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
What owners actually said
434 reports
110,000 miles · Mar 6, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE JUST QUIT. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERS WOULD SAY IT WAS NORMAL FOR IT TO CLANK, SHIFT ERRATICALLY, AND SOMETIMES ENGINE REVVED BETWEEN SHIFTS. NOW IT HAS QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THE PEOPLE AT NHTSA TO START SAVING PEOPLE. AFTER ALL IT IS Y…
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THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE JUST QUIT. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERS WOULD SAY IT WAS NORMAL FOR IT TO CLANK, SHIFT ERRATICALLY, AND SOMETIMES ENGINE REVVED BETWEEN SHIFTS. NOW IT HAS QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THE PEOPLE AT NHTSA TO START SAVING PEOPLE. AFTER ALL IT IS YOUR MOTO. MAZDA/FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO REIMBURSE THE $2000 REPAIR COSTS EACH TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10008471
72,000 miles · Mar 3, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT AT 72,000 MILES.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10008348
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR TIRES TO LOCK, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10009456
53,000 miles · Feb 20, 2003
Power Train
I OWN A 98 MAZDA 626 4 CYL AUTOMATIC I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF $2,715.00 THIS CAR ONLY HAS 53000 MILES MOST OF WHICH ARE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #10007866
98,500 miles · Feb 18, 2003
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING MY 98 MAZDA 626, I NOTICED SLIPPAGE OF GEARS (IN THE TRANSMISSION). I WOULD STEP ON MY ACCELERATOR, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 100,000, THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AT ANOTHER ASE-CERTIFIED FACILITY, FOR $3018.00.…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 98 MAZDA 626, I NOTICED SLIPPAGE OF GEARS (IN THE TRANSMISSION). I WOULD STEP ON MY ACCELERATOR, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 100,000, THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AT ANOTHER ASE-CERTIFIED FACILITY, FOR $3018.00. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS "TYPICAL" WITH THE 98 MAZDA'S. APPARENTLY, MAZDA HAD A JOINT-VENTURE WITH FORD. THE TRANSMISSION USED FOR THE 98 MAZDA 626 WAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION USED ON THE FORD PROBE. (FUNNY, YOU DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE AROUND NOW). I WAS GIVEN A 12-MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. IT IS ONE YEAR LATER, AND AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION IS INOPERABLE. DUE TO THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS, I ASKED THE MAZDA DEALER IF THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER RECALL. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT UNDER RECALL. I FIND IT APPAULING THAT A BUSINESS CAN NOT STAND IN GOOD FAITH WITH ITS PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY, IF NUMEROUS DISCREPANCIES ARE NOTED FOR THE RECORD. HOW MANY OTHER MAZDA OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT ARE NOT FILING COMPLAINTS? I BELIEVE MANY. IF YOU OWN A MAZDA AND HAVE A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRANSMISSION, PLEASE FILE A COMPLAINT. I AM IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, AND HAVE MY PROPERTY AND CASUALTY LICENSE. WHEN I CONSULT FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES ABOUT AUTOMOBILES, I URGE THEM, NO I BEG THEM, NOT TO EVER PURCHASE A MAZDA, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT STAND BY THEIR NAME.
NHTSA ODI #10007740
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10007381
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2003
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WHEN I REACH THE SPEED OF 60, IIT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOUR TIMES WITHIN 3 MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #10005386
141,266 miles · Feb 4, 2003
Power Train
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN OCTOBER 2001. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2002. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS JUST A LEMON.
NHTSA ODI #10005308
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2003
Power Train
THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION. SCC
NHTSA ODI #10004666
74,750 miles · Jan 31, 2003
Unknown Or Other
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION CHAIN TO THE TUNE OF $800.00 AND AM HORRIFIED TO FIND OUT THAT NHTSA HAS NOT FORCED A RECALL OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE MAZDA 626. AFTER REVIEWING YOUR WEBSITE COMPLAINTS, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT NHTSA IS THINKING, I'M GUESSING THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET, TH…
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I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION CHAIN TO THE TUNE OF $800.00 AND AM HORRIFIED TO FIND OUT THAT NHTSA HAS NOT FORCED A RECALL OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE MAZDA 626. AFTER REVIEWING YOUR WEBSITE COMPLAINTS, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT NHTSA IS THINKING, I'M GUESSING THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET, THEREFORE THE DELAY IN CALLING A RECALL. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THIS AGAIN IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER AND THOUGHT I WAS DRIVING ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SILLY ME
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.
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.
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
1
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
1998 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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