IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*JB
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 reportsAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM, IRREGULAR RPM'S WHEN IDLING, POPPING NOISE IN FRONT (SUSPENSION?) WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED I.E. HIGHWAYS, INTERIOR LIGHT FAULTY,
1999 MAZDA 626...JUST OVER 70K MILES...O/D LIGHT FLASHING...TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 2ND GEAR...HARD SHIFTING...RESEARCH REVEALED MANY MORE DRIVERS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.
IN JUNE 1999, I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626. I HAVE 27,743 MILES ON IT. (I RIDE MOSTLY IN MY HUSBAND'S SUV). TWO DAYS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I SAY WARRANTY OR NOT AT 27,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE SLIPPING--UNLESS THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT WH…
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IN JUNE 1999, I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626. I HAVE 27,743 MILES ON IT. (I RIDE MOSTLY IN MY HUSBAND'S SUV). TWO DAYS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I SAY WARRANTY OR NOT AT 27,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE SLIPPING--UNLESS THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. I REFUSE TO PAY $2000+ FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AM SEEKING ARBITRATION AGAINST THE DEALER. I AM ASTONISHED TO SEE ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 626 TRANSMSSION I READ ON "THE COMPLAINT STATION" WEBSITE. FROM WHAT I READ ON THIS SITE, THE PROBLEM IS THE FORD TRANSMISSION. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE CONCERING THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THANK YOU.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN THE "OVERDRIVE" LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ON/OFF. CONSUMER THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER HOOD AND REAR OF VEHICLE AND QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. TS
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
1999 MAZDA TRAANSMISSION PROBLEMS
IT IS CRAZY TO HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSON AFTER LESS THAN 72000 MILES. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, THAT IT REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. IT'S REALLY SAD FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT CAN BARELY AFFORD THE MONTHLY PAYMENT, THEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. DT
TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLACK. DT
THE VEHICLES CLUTCH BAND WAS SLIPPING AND AS A RESULT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS *NLM
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.