NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
359 reports88,000 miles · Sep 21, 2003
Power Train
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…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10039228
74,000 miles · Aug 30, 2003
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10036895
98,000 miles · Aug 28, 2003
Power Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #10036742
80,000 miles · Aug 27, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10037717
120,000 miles · Aug 19, 2003
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10033136
131,000 miles · Aug 12, 2003
Power Train
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…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10032637
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032181
56,000 miles · Jul 20, 2003
Power Train
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…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10028634
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Electrical System
INTERMITTENTLY (IN LOW GEAR, MANUAL SHIFT), AS I PULL THE CAR TO THE LEFT (ONLY), TO PARK OR TURN A CORNER, THE CAR DIES. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW DENOTES THE LATEST INCIDENT.NOT CERTAIN OF EXACT DATA OF PURCHASE FROM 128 MAZDA, BUT WEB SITE DEMANDED A SPECIFIC DAY SO, TO SATISFY IT, I ENTERED IN AUGUST 7. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10025793
59,000 miles · Jun 12, 2003
Power Train
AT 59,000 MILES I PAID FOR A NEEDED, NEW TRANSMISSION AT A MAZDA DEALER. NOW @ 106,000 MILES IT IS IN NEEDED AGAIN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10021515
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.
Illustration