IllustrationTRANSMISSION JUST DIED AT HIGH SPEED, WELL SERVICED, ONLY 78000 MILES AND 3YEAR OLD CAR. *AK
1998 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
30–25K
825–50K
5350–75K
7875–100K
66100–150K
16150K+
224 reports with mileage · 210 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 313 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports
Power Train complaints
313 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CAR SUFFERED "INTERNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION" AT 43,000 ON 2/00. THIS WAS REPLACED AT MAZDA DEALER IN ROSWELL GA.. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. "INTERNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION" OCCURED ON 6/11/01 AT 105,000 MILES. SERVICE DEPT. WAYNE EVANS SAID, "WE GOT A MEMO FROM MAZDA CORP., IT SAYS WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS T…
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CAR SUFFERED "INTERNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION" AT 43,000 ON 2/00. THIS WAS REPLACED AT MAZDA DEALER IN ROSWELL GA.. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. "INTERNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION" OCCURED ON 6/11/01 AT 105,000 MILES. SERVICE DEPT. WAYNE EVANS SAID, "WE GOT A MEMO FROM MAZDA CORP., IT SAYS WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS THAT COME IN FOR ANY SERVICE TO HAVE AN EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER INSTALLED. THE PART IS 120.00 PLUS LABOR." I TOLD DEALER THAT IT MAY SUGGEST THAT MAZDA KNOWS IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. FIRST QUOTE WAS OVER 2,000. I ASKED FOR THE PART REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. THE SERVICE DEALER CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT BOB WHITE, THE REGIONAL MANAGER WILL GIVE PART FREE IF I AGREE TO A 60,000 MILE MAINTENENCE SERVICE AT 679.00 PLUS TAX. AND IF I AGREED TO ADD THE EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COLLER FOR 120.00 PLUS LABOR AND TAX. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE FREE PART IF I AGREED TO THIS. I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY & MAINTAIN RECORDS. THEY SAID, IT WASN'T SERVICED AT A MAZDA DEALER & I WOULD NEED TO AGREE TO THE 679.00 60,000 MILE SERVICE AND EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER IF THEY WERE TO GIVE ME THE PART. THE RATIONALE WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO BE SURE I TOOK CARE OF CAR IF THEY GAVE A FREE PART. MY CONCERN IS THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR ONE. MY BIGGER CONCERN IS THE RISK I INCURRED WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE ON THE SAME CAR. AND THE CORP MEMO ON THE EXTERNAL COOLER MAKES ME UNEASY.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES BECAUSE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MAZDA 626. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO FOUND NO PROBLEM. THEN, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE, VEHICLE DROPPED TO 30 MPH QUICKLY WHILE ENGINE REVVED. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
I HAVE HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL AND FUEL/TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP RESPONDS WITH THIS IS NORMAL. OTHER MECHANICS QUESTION FREQUENT VISITS HOWEVER AGREE THAT THE SERVICES ARE NEEDED.*AK
TRANSMISSION JERKS USUALLY IN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS OF TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A ROLLING STOP OR SLOW DOWN.*AK
I TOOK MY CAR INTO MILLINEUM MAZDA, CHAPEL HILL BLVD., DURHAM, N.C. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS JERKING FROM THE PARKED POSITION. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PISTON ASSEMBLY AND I PURCHASED AN $80.00 TRANSMISSION FLUSH. HOWEVER, NEITHER OF THESE WERE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHARLES GRAY, DECIDED TO REPLACE T…
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I TOOK MY CAR INTO MILLINEUM MAZDA, CHAPEL HILL BLVD., DURHAM, N.C. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS JERKING FROM THE PARKED POSITION. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PISTON ASSEMBLY AND I PURCHASED AN $80.00 TRANSMISSION FLUSH. HOWEVER, NEITHER OF THESE WERE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHARLES GRAY, DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON JULY 18, 2000. WELL, THIS TIME, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING HARD WHEN IT MOVED TO REVERSE. ON OCTOBER 23, 2000, THE 1ST REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. I CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT THE SHIFTING IN REVERSE WAS TOTALLY SMOOTH IN THIS TRANSMISSION. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND IT IS QUITE AGGRAVATING. I AM GETTING THE LINE "MAZDA WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM" FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT DOWN TO SEE" ARE THE LINES I AM GETTING FROM MAZDA TECHNICIANS. THIS IS APPALLING TO ME BECAUSE I MUST CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT I CAN'T SEEM TO GET REPAIRED.*AK
TRANSMISSION WILL GO FROM FIRST GEAR TO OVERDRIVE AND JUMP FORCIBLY INTO GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Official recalls
415V674000 · 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.
00V134000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
May 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BROKEN SPRING MAY GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, RESULTING POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TENSIONER INSTALLED AND REPLACE IT IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AFFECTED TENSIONER.
98V243000 · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
Oct 2, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A HOT, HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AUDIO UNIT AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE SPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.
97V228000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Dec 17, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) INSTALLED CAN, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRIGGER A SHIFT IN AIR-FUEL RATIO TO AN OVERLEAN CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM WITH THE CORRECT ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC.
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
1SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.