NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
358 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 6, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
THE CAR DOOR OF MY MAZDA 626 1997, HAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED AFTER IT HAS RAINED AND THEN THE NEXT MORNING WHEN IT REMAINS BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE. THE DOOR LOCKED AND WAS CLOSED, BUT FLEW OPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND RELOCKED …
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THE CAR DOOR OF MY MAZDA 626 1997, HAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED AFTER IT HAS RAINED AND THEN THE NEXT MORNING WHEN IT REMAINS BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE. THE DOOR LOCKED AND WAS CLOSED, BUT FLEW OPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND RELOCKED IT, IT REMAINED CLOSED UNTIL I WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.*AL
NHTSA ODI #10052543
87,000 miles · Jan 5, 2004
Power Train
TRANSMISSION REBUILT 1 YEAR AGO, AND HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP TO BE FIXED 6 TIMES SINCE THAT. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF, WHICH MEANS THERE IS STILL MORE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10052396
19,000 miles · Dec 25, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
AFTER RUNNING THE CAR FOR A SHORT PERIOD (DROVE A FEW MILES). UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, A FIRE STARTED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE OF THE CAB. MY MOTHER (87 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND BARELY ESCAPED BEFORE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS CAR HAD 19000 ORIGINAL MIL…
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AFTER RUNNING THE CAR FOR A SHORT PERIOD (DROVE A FEW MILES). UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, A FIRE STARTED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE OF THE CAB. MY MOTHER (87 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND BARELY ESCAPED BEFORE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS CAR HAD 19000 ORIGINAL MILES AND I WAS THE ONLY OWNER. THE CAR NEVER HAD BEEN WORKED ON FOR ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND WAS NEVER IN ANY ACCIDENT. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10051080
89,000 miles · Dec 17, 2003
Visibility
WHEN AT A STOP WITH THE HEAT ON FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP, AND CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10051655
70,000 miles · Dec 4, 2003
Power Train
1997 MAZDA 626. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REBUILD AT 70,000 MILES. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10049220
66,000 miles · Dec 1, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
1997 MAZDA 626 LX - TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COMPUTER HAVE ALL BEEN REPAIRED IN A SPAN OF 11 MONTHS. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE 80,000 MILES ON IT!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10049009
60,000 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Power Train
I OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX, WHICH I BOUGHT USED WITH 36,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, STRANDING MY WIFE AND I. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEIR EXACT WORDS WERE: "WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXP…
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I OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX, WHICH I BOUGHT USED WITH 36,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, STRANDING MY WIFE AND I. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEIR EXACT WORDS WERE: "WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION IN STOCK." WE THEN SHOPPED AROUND AND FOUND A LESS EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT GAVE US A ONE YEAR GUARANTEE, AND CAME RECOMMENDED BY A MECHANIC FRIEND OF OURS. ONE YEAR AND TWO WEEKS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING ON LONG DRIVES, SPEWING TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT THE VENT CAP. MECHANICS TELL US WE NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, THEY THINK. IN ANY CASE, WE'LL PROBABLY NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SOON. WE'RE DUMPING THE HEAP AND BUYING A TOYOTA CAMRY. I'M APPALLED TO SEE PAGE AFTER PAGE OF NEARLY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1994 - 1998 626S. MAZDA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. HOW DARE MAZDA/FORD DO THIS TO HARD WORKING FOLKS WHO JUST WANT TO DRIVE A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE? *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047506
82,000 miles · Nov 23, 2003
Power Train
CD4E TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047436
91,000 miles · Nov 16, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAD TO BE REPLACED, OVERDRIVE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHING, DEALERS STATED WAS OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED BOTH SENSORS, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED, REPLACED TRANSMISSION REPLACED SEVERAL DAYS LATER WITH ANOTHER, FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS DEFECTIVE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047027
38,000 miles · Nov 7, 2003
Power Train
!997 MAZDA 626 AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILING ... WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES! *LA
NHTSA ODI #10045653
Official recalls
3Oct 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.
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.
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 ↗
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