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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

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

What owners actually said

359 reports
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND FUEL WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD HIM THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. CONUMER STATED THAT DEALER TOLD HIM IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3000.00. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO, CHE…

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TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND FUEL WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD HIM THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. CONUMER STATED THAT DEALER TOLD HIM IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3000.00. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073556

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2004
Power Train

I OWN A 1996 MAZDA 626 THE MANUFACUTRE REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSON. IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE POSTED CITY SPEED LIMIT. COULD HAVE CAUSED ASERIOUS CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068532

75,000 miles · May 3, 2004
Seat Belts

FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE PLASTIC PIECE OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT THE BUCKLE WAS INSTALLED ON CAME APART. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE METAL PIECE INSIDE THE PLASTIC SEAT FELL OUT. SEAT BELT REMAINED FASTENED, BUT WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PLASTIC PART. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071995

12,200 miles · Apr 27, 2004
Power Train

AT 120K MILES ON MY HIGHLY MAINTAINED 1996 MAZDA 626 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR. REPAIRS WILL END UP COSTING ME $4000.00. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO COME UP WITH THAT TYPE OF MONEY. I WOULD SUGGEST IF THERE A…

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AT 120K MILES ON MY HIGHLY MAINTAINED 1996 MAZDA 626 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR. REPAIRS WILL END UP COSTING ME $4000.00. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO COME UP WITH THAT TYPE OF MONEY. I WOULD SUGGEST IF THERE ARE AS MANY FAILURES AS I HAVE SEEN IN THE RESEARCH A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY MAZDA CORP. DESIGN FLAWS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE DESIGNER OR COMPANY, NOT BY THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067925

110,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Power Train

I HAVE A 4 CYL 1996 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC. A FEW DAYS AGO MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE SPOKEN TO INCLUDING AAMCO, THE RENOWNED TRANSMISSION PLACE TELLS ME THAT THIS MODEL ALWAYS HAD A DESIGN FLAW IN TRANSMISSION. ALL MAZDA OWNER FORUMS ARE FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUE ON THAT YEAR CAR. I HAVE CON…

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I HAVE A 4 CYL 1996 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC. A FEW DAYS AGO MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE SPOKEN TO INCLUDING AAMCO, THE RENOWNED TRANSMISSION PLACE TELLS ME THAT THIS MODEL ALWAYS HAD A DESIGN FLAW IN TRANSMISSION. ALL MAZDA OWNER FORUMS ARE FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUE ON THAT YEAR CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATION WITH NO AVAIL. WHAT IS NEXT??*AK

NHTSA ODI #10066574

108,000 miles · Apr 18, 2004
Power Train

I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 50000 MILES AND THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT AND CHARGED ME A LABOR CHARGE OF 700. NOW, MY TRANSMISSION IS OUT AGAIN AT 108,00 MILES. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10066427

138,318 miles · Apr 17, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 MAZDA 626LX FROM RIERSON MOTORS IN CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO AND HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN ONE MONTH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON , IT LOSES POWER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I ACCELERATE ABOVE 55 MPH AND LURCHES AND GOES IN TO NEXT GEAR VERY HARD. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS IN THIS PATICU…

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I BOUGHT A USED 1996 MAZDA 626LX FROM RIERSON MOTORS IN CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO AND HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN ONE MONTH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON , IT LOSES POWER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I ACCELERATE ABOVE 55 MPH AND LURCHES AND GOES IN TO NEXT GEAR VERY HARD. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS IN THIS PATICULAR MODEL. I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND INVESTIGATE WHY SO MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND MAZDA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ADMIT THEIR FAILURE AND FIX THE PROBLEM ARE COMPENSATE THE CONSUMER FOR THEIR EXPENDITURES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10066379

38,950 miles · Apr 14, 2004
Seat Belts

MAZDA 626 1996 SEDAN 4 DOOR LX MODEL BOTH SEAT BELTS/DRIVER AND PASSENGER RETRACTORS WILL INADVERTENLY LOCK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FASTEN SEAT BELT. PASSEGER SIDE IS WORST THAN DRIVER AND BOTH HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AT DEALERSHIP BUT THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING CONTINOUSLY. DEALER HAS RECORDS OF WORKING ON PROBLEM BUT UNAB…

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MAZDA 626 1996 SEDAN 4 DOOR LX MODEL BOTH SEAT BELTS/DRIVER AND PASSENGER RETRACTORS WILL INADVERTENLY LOCK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FASTEN SEAT BELT. PASSEGER SIDE IS WORST THAN DRIVER AND BOTH HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AT DEALERSHIP BUT THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING CONTINOUSLY. DEALER HAS RECORDS OF WORKING ON PROBLEM BUT UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. O AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10066162

96,647 miles · Apr 14, 2004
Power Train

I HAVE A MAZDA 1996 626 LX SEDAN 2.0 LITER ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 4 CYLINDER, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AT 93400 MILES. I NOW HAVE ONLY ABOUT 96000 MIKES AND MY TRANSMISSION FAILED TODAY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF THE OVERNIGHT PARKING SPOT IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. …

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I HAVE A MAZDA 1996 626 LX SEDAN 2.0 LITER ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 4 CYLINDER, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AT 93400 MILES. I NOW HAVE ONLY ABOUT 96000 MIKES AND MY TRANSMISSION FAILED TODAY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF THE OVERNIGHT PARKING SPOT IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC(A VERY RELIABLE ONE), WHO AFTER AN EXTENSIVE CHECKUP, DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD "BROKEN DOWN" AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE INFORMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT INCLUSIVE OF INSTALLATION CHARGES WOULD COST ABOUT $2500 TO $3000, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FOR A FULL-TIME GRADUATE STUDENT LIKE ME. I PERFORMED MY RESEARCH ON THE ADVICE OF THE MECHANIC AND CAME ACROSS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS OF MAZDA 626 MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 93-97. THIS IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE, FORD (FORD PROBE IS THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THE ABOVE SAID VEHICLES) AND MAZDA ARE AWARE OF THIS MATTER AND HAVE NEVER FOUND IT SO MUCH AS BEING RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I WANT JUSTICE TO BE DONE AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LOVE FORD AND MAZDA FOR BEING SO ASKANCE IN THIS MATTER. I ALSO WANT ALL THE OWNERS OF THE MAZDA VEHICLES INVOLVED IN CHANGING THEOR TRANSMISSIONS TO BE COMPENSATED ADEQUATELY. BUT MORE THAN THAT, I WANT FEDERAL AGENCIES TO BE AWARE OF THESE EVASIVE TACTICS OF MAZDA AND FORD AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM FEDERAL CASE TO BE SO INHIBITIVE AS TO ALMOST SHUT OFF THEIR OPERATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10066118

85,000 miles · Apr 8, 2004
Power Train

O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN USING MAZDA FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS. MY O/D LIGHT HAS STARTED BLINKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND GOT IT FIXED. *AK THE LIGHT HAS BLINKED CONTINUALLY EVERY MONTH. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON ISSUES WITH MAZA. AFTER READ…

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O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN USING MAZDA FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS. MY O/D LIGHT HAS STARTED BLINKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND GOT IT FIXED. *AK THE LIGHT HAS BLINKED CONTINUALLY EVERY MONTH. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON ISSUES WITH MAZA. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ON THE NET I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE 1000'S OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THIS ISSUE. I WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING AZNOTHER MAZDA.

NHTSA ODI #10065753

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.