IllustrationTHE FOLLOWING COMPLAINT IS VERY COMMON IN THE MAZADA 626 SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP THE CONSUMER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *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 reportsMY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45,000! THE MECHANIC AT TUSTIN TRANSMISSION (CALIF) TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME ON THIS TRANSMISSION. IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TOO! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!!! I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED…
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MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45,000! THE MECHANIC AT TUSTIN TRANSMISSION (CALIF) TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME ON THIS TRANSMISSION. IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TOO! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!!! I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!*AK
MAZDA CORP STATES THAT MY VIN IS NOT 'ON THE LIST' BUT DEALER STATED THAT IT IS UNUSUAL FOR SPRING TO FAIL. MY VEHICLE FALLS IN THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE SIZE IN RECALL, BUT MANUFACTURER DENIES REPAIR ON RECALL BASIS EVEN IF TENSIONER SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT IS NOT ON THE LIST OF VIN'S CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE. I AM ORI…
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MAZDA CORP STATES THAT MY VIN IS NOT 'ON THE LIST' BUT DEALER STATED THAT IT IS UNUSUAL FOR SPRING TO FAIL. MY VEHICLE FALLS IN THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE SIZE IN RECALL, BUT MANUFACTURER DENIES REPAIR ON RECALL BASIS EVEN IF TENSIONER SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT IS NOT ON THE LIST OF VIN'S CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER, AGE 50, CONSERVATIVE DRIVER. I WOULD LIKE AN EXCEPTION CASE TO BE FILED. I HAVE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER THAT DIAGNOSED AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR IS TOM NASO MAZDA, 11185 ALPHARETTA HIGHWAY, ROSWELL, GA 30076 770-993-6999.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 70,000, AND BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION.*JB
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE GAS PEDAL SLOWLY DECLINED AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL. THE NOISE WAS VERY LOUD . NO CHECK LIGHTS WERE ON PRIOR OR DURING THE INCIDENT. HAD ADVICE THAT IT WAS THE ENGINE. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SAID CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRENTY…
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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE GAS PEDAL SLOWLY DECLINED AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL. THE NOISE WAS VERY LOUD . NO CHECK LIGHTS WERE ON PRIOR OR DURING THE INCIDENT. HAD ADVICE THAT IT WAS THE ENGINE. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SAID CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRENTY AND COULD RANGE FROM $1500-2000 TO FIX. THE CAR ONLY HAS 53000 MILES WITH ROUTINE CAR CARE. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65000 MILES. MAZDA DEALER TECH SAID THERE ARE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH 98 MODEL TRANSMISSION. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS HOT, IT COMPLETELY FAILED. WORK A BIT BETTER WHEN IT COOL DOWN. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THE WEBBING HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE ON THE PASSENGER REAR SEAT BELT AND IS ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS (THE WIDTH) OF THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER STATES THE BELT HAS BEEN CUT. THE BELT HAS NOT BEEN CUT. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND CAN TALK TO NO ONE OTHER THAN THE PERSON AT THE OTHER END OF THE 800 NUMBER. THAT PERSON (HAVE TALKED TO …
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THE WEBBING HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE ON THE PASSENGER REAR SEAT BELT AND IS ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS (THE WIDTH) OF THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER STATES THE BELT HAS BEEN CUT. THE BELT HAS NOT BEEN CUT. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND CAN TALK TO NO ONE OTHER THAN THE PERSON AT THE OTHER END OF THE 800 NUMBER. THAT PERSON (HAVE TALKED TO TWO DIFF. PEOPLE ON TWO DIFF. OCCASIONS) TELLS ME THE DEALER IS THE EYES AND EARS OF MAZDA AND THAT THEY HAVE THE FINAL SAY. HELP!!*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT JUST OVER 62000 MILES AFTER REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.*AK
MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT WITH 70,000 MILES. I AM FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER MAZDA 626'S WITH THE SAME LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 80476 MILES - NO FOREWARNING. *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.