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
What owners actually said
359 reports
101 miles · Mar 22, 2004
Power Train
I OWN A 1996 MAZDA 626 THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AT 20K IN 1999. MY TRANSMISSION FINALLY JUST FAILED AT 101K AND I SPENT $2000 FOR A REBUILT TRANS. THE OD LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR OVER 12 MONTHS BUT WOULD GO OFF WHEN CAR IS RESTARTED.I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE CHRONIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 626 AND WILL…
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I OWN A 1996 MAZDA 626 THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AT 20K IN 1999. MY TRANSMISSION FINALLY JUST FAILED AT 101K AND I SPENT $2000 FOR A REBUILT TRANS. THE OD LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR OVER 12 MONTHS BUT WOULD GO OFF WHEN CAR IS RESTARTED.I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE CHRONIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 626 AND WILL GET RID OF IT ASAP. BEFORE THIS MAJOR FAILURE, I HADN'T NOTICED ANY TRANSMISSION-RELATED PROBLEMS BUT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA/FORD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10063603
93,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004
Power Train
IM A USED CAR DEALER AND I SELL MAZDA 626'S 1996 TO 1999 THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO KEEP GOING OUT I REPLACED THEM AND THEY GO OUT AGAIN. THIS IS COSTING ME MONEY AND MY CUSTOMERS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10058983
620,000 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Power Train
WHEN SHIFTING GEARS TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT TO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR
NHTSA ODI #10053452
80,000 miles · Feb 17, 2004
Power Train
OCTOBER 2003 79,500 MILES OD LIGHT BLINKING, ROUGH IDLE, STICKY HARD GAS PEDAL, REMEDY : NEW TRANSMISSION, IDLE CONTROL VALVE 80,000 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILURE NO WARNING LOST 2ND, 3RD,4TH GEAR. REMEDY: REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS TOLD PART FAILED. PICKED UP CAR ON FEB 17TH DROVE CAR FOR 5 MILES 2ND AND 3RD, GEAR BLOWN AGAIN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10058369
89,000 miles · Feb 10, 2004
Power Train
MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS WITH 1996 MAZDA 626, CURRENTLY AT 89,000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10056906
31,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Power Train
SINCE MY 1996 MAZDA 626 PURCHASE I'VE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS. THE 1ST BREAKDOWN HAPPENED ON ROUTE 70 A HIGHLY TRAVELED ROADWAY MY WIFE 7 MONTHS PREGNANT. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HOWEVER LOOKING AT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS, THERE SEEMS TO BE SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.…
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SINCE MY 1996 MAZDA 626 PURCHASE I'VE HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS. THE 1ST BREAKDOWN HAPPENED ON ROUTE 70 A HIGHLY TRAVELED ROADWAY MY WIFE 7 MONTHS PREGNANT. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HOWEVER LOOKING AT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS, THERE SEEMS TO BE SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10056529
124,000 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO OVER DRIVE. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED CONSTANTLY, WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE DEALER FOUND THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10052195
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2004
Power Train
STATUS OF RECALL ON 1996 MAZDA 626.*MR CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO THE STATUS OF GETTING THE VEHICLE RECALLED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10053926
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2004
Power Train
MY CAR HAS 79,170 MILES ON IT. I BORROWED MONEY & WORKED 2 JOBS TO MAKE THE PYMT. I WAS OKAY WITH THAT B/C I THOUGHT I PURCHASED A DEPENDABLE & RELIABLE CAR. TWO YEARS AGO W/O WARNING, WHILE SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT, MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, & HAD THE CAR SERVICED. IT WASNT DIAGNOSED THAT I HAD TRANS. P…
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MY CAR HAS 79,170 MILES ON IT. I BORROWED MONEY & WORKED 2 JOBS TO MAKE THE PYMT. I WAS OKAY WITH THAT B/C I THOUGHT I PURCHASED A DEPENDABLE & RELIABLE CAR. TWO YEARS AGO W/O WARNING, WHILE SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT, MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, & HAD THE CAR SERVICED. IT WASNT DIAGNOSED THAT I HAD TRANS. PROBLEMS TIL I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY HWY. IN EARLY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THAT MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AGAIN & LOST ALMOST 50% OF ITS POWER. IN AN INSTANT MY CAR WENT FROM TRAVELING AT 70+ MILES PER HOUR TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. I LOST MY ENTIRE TRANS. AT 57,000 MILES. MAZDA CORP. HELPED THAT TIME. I PAID $700 FOR LABOR, MAZDA PICKED UP THE REST. NOTE I HAD ALREADY PAID @ $1300 IN OTHER REPAIRS. TWO YEARS & 22,000 MILES LATER I AM FACING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. ABOUT AN HOUR INTO MY TRIP, MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED OFF & MY CAR DOWNSHIFTED BY 20 MILES. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. AFTER THE 2ND VISIT & MY PERSISTENCE TO DIG FOR THE TRUE PROBLEM, THE NEWS FROM MAZDA CORP. IS TRANS. FAILURE & ITS MY PROBLEM. AS I LISTEN TO OTHER NON- MAZDA CAR OWNERS, SAYING THEIR CARS HAVE CLOSE TO 200,000 MILES ON THEM WITH LITTLE OR NO PROBLEMS, I AM HURT, DISAPPOINTED & FRUSTRATED TO KNOW MY CAR WILL NEVER MAKE IT. I AM BEING FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT I HAD NO PLANS TO BUY FOR A FEW MORE YEARS. I AM NOW GOING HAVE TO TAKE A HARD FINANCIAL HIT B/C MAZDA CORP. BUILT A CAR WITH REPEATED TRANS. FAILURES, & THEY WILL NOT HELP THEIR CUST. WHEN IT FAILS MORE THAN ONE TIME. THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANS. FREE OF CHARGE; LABOR INCLUDED, & TELL THE CUST. THE FIX WILL NOT LAST. I TRUSTED MAZDA CORP. TO BUILD A RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE & SAFE VEHICLE. WHAT I HAVE IS A CAR WITH TRANS. FAILURES THAT HAS NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE, & IS PUTTING IN ME IN DEBT. THIS HAS GOT TO BE LEGALLY WRONG, & I KNOW ITS MORALLY WRONG. I WANT MONETARY RESTITUTION FOR THIS UNNECESSARY BURDEN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10052616
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2004
Power Train
MY 1996 MAZDA 626 HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE SHIFTING AND THE O/D OFF LIGHT KEPT FLASHING SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABOUT TO GO. I FOUND THIS REALLY STRANGE SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 81K MILES ON IT AND I THOUGHT MAZDA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REALLY RELIABLE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT M…
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MY 1996 MAZDA 626 HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE SHIFTING AND THE O/D OFF LIGHT KEPT FLASHING SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABOUT TO GO. I FOUND THIS REALLY STRANGE SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 81K MILES ON IT AND I THOUGHT MAZDA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REALLY RELIABLE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT MANY HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (SEE THESE 2 WEBSITES: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/189.HTML ; HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_17103_3.HTML ) AND MAZDA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. *AK
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.
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.
1996 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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