Illustration1997 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR HAS 100,000 MILE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS A TOST. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE TONS OF OTHER MAZDAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK
1997 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
90–25K
1025–50K
3450–75K
5275–100K
49100–150K
7150K+
161 reports with mileage · 197 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 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports5 fire reports22 injury reports
Power Train complaints
233 reportsAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT DUE TO IT NOT SHIFTING GEARS. *AK
CONTINUED TRANSMISSION/GEAR PROBLEMS. *AK
I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 AND WITH ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND THE DEALER IS ASKING 2,400.00 TO FIX IT AND I THINK IT IS WRONG THAT THEY HAVEN'T CAME FORTH TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT IS SOPPOSE TO FIX IT.*AK
CONSUMER STATES OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
OVERDRIVE LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLASHES AFTER CAR'S ENGINE BECOMES HOT WHICH IS APPROXIMATLEY 20-30 MINUTES. CARIS EXTREMELY JERKY WHEN SHIFTING INTO LOWER GEARS WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON. MECHANICS SAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ENTIRE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 87,000 MILES. O/D LIGHT KEPT BLINKING AND CAR WOULDN'T RUN. O2 SENSORS KEEP NEEDING REPLACING. *PH
TRANSMISSION KEEPS FAILING, WITH ONLY REGULAR DAILY DRIVING. FAILED AT 6000.AD TO PAY 2000K FOR T TO BE FIXED. THIS IS A VERY BAD TRANSMISSION FOR THE CAR!*AK
DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1997 MAZDA 626 LX SEDAN. I AM ONLY OWNER OF MY VEHICLE AND PURCHASED BRAND-NEW IN AUGUST 1997. I TOOK METICULOUS CARE OF THIS CAR AND HAVE ALL RECEIPTS TO PROVE SO. A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND …
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DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1997 MAZDA 626 LX SEDAN. I AM ONLY OWNER OF MY VEHICLE AND PURCHASED BRAND-NEW IN AUGUST 1997. I TOOK METICULOUS CARE OF THIS CAR AND HAVE ALL RECEIPTS TO PROVE SO. A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND CANNOT TRAVEL ABOVE 60 MILES PER HOUR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2,000. I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM THE MAZDA DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THE SAME FOR $3,500-4,000. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS (OR MORE) PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME COSTLY DEFECT. I FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, IT IS VERY UPSETTING. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILING; BLINKING LIGHTS; ROUGH SHIFTING. (NOTE: I HAVE TWO 97 MAZDA 626 2.0 LTR CARS. ONE AUTO TRANS HAS FAILED TOTALLY, AND THIS IS MY SECOND ONE THAT IS STARTING TO FAIL.) *JB
Official recalls
315V674000 · 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.
98V206001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Sep 8, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TENSIONER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.
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
2RQ02004 · Oversensitive Airbag Deployment
Opened Feb 8, 2002 · Closed Aug 19, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.