NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
434 reports80,515 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. A USED ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL,YEAR AND MANUFACTURING DATE, THE CONSUMER'S VIN W…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. A USED ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL,YEAR AND MANUFACTURING DATE, THE CONSUMER'S VIN WASN'T IN THE RECALL SCOPE. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10049927
83,000 miles · Dec 23, 2003
Power Train
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PART WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10051986
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2003
Unknown Or Other
I OWN A 1998 MAZDA 626 THAT I PURCHASED IN 1999. I HAVE HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN THIS CAR IN 2000 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE MOTOR HAS SEIZED. IT JUST QUIT ONE DAY AS MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK. IT IS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN BROADENING, OHIO AND THEY WON'T OR CAN'T TELL ME WH…
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I OWN A 1998 MAZDA 626 THAT I PURCHASED IN 1999. I HAVE HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN THIS CAR IN 2000 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE MOTOR HAS SEIZED. IT JUST QUIT ONE DAY AS MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK. IT IS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN BROADENING, OHIO AND THEY WON'T OR CAN'T TELL ME WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM NOW TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT RECALLS AND GET OTHER INFO THAT MAY HELP ME GET MY CAR FIXED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10050762
90,097 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT MAZDA SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. *CB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10046460
90,097 miles · Dec 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
RE: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN# NHTSA 00V134000/RECALL 00V134000: TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING DEFECT. I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 VIN#[XXX]. ON 10-27-03 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIMING BELT. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS.…
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RE: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN# NHTSA 00V134000/RECALL 00V134000: TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING DEFECT. I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 VIN#[XXX]. ON 10-27-03 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIMING BELT. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. I CALL MAZDA AND GAVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THINK THAT MAZDA SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS! IT WAS A RECALL. *LA *SCC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10045673
76,126 miles · Dec 6, 2003
Power Train
I OWN A 1998 MAZDA 626 WITH APPROXIMATELY 76,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND MAZDA SAID IT WILL COST $4,000 TO REPLACE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10049336
80,047 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION IS TOTALLY SHOT AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF ABOUT $2500 WHILE I HEAR THAT IF MAZDA HAD JUST INFORMED THE OWNERS EARLIER THEY COULD HAVE ADDED ABOUT $100 COOLING KIT AND SAVED ALL THE COST AND HASSLE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047154
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED.*AK THE CONSUMER THOUGHT HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND LOST STEERING. THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 40 MPH AND FINALLY STALLED. THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE MECHANIC FOUND A TENSIONER BROKEN. WHEN THE …
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WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED.*AK THE CONSUMER THOUGHT HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND LOST STEERING. THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 40 MPH AND FINALLY STALLED. THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE MECHANIC FOUND A TENSIONER BROKEN. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS RECALL, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BOTH TENSIONER SPRING FAILURES. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10043936
120,000 miles · Nov 17, 2003
Power Train
I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. AS I WAS RESEARCHING, CALLING AROUND AND ASKING PEOPLE ABOUT WHERE I COULD FIND A TRANSMISSION AT A REASONABLE PRICE, I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWNS OR HAS OWNED A 626. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047041
72,000 miles · Nov 16, 2003
Power Train
I HAVE REPLACED THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 MAZDA 626 TWICE, ONCE AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES AGAIN AT ABOUT 90,000 AND NOW IT IS GONE AGAIN AT 113,000. THOMAS.SMITH9@US.ARMY.MIL *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047019
Official recalls
4Oct 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.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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