IllustrationDEALER 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
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
What owners actually said
358 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *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.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE GOING THROUGH GLASS PLATE WINDOW OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.
NONE
NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN OCTOBER CONCERNING ENGINE TIMING BELT. DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V20600. FAILURE OCCURRED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER TO GET CAR REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. *AK *ML
TURN SINGNAL FAILED. YH
FACTORY ALARM ( ANTI-THEFT ) FAILED. *YC
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.