NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
434 reports160,000 miles · Dec 10, 2007
Power Train
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 626. THE FIRST TIME WAS AUGUST OF 2006. IT STARTED WITH THE O/D LIGHT FLASHING THE SMOKING AND FINALLY GOING OUT COMPLETELY. THE CAR LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NO-WHERE. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR 3 HOURS AND $200.00 TO GET …
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THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 626. THE FIRST TIME WAS AUGUST OF 2006. IT STARTED WITH THE O/D LIGHT FLASHING THE SMOKING AND FINALLY GOING OUT COMPLETELY. THE CAR LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NO-WHERE. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR 3 HOURS AND $200.00 TO GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A USED TRANSMISSION FROM A JUNK YARD AND HAD IT REPLACED FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1200.00. CHEAP COMPARED TO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS PAID. THE SECOND TIME WAS JUST RECENT 12/7/07. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED JUMPING BETWEEN GEARS (2ND AND 3RD) THEN IT STAYED STUCK ON 2ND GEAR. FINALLY IT WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR INCLUDING REVERSE. SO FAR I HAVE NOT FOUND ANOTHER (REASONABLY PRICED) TRANSMISSION. THE CHEAPEST I FOUND WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY IS $1000.00. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR WHICH IS ABOUT $400.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10211372
143,848 miles · Nov 19, 2007
Power Train
MY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAIL 3 TIMES IN 18 MONTHS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10209346
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
OVERFLOW TANK FOR RADIATOR HAS CRACKED AND LOST ALL WATER TO MY CAR AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE 2004, I HAVE GONE TO ALHAMBRA MAZDA FOR HELP ALSO TO MAZDA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN IRVINE, ALL REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOWED OVER 800 MILES THIS SUMMER DUE TO BREAKAGE, THE SEAM AROUND DTO TANK CRACKS AND LEAKS, CAUSING…
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OVERFLOW TANK FOR RADIATOR HAS CRACKED AND LOST ALL WATER TO MY CAR AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE 2004, I HAVE GONE TO ALHAMBRA MAZDA FOR HELP ALSO TO MAZDA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN IRVINE, ALL REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOWED OVER 800 MILES THIS SUMMER DUE TO BREAKAGE, THE SEAM AROUND DTO TANK CRACKS AND LEAKS, CAUSING HEATING PROBLEMS, THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A UNKNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS THE WAY I DRIVE, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, IT WILL CRACK AT ANY TIME OR PLACE, THEY KEEP TRYING TO DO PRESSURE TEST AND MAKE ME REPLACE SENSORS, THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH SENSORS. PLEASE HELP ME, I AM SEVENTY AND CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR. I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND KEEP MY CAR SERVICED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10206911
110,000 miles · Oct 19, 2007
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE UNLESS THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE UNLESS THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA ODI #10206347
104,000 miles · Sep 14, 2007
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS, AND WILL NOT GO INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE, COMPLETELY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT LIFETIME, AND ONLY HAS 104,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10203003
155,000 miles · Sep 13, 2007
Power Train
7 MONTHS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 150,000 MILES. THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED FOR THAT MILEAGE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT IS SLUGGISH MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAR IS STARTING OUT IN 2ND GEAR INSTEAD OF 1ST. AT 15 - 20 MPH, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST, THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK TO SECOND GEAR. AT …
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7 MONTHS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 150,000 MILES. THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED FOR THAT MILEAGE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT IS SLUGGISH MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAR IS STARTING OUT IN 2ND GEAR INSTEAD OF 1ST. AT 15 - 20 MPH, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST, THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK TO SECOND GEAR. AT 20MPH, THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, BUT EVENTUALLY SHIFTS. THE O/D LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN I SLOW DOWN, THE CAR WILL DOWN SHIFT ABRUPTLY IN TO A LOWER GEAR. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 7 MONTH OLD TRANSMISSION. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 626. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10202908
118,000 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Power Train
1998 MAZDA 626 2.0L AUTOMATIC TRANNY ISSUES. CAR HAS 118K MILES AND THE TRANNY IS NEEDING A REBUILD. LOOKED IT UP AND SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CD4E FORD NUMBER OR THE LA4A-EL MAZDA NUMBER TRANNY. *JB. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10202348
110,000 miles · Sep 4, 2007
Power Train
MY 1998 MAZDA 626 HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS FAILED AT 110K. THE RESULTING FAILURE WILL COST ABOUT $2,000 TO FIX, AND THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WILL LIKELY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE I AM AFRAID A NEW TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY FAIL AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10201822
1 miles · Jul 26, 2007
Power Train
TRANSMISSION ARE BAD IN 1998 MAZDA 626. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10197617
95,000 miles · Jul 13, 2007
Power Train
I BOUGHT MY 626 NEW IN 1998. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION TROUBLES REGULARLYSINCE THEN. IN 2003-4, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, THEN PURCHASED A NEW ONE. THE NEW ONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WILL GET HOT, THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES, AND WE ARE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR IT TO COOL.
NHTSA ODI #10196293
Official recalls
4Oct 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.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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