IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP WHICH IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. THIS BS WITH IT COST MY WIFE HER JOB
1999 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
100–25K
1325–50K
6150–75K
6475–100K
49100–150K
12150K+
209 reports with mileage · 109 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 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
233 reportsMY GAS PEDAL GET STUCK, CAR JERKS WHEN DRIVEN & MAKE NOISY, CAR SAKES BRAKES PROBLEMS & MORE. *TR
CATASTROPHIC JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING EXTREMELY SLOW ACCELERATION AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 WITH 28,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UNTIL RECENTLY IN 2009 THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO DEVELOP PROBLEMS. IT NOW SLIPS IN SECOND GEAR, I CANNOT DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR FEAR THAT THE INFAMOUS O/D OFF LIGHT WILL START TO FLASH AND LEAVE ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. T…
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PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 WITH 28,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UNTIL RECENTLY IN 2009 THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO DEVELOP PROBLEMS. IT NOW SLIPS IN SECOND GEAR, I CANNOT DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR FEAR THAT THE INFAMOUS O/D OFF LIGHT WILL START TO FLASH AND LEAVE ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THIS OCCURS SOMETIMES AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF MAYBE 30 MINUTES OR MORE DRIVING 70 MPH, AND SOMETIMES AT 65MPH. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, THE CAR LOOSES POWER, AND BURNS UP THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU RISK THE CHANCE OF NEARLY BLOWING THE TRANSMISSION, BEING RUN OFF THE ROAD, BEING FORCED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND BEING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BECAUSE THE CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STOPS MOVING!THIS IS SO SAD THAT I CANNOT REALLY ENJOY MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS HERE! MAZDA HAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE OTHER RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. MAZDA IS A POOR INVESTMENT, AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THEY KNOW ARE A PIECE OF CRAP! I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AGAIN! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED HAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT FROM FOURTH TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE OVERDRIVE FAILURE RUINED THE MOTOR AN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED HAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT FROM FOURTH TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE OVERDRIVE FAILURE RUINED THE MOTOR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. UPDATED 10/28/11*LJ
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS *TT
I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND SHIFTS VERY HARD, AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. APPARENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THIS MODEL HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGERO…
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I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND SHIFTS VERY HARD, AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. APPARENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THIS MODEL HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR; MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE GEARS BECAME STUCK, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASE GREATLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE GEARS BECAME STUCK, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASE GREATLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE S…
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THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE SLIPPING AND VIBRATION. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PRODUCT BEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WHY IS MAZDA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE....... *TR
ROUGH SHIFTING, SLIPPING ,ROUGH IDLE, OVERHEATING TRANSMISSION. *TR
Official recalls
200V134000 · 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.
00V074000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Mar 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN RESERVOIR TANK CAPS ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WERE PRODUCED WITH A WORN OUT DIE AND LACK VENTILATION HOLES. AS A RESULT, THE PRESSURE IN THE RESERVOIR TANK CAN DROP GRADUALLY AS THE BRAKE PAD OR SHOE WEARS AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DROPS. ALSO, THE PRESSURE COULD REACH A POINT THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER AND DRUM CYLINDER ARE PULLED BACK BY THE VACUUM IN THE RESERVOIR TANK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A LONG TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFICIENCY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RESERVOIR CAP AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.