IllustrationFIFTH AND THIRD SYNCHRONIZERS WORE OUT, CAUSING GEAR SELECTOR TO SLIP SUDDENLY INTO NEUTRAL. *NLM. *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
What owners actually said
434 reportsTHE TRANSMISSION ON MY MAZDA 626 1998 ES (V6) IS EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE. I'M NOW ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION AND HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO 1/2 THE VALUE OF THE CAR ITSELF. BOTH TRANSMISSION FAULTED TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, MY GEARS STICK TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAKES THE CAR JERK.
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*JB
THE TRANSMISSION BLEW AWAY AT 90K MILES INSPITE OF RELIGIOUS TAKE CARE OF CAR ( MAZDA 626 ). *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE THIRD AND FIFTH GEAR SLIPPED BACK AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND IS URGING AN INVESTIGATION. *TT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED RESULTING IN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS AND RENTAL CAR EXPENSE. NLM
EARLY TRANSMISSINON FAILURE
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
TRANSMISSION (DRUM) FAILED AFTER NORMAL USE AT 100K MILES. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS STRICTLY KEPT ON THE FLUID A $2000 REPAIR BILL. NOTICEABLY, THERE WERE 3 OTHER MAZDA'S (626 AND PROTEGE'S) THERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT MAZDA DOES NOT EVEN ISSUE THE SAME DRUM ANYMORE. THEY HAVE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT D…
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION (DRUM) FAILED AFTER NORMAL USE AT 100K MILES. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS STRICTLY KEPT ON THE FLUID A $2000 REPAIR BILL. NOTICEABLY, THERE WERE 3 OTHER MAZDA'S (626 AND PROTEGE'S) THERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT MAZDA DOES NOT EVEN ISSUE THE SAME DRUM ANYMORE. THEY HAVE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT DESIGN TO REPLACE THESE COMMONLY MALFUNCTIONING PARTS. IN MY EYES, THIS AMOUNTS TO AN ADMISSION FROM MAZDA THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS FAULTY. DT
I'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. DT
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.