IllustrationVEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP. COMPUTER CHIP AND SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEPT BLINKING, AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS TO BE REBUILT. *AK *ML
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 reportsWHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN DRIVE, AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND SO MUCH THAT IT ACTUALLY CREATES A HUMMING NOISE. THE VIBRATION IS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSE EARS TO CLOG UP. TOOK CAR TO BROWNS MAZAD DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A TOTAL …
Read full complaint
WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN DRIVE, AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND SO MUCH THAT IT ACTUALLY CREATES A HUMMING NOISE. THE VIBRATION IS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSE EARS TO CLOG UP. TOOK CAR TO BROWNS MAZAD DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF TWO WEEKS, WAITING ON A "PART" WHICH HAPPEND TO BE A BOLT AND WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR, IT WAS IN WORSE CONDITION THAN WHEN I BROUGH IT IN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOME VIBRATION IS NORMAL, BUT I AM LITERALLY SHAKING WHEN THE CAR IDLES IN THE DRIVE GEAR. NASTY ATTITUDE. I AM STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I ASKED TO HAVE THE MOUNTS REPLACED, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS WITHIN 'SPECS' THEREFORE, LIVE WITH IT. THIS COULD BECOME A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO STOP THE SHAKING. *AK
NO SUMMARY
TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED IN TRAFFIC, LOCKED UP, TOW CAUSED $300.00 DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER, HAD TO BE DRAGGED OUT OF TRAFFIC, WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A FACTORY REBUILD
DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT AS A WARRANTY REPAIR AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO OTHER MAZDA DEALE WHERE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AND CAR WAS DIAGNOSED FOR OTHER IGNITION RELATED PROBLEMS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
I WAS TOLD IN A LETTER BY MAZDA THAT THE REASON MY BRAKES GO OUT IS BECAUSE I RIDE MY BRAKES AND THAT MY ACCOUNT WAS NOTED FOR THIS. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS NO ONE FROM MAZDA CAN GIVE ME A COPY OF THE DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM. THEY CAN'T TELL ME AT ALL WHAT OR WHY MY TRANMISSON HAS GONE OUT.
NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
PIVOT BOLT LOOSE CAUSING CLUTCH PEDAL TO SQUEAK WHEN DEPRESSED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
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.