IllustrationMAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION CD4E IS FAULTY. WHY SHOULD MAZDA BE ALLOWED TO GET OFF SCOTT FREE WHILE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THIS? BECAUSE IT'S NOT VIEWED AS A SAFETY ISSUE? ISSUE A RECALL ON THE CD4E TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE CLEAR CASE IN NEED OF A RECALL. *NM
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 reportsFOR THE FIFTH TIME IN THREE YEARS THE TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, WITHIN ONE MINUTE THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IN DRIVE WOULD SKIP FIRST GEAR. IF YOU START IN FIRST GEAR AND MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR APPEARS OK. JUST OUT OF 2 YEAR WARRANTY WITH LESS THEN 10,000 MILES BETWEEN LAST REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT BECAUS…
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FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN THREE YEARS THE TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, WITHIN ONE MINUTE THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IN DRIVE WOULD SKIP FIRST GEAR. IF YOU START IN FIRST GEAR AND MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR APPEARS OK. JUST OUT OF 2 YEAR WARRANTY WITH LESS THEN 10,000 MILES BETWEEN LAST REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT BECAUSE OF FAILURE HISTORY ON MAZDA 626 AND FORD PROBES THEY COULD NO LONGER SERVICE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. RECOMMENDED I BRING TO DEALER. AT THIS TIME I CAN NOT AFFORD A 2500- 3000 DOLLAR REPAIR. *JB
1996 MAZDA 626 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS HAD WHAT I CONSIDER EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR MAZDA AND WAS ADVISED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *JB
1996 MAZDA 626 4 CYL WITH CD4E AUTO TRANSMISSION & 110,000 MILES. THE TRANS O/D LOCK LIGHT WILL START TO BLINK. THE TRANS WILL START TO UPSHIFT HARD AND DOWNSHIFT FOR NO REASON. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *JB
1996 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I.E. OD LIGHT FLASHING WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT SPEED OF 65 MPH. CAR MUST BE STOPPED, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, OTHERWISE ONCE SPEED IS DECREASED THE CAR SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. IN A TWO HOUR CAR TRIP, I MAY HAVE TO RESTART CAR 3 OR 4 TIMES OR DRIVE UNDER 60 AT ALL TIMES. I…
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1996 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I.E. OD LIGHT FLASHING WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT SPEED OF 65 MPH. CAR MUST BE STOPPED, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, OTHERWISE ONCE SPEED IS DECREASED THE CAR SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. IN A TWO HOUR CAR TRIP, I MAY HAVE TO RESTART CAR 3 OR 4 TIMES OR DRIVE UNDER 60 AT ALL TIMES. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THE MAJOR COSTS TO REPAIR, SO I JUST DON'T DRIVE MY CAR ANY LONG DISTANCES AND HAVEN'T FOR YEARS! DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MAZDA ISN'T RECALLING IF THEY KNOW IT'S SUCH A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I WORRY THAT BECAUSE I HAVE TO DRIVE SLOW, I'LL GET REAR-ENDED ON THE EXPRESSWAY BY SOMEONE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT!! *JB
MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING LATELY, AND MY WIFE TWO WEEKS AGO HAD THE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON WHEN RETURNING FROM A TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH. AT 121,000 MILES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO COMPLETELY FAIL IN MY 1996 MAZDA 626 LX. DOING ONLINE RESEARCH AND TALKING …
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MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING LATELY, AND MY WIFE TWO WEEKS AGO HAD THE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON WHEN RETURNING FROM A TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH. AT 121,000 MILES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO COMPLETELY FAIL IN MY 1996 MAZDA 626 LX. DOING ONLINE RESEARCH AND TALKING WITH THE SPECIALTY TRANSMISSION SHOP, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA TRANSMISSION TYPE CD4E IS WELL KNOWN BY THE COMPANY AND DOCUMENTED IN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, YET MAZDA HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM LUCKY TO HAVE THIS MANY MILES ON THE CAR, WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED MUCH WORSE, BUT AS A CONSUMER THAT DOES NOT DRIVE ABUSIVELY AND THAT REGULARLY (EVERY 30,000 MILES) HAS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND REPLACED AND THE FILTER SERVICED, THIS IS AN EXPENSE THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT MY FAULT. AND GIVEN THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE THE MID 1990'S, IT IS FRUSTRATING. I AM NOW SPENDING BETWEEN $1500 AND $1800 TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN MY CAR, ALONG WITH AN ATX COOLER THAT MAZDA RECOMMENDED IN 2002 BUT DID NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY OR EVEN PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO INSTALL.*JB
LOW POWER OUTPUT, THEN FINALLY CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. HAVE NOT REPAIRED YET. CAR STILL IN MY POSSESSION. BURNED UP TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH THREE THOUSAND MILES OF CHANGING. *NM
FIRST MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING NOW THE OD LIGHT FLASHES WHEN I DRIVE ON THE THRUWAY OR ANY SITUATION WHERE IM GOIN 50MPH OR MORE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR
TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 MAZDA 626 HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAT ONCE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 50,000 MILES. 30,000 MILES LATER HERE IT GOES AGAIN. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT BLINKS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD. THIS PROBLEM IS SYSTEM WIDE ON NEARLY ALL THAT HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION. *JB
TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PUT IN THIS VEHICLE. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE IN TRAFFIC AND OVERHEATS. THIS IS THE SECOND 626 I HAVE OWNED. TRANSMISSION WENT IN FIRST ONE AS WELL, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. HOW SAFE IS THAT? HTTP://WWW.ESTREETJOURNAL.COM/MAZDA.HTM PLE…
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TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PUT IN THIS VEHICLE. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE IN TRAFFIC AND OVERHEATS. THIS IS THE SECOND 626 I HAVE OWNED. TRANSMISSION WENT IN FIRST ONE AS WELL, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. HOW SAFE IS THAT? HTTP://WWW.ESTREETJOURNAL.COM/MAZDA.HTM PLEASE READ THAT. THIS IS ONE OF MANY EXPERIENCES THAT SHOW JUST HOW DANGEROUS FORD'S FAULTY TRANSMISSION IS. YOU HAVE RECIEVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED. WHEN IS SOMEONE FINALLY GOING TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS???? MAZDA INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD TAKE NO ACTION UNLESS HIGHWAY SAFETLY DEEMED THEIR PORBLEM A HAZARD. *JB
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.