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
What owners actually said
358 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2004
Power Train
I HAVE A 97 MAZDA 626 WITH 88000 MILES AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. STRATED OUT WITH A PROBLEM SHIFTING TO THIRD GEAR, BUT NOW THE O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $2000. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR PRETTY WELL AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS, UNLESS THE PRODUCTY…
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I HAVE A 97 MAZDA 626 WITH 88000 MILES AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. STRATED OUT WITH A PROBLEM SHIFTING TO THIRD GEAR, BUT NOW THE O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $2000. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR PRETTY WELL AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS, UNLESS THE PRODUCTY IS FAULTY. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086784
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2004
Power Train
1997 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION GAVE UP AT AROUND 85,000 MILES. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS AT SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH AND THE CAR SOMETIMES COMPLETELY LOSE POWER MAKING IT A DANGEROUS RIDE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082752
105,000 miles · Jul 22, 2004
Power Train
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDS TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (ATX) ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626, 2.0L I4. THE TRANSMISSION IS MANUFACTURED BY FORD, MODEL CD4E. DESPITE FAITHFULLY CHANGING THE FLUID AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 105,000 MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS FORCED ON MAZDA BY FO…
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THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDS TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (ATX) ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626, 2.0L I4. THE TRANSMISSION IS MANUFACTURED BY FORD, MODEL CD4E. DESPITE FAITHFULLY CHANGING THE FLUID AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 105,000 MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS FORCED ON MAZDA BY FORD IN ALL POST 1993 4 CYLINDER MODELS, AND SUFFERS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH HEAT AND METAL PARTICLES DUE TO INADEQUATE COOLING AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS. THE FILTER IS INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION AND INACCESSIBLE (CANNOT BE CHANGED) REQUIRING THE FLUID TO BE FLUSHED. IT IS ALSO WOEFULLY UNDER COOLED, WITH A SIMPLE PASS THROUGH THE ENGINE RADIATOR, AND NO EXTERNAL COOLER. MODELS SUBSEQUENT TO 1999 HAS EXTERNAL COOLERS INSTALLED, SO IT SEEMS THAT MAZDA/FORD ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS VERY ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THIS VEHICLE: HTTP://HOMEPAGE.NTLWORLD.COM/DOROTHY.BRADBURY/PROBEMX/INDEX.HTM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082431
98,500 miles · Jul 13, 2004
Power Train
I HAVE SOME PROBLEM ABOUT MY CAR. MAZDA 626 1997 AUTOMATIC. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE,THE TRANSMISSION WENT DOWN AT 95,822 MILES. I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THAT PROBLEM HAPPENS TO EVERY 626 MAZDA. THEY [MAZDA] HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.I'M JUST ONLY STUDENT FROM THAILAND. I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY TO FIX IT.{2000-3000$}. MY CAR …
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I HAVE SOME PROBLEM ABOUT MY CAR. MAZDA 626 1997 AUTOMATIC. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE,THE TRANSMISSION WENT DOWN AT 95,822 MILES. I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THAT PROBLEM HAPPENS TO EVERY 626 MAZDA. THEY [MAZDA] HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.I'M JUST ONLY STUDENT FROM THAILAND. I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY TO FIX IT.{2000-3000$}. MY CAR IS NOT WORTH THAT MUCH. PLEASE HELP ME TELL THEM {MAZDA} TO DO SOMETHING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10080977
23 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. I LET THE CAR SIT A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. IT SEEMED TO GO BUT TOOK A LOT MORE ENGINE POWER TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED TO POP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. ST…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. I LET THE CAR SIT A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. IT SEEMED TO GO BUT TOOK A LOT MORE ENGINE POWER TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED TO POP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. 130000 MILES ON THE CAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10080414
40,000 miles · Jun 18, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 TO 50 MPH TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS VERY HARD AND WITH A THUMP. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079482
110,660 miles · Jun 2, 2004
Power Train
CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10074671
69,000 miles · May 28, 2004
Power Train
MAZDA 626 '97, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10073285
98,000 miles · May 26, 2004
Power Train
1997 MAZDA 626 - AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. COST TO REPAIR - 2300.00. NOT FIXED YET. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10073197
92,000 miles · May 25, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PARTS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATI…
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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PARTS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
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.
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