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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

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
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AT 15,000 MILES. WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA. FAILED AGAIN AT 53,800 MILES/3 YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #767270

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING. CHECKED VEHICLE, AND HAD THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL REPLACED. VEHICLE THEN STARTED IDLING AT 2000 RPMS, FLUCTUATING. DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED NEED TO REPLACE POWER-TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V228000 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8018467

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2002
Electrical SystemPower Train

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 37,000 OR 38,000 MILES. WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS TWICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES.1ST AT DEALERSHIP(80.00) 2ND BY MY HUSBAND 3,000 MILES AFTER THE 1ST TIME. 2 MTHS. LATER SAME PROBLEM NOT PLUGS BUT REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS(SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED THAT EARLY) B…

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TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 37,000 OR 38,000 MILES. WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS TWICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES.1ST AT DEALERSHIP(80.00) 2ND BY MY HUSBAND 3,000 MILES AFTER THE 1ST TIME. 2 MTHS. LATER SAME PROBLEM NOT PLUGS BUT REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS(SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED THAT EARLY) BEFORE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS WERE WORN DOWN COMPLETELY. PUT IN SHOP DEC. 01-COMPUTER SAID BAD O2 SENSOR REPLACED BOTH SENSORS(90.00) STILL SAME PROBLEM. CALLED MAZDA, FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA. THEY DID NOTHING. THEY SAID NOT ENOUGH FILES HAD BEEN ISSUED TO WARRANT A RECALL. I THINK THAT IS A LIE. ALL OVER THE INTERNET YOU FIND COMPLAINTS OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THAT. IT IS A SHAME THAT MAZDA MAKES A PRODUCT AS THIS AND DOES NOT STAND BEHIND WHAT IT PRODUCES. THEY ARE JUST LAZY AND DO NOT CARE TO HELP THE PUBLIC. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION. THEY HAVE A VERY BAD REPUTATION WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY DON'T EVEN SEEM TO CARE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND EVERYONE THAT STILL HAS PAPERWORK NEEDS TO BE REIMBURSED BY MAZDA FOR ALL THE MONEY PEOPLE HAVE PAID TO GET THEIR CARS FIXED. THANK GOODNESS WE GOT RID OF OURS A FEW MONTHS AGO. I TELL EVEYONE I KNOW THAT IS LOOKING INTO BUYING A CAR NOT TO GET A MAZDA.

NHTSA ODI #767104

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL STALL, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018303

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2002
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766860

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Power Train

THIS IS IN FOLLOWUP TO MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE NHTSA ODI NUMBER 763482. I TOOK MY MAZDA 626 BACK TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I EXPLAINED MY RESEARCH TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ADMITTED THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THAT SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER A REBUI…

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THIS IS IN FOLLOWUP TO MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE NHTSA ODI NUMBER 763482. I TOOK MY MAZDA 626 BACK TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I EXPLAINED MY RESEARCH TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ADMITTED THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THAT SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER A REBUILT TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE INITIAL PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE CONTACTED THE REGIONAL MAZDA ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIBED OUR CASE AND OUR LOW MILEAGE OF JUST OVER 32,000. MAZDA OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION IF I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR. HAVING READ OTHER OWNER'S COMPLAINTS THAT IT COST THEM BETWEEN $2,200 AND $2,900 TO GET THEIR CAR ON THE ROAD, I ACCEPTED THE OFFER. I AM STILL HOPEFUL THAT THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THE MAZDA TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IF RECALLED, I AM HOPEFUL OF GETTING MY MONEY REFUNDED, WHICH I BELIEVE IS REASONABLE GIVEN THE PERVASIVENESS OF THIS VEHICLE DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. JJB*AK

NHTSA ODI #766074

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2002
Power Train

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AREA, VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID START BACK UP, BUT WOULD NOT FOWARD OR BACKWARD, CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8016653

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2002
Power Train

WHEN PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT TRANSMISSION FAILED, WITH GEARS NOT RESPONDING TO ACCELERATION. RPMS WERE VERY HIGH FROM ATTEMPTING TO GET VEHICLE IN MOTION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8016588

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

CAR WOULD JUST REV AND NOT CATCH GEARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765867

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TENSIONER BELT FELL OFF FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8014761

Official recalls

4

15V674000 · 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

1

SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative

Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.