FORD BECAUSE THE MOTOR WAS MADE B…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTING SHAKING AND WENT DEAD. VEHICLEWAS DRIVEN TO A BODYSHOP IN FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEABLE IN FIRST GEAR AND REVERSE, AND THEN ONLY REVERSE.TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MAZDA WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FORD BECAUSE THE MOTOR WAS MADE BY FORD. FORD WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT HELP CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
IN DECEMBER, 1998 OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AFTER OUR 626 WAS DRIVEN AT 65+ MPH FOR 10-15 MINUTES. AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM WAS MIS-IDENTIFIED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS DIRTY TRANSMISSION FLUID A…
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IN DECEMBER, 1998 OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AFTER OUR 626 WAS DRIVEN AT 65+ MPH FOR 10-15 MINUTES. AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM WAS MIS-IDENTIFIED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS DIRTY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT POLAR MAZDA IN WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR; LOST GEAR AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 75
UPON ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, CAR SOMETIMES CAUSES HARD SHIFT ON GEARS 1 AND 2.
TRANSMISSION BEGAN WHINING AND THEN FAILED AT HIGH SPEED GOING UPHILL. UNABLE TO STAY IN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION THAT NEARLY LED TO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN DECELERATION. MAZDA IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY AT THIS POINT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS EVEN REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS ARE K…
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TRANSMISSION BEGAN WHINING AND THEN FAILED AT HIGH SPEED GOING UPHILL. UNABLE TO STAY IN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION THAT NEARLY LED TO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN DECELERATION. MAZDA IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY AT THIS POINT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS EVEN REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS ARE KNOWN TO FAIL AGAIN. I AM HESITANT TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED IT WILL PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN A SIMILAR UNSAFE SITUATION AGAIN. I REALLY HOPE SOME PRESSURE CAN BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON MAZDA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN ONE MONTH. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO THE DEALER REPLACED ALL PARTS AND INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THEY ASSURED ME AT THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS A FLUKE, AND THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM IN MAZDA 626, 1996 4-CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS.…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN ONE MONTH. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO THE DEALER REPLACED ALL PARTS AND INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THEY ASSURED ME AT THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS A FLUKE, AND THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM IN MAZDA 626, 1996 4-CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME AFTER WARRANTY, AND WOULD FACE MAZDA CORP. STATING THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THERE TRANSMISSIONS, AND THAT TECHNICALLY THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHIGN TO HELP ME, BUT THEY WOULD DO ME A FAVOR BY REPLACING THE PARTS, BUT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR $545.00. I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS IS A FAIR PRICE FOR LABOR ON INSTALLING A TRANSMISSION.
SECOND TRANSMISSION IN UNDER ONE YEAR. MAZDA WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS BEING A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. MEANING, THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THIS TRANNY SHOULD HAVE LAST MORE THAN 19,000 MILES. DO NOT CONSIDER IT ANYTHING BUT COINCIDENCE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN UNDER A YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I WAS COVERED UNDER WA…
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SECOND TRANSMISSION IN UNDER ONE YEAR. MAZDA WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS BEING A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. MEANING, THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THIS TRANNY SHOULD HAVE LAST MORE THAN 19,000 MILES. DO NOT CONSIDER IT ANYTHING BUT COINCIDENCE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN UNDER A YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME I AM NOT, AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD FEEL LUCKY THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO HONOR THE PARTS, BUT I NEED TO PAY FOR LABOR $545.00 THEY SAY IS A FAIR PRICE. I DISAGREE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS TRANNY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND MAZDA WILL NOT ADMIT IT. THEY ARE BEING VERY UN-ETHICAL IN MY OPINION.
FOUND OUT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 626 TRANS, SHOULD BE A RECALL, EVEN REPLACMENT ONES ARE DEFECTIVE
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.