IllustrationCAR RAN HOT , WOULLDN'T FIXX, BROKE BOTH CAMSHAFTS IN THE HEADS. *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 reportsAFTER DRIVING ABOUT 50 MILES AT 70-75MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES DOWNSHIFT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SOMETIMES THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON, AND UPON PULLING OFF TO STOP, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE 1ST GEAR UNTIL THE CAR COOLED DOWN (THE O/D LIGHT RESET TO OFF WHENEVER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. TOWARDS THE END OF AN 9…
Read full complaint
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 50 MILES AT 70-75MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES DOWNSHIFT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SOMETIMES THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON, AND UPON PULLING OFF TO STOP, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE 1ST GEAR UNTIL THE CAR COOLED DOWN (THE O/D LIGHT RESET TO OFF WHENEVER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. TOWARDS THE END OF AN 900 MILE TRIP TO PORT CHARLOTTE, FL, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON TOP OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS AND WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED (THE RPM'S VARIED SEVERELY DURING THIS TIME). HAD TO EVENTUALLY PULL OFF, CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. AFTER ABOUT 3 AND 1/2 WEEKS I GOT THE CAR BACK AND UPON DRIVING IT HOME THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON TWICE DURING THE 93 MILE TRIP HOME AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO START IN FIRST GEAR AGAIN. I TALKED TO THE AADCO TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY IN TIFTON, GA AGAIN AND THEY IMFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY ELECTRICAL!!!!, I.E. THE COMPUTER. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TO RESET THE COMPUTER, IT SEEMED TO DRIVE BETTER, BUT STILL JERKY OR SLIPPING AT TIMES. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS YET, I'LL BE GOING ABOUT 190 MILES THIS WEEKEND, I HOPE. 1. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT? 2. IS THE COMPUTER THE MOST LIKELY FAILED COMPONENT AND IS IT EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR? 3. IS MAZDA RECALLING ANY OF THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS? 4. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ACTIONS THAT I MAY TAKE TO RECOVER ANY PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES?*AK
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE RECALL NOTICE & I SEE THAT THERE ARE 3. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THESE PROBLEMS RESOLVED. I PREFER TO USE A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP THAN COOLEY- THEY ARE AWEFUL!
VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT & START SMOKING. TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED NO OIL IN CRANKSHAFT & NO ANTI-FREEZE IN RADIATOR. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD. THIS WAS A LEASED VEHICLE.*AK
AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER RECALL 00V134000 VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE STOPPED THE ENGINE RACES UP TO ABOUT 3000 RPMS ON THE TACKOMETER, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT ACCELERATES AHEAD, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
TANSMISSION REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR. CARS SOMETIMES LOOSES COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING.*AK
NO SUMMARY
DRIVERS SEAT TOO LOW-5'5" DRIVER SITS LESS THAN 12" FROM AIRBAG. *AK
CONSUMER CHECKED TIRE BEFORE A TRIP AND NOTICED ABNORMAL WEAR ON BOTH REAR TIRES NEAR THE SIDEWALL, THE TREAD WAS WORN ALL AROUND BOTH TIRES, UPON RETURNING HOME CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE NO MORE TREADS ON THE TIRES (BRIDGESTONE PROTENZA P205/60R15 90H). NLM
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.