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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 →
318Owner complaints

Model-year median: 44

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
359
1996358
1997434
1998318
1999217
2000188
200187
2002
Compare all 626 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
233Engine And Engine Cooling
48Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Electrical System
11Equipment
8
All reported categories
Air Bags
5Seat Belts
4Seats
4Suspension
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Steering
3Tires
3Unknown Or Other
3Engine
2Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Interior Lighting
2Service Brakes
2Structure
2Visibility
2Service Brakes, Electric
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Clear category filter
164,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AND THE TACHOMETER GETS VERY ERRATIC AS IS THE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE NOW USES EXCESSIVE GAS AND THE JERKING MOTION HAS CONTINUED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING (AFTER GOING ONLINE TO CHECK THIS PROBLE…

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I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AND THE TACHOMETER GETS VERY ERRATIC AS IS THE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE NOW USES EXCESSIVE GAS AND THE JERKING MOTION HAS CONTINUED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING (AFTER GOING ONLINE TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM) THAT MAZDA IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325397

170,000 miles · Feb 20, 2010
Power Train

GEAR SLIPPING & RPM "REVING" TRANSMISSION FALIURE, NEED TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312355

100,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009
Power Train

99 MAZDA 626ES HAS BEEN GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SLIPS ON 1 AND 2 GEAR. I HAVE TO DRIVE 5-10 MPH UNTIL IT KICKS-IN BUT IF I REDUCE SPEED I HAVE TO GO TROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. A MECHANIC CHANGED THE RANGE-SENSOR, I THINK IT'S CALL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE DIAGN…

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99 MAZDA 626ES HAS BEEN GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SLIPS ON 1 AND 2 GEAR. I HAVE TO DRIVE 5-10 MPH UNTIL IT KICKS-IN BUT IF I REDUCE SPEED I HAVE TO GO TROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. A MECHANIC CHANGED THE RANGE-SENSOR, I THINK IT'S CALL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE DIAGNOSE THE SAID YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, FOR ABOUT 3,000 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284753

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2009
Power Train

1999 MAZDA 626: THE DRIVE CHAIN INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, AND TRIED TO GO, YOU COULD HERE IT JUMPING OVER THE TEETH ON THE SPROCKET. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280070

136,000 miles · Mar 13, 2009
Power Train

THIS IS THE 3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF 1999 MAZDA 626. CAR ONLY HAS 136K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261764

125,000 miles · Feb 14, 2009
Power Train

MY 1999 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP A LOT. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND WITH RESEARCH MAZDA USED THE FORD PROBE TRANSMISSION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE 626 UP UNTIL 2002. THE TRANSMISSION THAT COMES WITH THE CAR IS DESIGNED FOR A SMALLER, LIGHTER VEHICLE AND THUS IT IS DOOMED TO FAIL, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU REPLACE I…

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MY 1999 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP A LOT. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND WITH RESEARCH MAZDA USED THE FORD PROBE TRANSMISSION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE 626 UP UNTIL 2002. THE TRANSMISSION THAT COMES WITH THE CAR IS DESIGNED FOR A SMALLER, LIGHTER VEHICLE AND THUS IT IS DOOMED TO FAIL, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU REPLACE IT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PUMP $2,000 INTO A CAR THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. PLUS EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD IT, I CAN'T FIND THE PART IN TAMPA, FL. MAZDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO UPGRADE ALL 626 2.0L I4 TRANSMISSIONS FOR FREE, AS THEY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258678

80,000 miles · Feb 10, 2009
Power Train

1999 MAZDA 626 - REPLACED TRANSMISSION 75-80 K MILES. NOW 110 K MILES AND BEGINNING TO OBSERVE SAME SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO LAST FAILURE. TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258172

112,000 miles · Jan 27, 2009
Power Train

I NOTICED PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM MY MOM. SHE RARELY DROVE IT, AND I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES A WEEK. FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T NOT GO INTO DRIVE, THEN IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. A FRIEND OF MINE IS A MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE TRANS. CABLE HAD COME DETACHED. AFTER TIME CONSUMING REPAIR, THE CAR WAS FIN…

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I NOTICED PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM MY MOM. SHE RARELY DROVE IT, AND I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES A WEEK. FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T NOT GO INTO DRIVE, THEN IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. A FRIEND OF MINE IS A MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE TRANS. CABLE HAD COME DETACHED. AFTER TIME CONSUMING REPAIR, THE CAR WAS FINE FOR A WEEK. NOW THE CAR ONLY GOES INTO DRIVE WHEN I FIRST PUT IT INTO SECOND. IT SLIPS IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION IS OBVIOUSLY FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256534

122,000 miles · Dec 31, 2008
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 1999 MAZDA 626 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AROUND 60,000 MILES AND NOW NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT 122,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253349

86,000 miles · Nov 21, 2008
Power Train

I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 4 CYLINDER LX. THIS CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING! I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND MAZDA FORUMS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION?!? IT IS TOO SMALL FOR THIS CAR AND MORE THAN HALF OF 626 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO R…

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I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 4 CYLINDER LX. THIS CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING! I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND MAZDA FORUMS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION?!? IT IS TOO SMALL FOR THIS CAR AND MORE THAN HALF OF 626 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR TRANSMISSIONS, ONLY TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE IT AS IT WILL ALWAYS GO OUT AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249471

Official recalls

2

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.