← New search

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

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
90,000 miles · May 21, 2004
Power Train

1997 MAZDA 626 "O/D OFF" FLASHING; NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION RIDICULOUS EXPENSIVE AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 626- UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T FIND THIS OUT UNTIL TOO LATE. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072940

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2004
Power Train

MY 97 MAZDA 626LX AUTOMATIC HAS 59K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING YESTERDAY, AND THE RPM'S REV UP TO 5000 OR 6000 ON NORMAL ACCELERATION. THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND AT A STEADY SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE RPMS STAY AT 5000. IT IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND - BY THE TIME I'M AT 25 MPH, THE RPM'S ARE AT …

Read full complaint

MY 97 MAZDA 626LX AUTOMATIC HAS 59K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING YESTERDAY, AND THE RPM'S REV UP TO 5000 OR 6000 ON NORMAL ACCELERATION. THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND AT A STEADY SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE RPMS STAY AT 5000. IT IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND - BY THE TIME I'M AT 25 MPH, THE RPM'S ARE AT 6000. I TOOK IT IN, AND BOTTOM LINE, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION - AT $2,900. I LOOKED ONLINE, AND FOUND DOZENS, MAYBE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 97 MAZDA 626. 59K MILES IS AWFULLY LOW TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE KEPT EXCELLENT UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072917

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2004
Power Train

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 1997 MAZDA 626 SINCE I GOT IT ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. THE RPM'S SHOOT UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME AND THE OC SENSOR IS BAD AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ALREADY. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND SEE NO REASON AS TO WHY ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURED. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 1997 MAZDA 626 SINCE I GOT IT ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. THE RPM'S SHOOT UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME AND THE OC SENSOR IS BAD AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ALREADY. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND SEE NO REASON AS TO WHY ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURED. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES SINCE I GOT IT A LITTLE OVER AA YEAR AGO. I REALLY LIKE THE NEW MAZDA 6'S THAT ARE OUT BUT AM REAL RELUCTANT ON BUYING A NEW ONE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE MAZDA THAT I HAVE NOW AND PARTS ARE SO EXPENSIVE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO COST $750.00 IN ORDER TO FIX THE OC SENSOR, THAT IS JUST CRAZY. PLEASE HELP! I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT ON THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT LOW MILEAGE, INSANE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072750

120,000 miles · May 8, 2004
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 1997 MAZDA 626 AND HAS BEEN HAVING NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF IT!! MY O/D (OVER DRIVE) LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY NON STOP AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS REAL HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS. TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL THE WAY! ITS OBVIOUS THAT MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLME BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HE DI…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 1997 MAZDA 626 AND HAS BEEN HAVING NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF IT!! MY O/D (OVER DRIVE) LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY NON STOP AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS REAL HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS. TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL THE WAY! ITS OBVIOUS THAT MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLME BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR, I TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING AND HE SAID YOU NEED A TRANSMISSION BECAUSE ALL MAZDA DO THAT. WELL I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO WHY IS ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS GOING BAD IN THEM? I RECEIVE NO ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND NOW IAM ABOUT TO BE ALL A BUNCH OF MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, MONEY I DON'T HAVE! AND HARD TO GET WHILE YOU HAVE NO WAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK TO EVEN GET THE MONEY! WELL I REALLY THINK MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSION FOR THEIR CARS. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS EVERYTIME I TOOK TO A TRANMISSION PLACE IT STOPPED BLINKING LIKE A GHOST! WELL ITS GOING TO COST ME 2,600 TO FIX IT SO MAZDA NEEDS TO PAY AT LEAST HALF OF IT CONSIDERING I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR LONG AND THE OWNER BEFORE ME TOLD ME HE JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TIMING BELT. I HAD A 87 CAMRY AND IT RAN GOOD FOR OVER 3 YEARS NEVER HAVING TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION OR MOTOR! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA EVER! THEY NEED TO HAVE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND AT LEAST CONTACT THERE CONSUMERS AND LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068503

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2004
Power Train

ON TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2004 THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626 LX WENT OUT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING FROM NASHVILLE, TN TO GATLINBURG, TN. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,500 MILES AND OTHER THAN THE NOW NONFUNCTIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, NELSON MAZDA ANTIOCH, TN AS WELL …

Read full complaint

ON TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2004 THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626 LX WENT OUT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING FROM NASHVILLE, TN TO GATLINBURG, TN. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,500 MILES AND OTHER THAN THE NOW NONFUNCTIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, NELSON MAZDA ANTIOCH, TN AS WELL AS THE MAZDA CORPORATION. BASICALLY, ALL I HAVE GOTTEN IS SORRY, NO WARRANTY, NO HELP. IT IS NOW GOING TO COST ABOUT $2700. TO GET A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS OTHERS IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068331

100,313 miles · May 1, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

CAR TRAVELING AT 70MPH. CAR UNEXPLAINABLY ACCELERATES AND THEN MODERATE "POP" HEARD UNDER HOOD. DEBRIS NOTICED FALLING FROM CAR. CAR IS BROUGHT TO STOP ON SHOULDER. SMOKE EMINATING FROM UNDER HOOD. LATCH OF HOOD IS RELEASED TO INVESTIGATE WHEN FLAMES ERUPT. ENGINE IS ON FIRE. ELECTRIC COOLING FAN WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED. DAMAGE…

Read full complaint

CAR TRAVELING AT 70MPH. CAR UNEXPLAINABLY ACCELERATES AND THEN MODERATE "POP" HEARD UNDER HOOD. DEBRIS NOTICED FALLING FROM CAR. CAR IS BROUGHT TO STOP ON SHOULDER. SMOKE EMINATING FROM UNDER HOOD. LATCH OF HOOD IS RELEASED TO INVESTIGATE WHEN FLAMES ERUPT. ENGINE IS ON FIRE. ELECTRIC COOLING FAN WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO RADIATOR AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS AND WIRING AS WELL AS HOOD, CHASSIS, AND TRIM PAINT DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068141

80,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND SHATTERED THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD. *AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10057515

60,000 miles · Mar 30, 2004
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WAS LOCAL AND CLOSE TO HOME. COULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS AT HIGH SPEED AND MAKING A TURN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064171

90,300 miles · Mar 27, 2004
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES. REBUILT INSTALLED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FAILED AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES. WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS I SPEED UP ENGINE. MAZDA NEEDS TO 'FESS UP TO THIS PROBLEM. I TELL EVERYBODY I KNOW AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE. I HAVE A 1987 CHEV CELEBRITY WAGON 130,000 MILES AND ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION,…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES. REBUILT INSTALLED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FAILED AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES. WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS I SPEED UP ENGINE. MAZDA NEEDS TO 'FESS UP TO THIS PROBLEM. I TELL EVERYBODY I KNOW AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE. I HAVE A 1987 CHEV CELEBRITY WAGON 130,000 MILES AND ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION, SHIFTS LIKE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT! MAZDA PLEASE SEE WHAT GM IS DOING RIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10064014

30 miles · Mar 23, 2004
Power Train

BOUGHT '97 MAZDA 626 LX USED WITH ONLY 67000 MILES ON IT. SOON THE "O/D OFF" LAMP KEEPS BLINKING AND IT CHANGES GEAR ROUGHLY. IT IS SAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL SOON AND WILL DO NO GOOD EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE TRANNY WITH $$$$. IT IS REALLY ASTOUNDING TO FIND SO MANY PEPOLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUST ONE FORUM: HTTP://WW…

Read full complaint

BOUGHT '97 MAZDA 626 LX USED WITH ONLY 67000 MILES ON IT. SOON THE "O/D OFF" LAMP KEEPS BLINKING AND IT CHANGES GEAR ROUGHLY. IT IS SAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL SOON AND WILL DO NO GOOD EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE TRANNY WITH $$$$. IT IS REALLY ASTOUNDING TO FIND SO MANY PEPOLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUST ONE FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/189.HTML MANY PEOPLE HAD EVEN WORSE EXPERIENCES THAN MINE. I AM WONDERING WHAT THIS MODEL IS IF IT IS NOT A LEMON? HOPE YOU TAKE NECESSARY MEASURE BEFORE IT KILLING PEOPLE BY SUDDENLY BROKEN DOWN IN THE INTERSTATE. (IF NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063664

Official recalls

3

15V674000 · 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

2

RQ02004 · 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.