IllustrationNO SUMMARY. DT
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND JERKS INTO GEAR. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS TURNING BACK AND FORTH INSTEAD OF ONE WAY WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FALL OUT. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE SERVICED AND ALL FLUIDS CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF ON 8/13/02. NO TRANSMISSION OR FLUID PROBLEMS REPORTED DURING THAT SERVICING. NO OTHER PROBLEMS, LIGHT INDICATORS, OR TRANSMISSION RELATED ISSUES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. ON 8/26/02, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OIL FLUIDS BEGAN SPRAYING THE WINDSHIELD AND SMOKE POURED FROM UN…
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VEHICLE SERVICED AND ALL FLUIDS CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF ON 8/13/02. NO TRANSMISSION OR FLUID PROBLEMS REPORTED DURING THAT SERVICING. NO OTHER PROBLEMS, LIGHT INDICATORS, OR TRANSMISSION RELATED ISSUES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. ON 8/26/02, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OIL FLUIDS BEGAN SPRAYING THE WINDSHIELD AND SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN THE MEDIAN OF EXTREMELY BUSY AND CONGESTED GEORGIA HWY 400. POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND HAZARD OF BEING STALLED IN MEDIAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAZDA DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $2,700! MY RESEARCH HAS DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK
IN EARLY 2001,MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SQUEAKING LOUDLY.THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING.THE VERY NEXT MONTH I WAS DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP,STOPPED TO GET GAS,AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING.THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHICH I HAD NOT.IN MAY,2002 I AGAIN MADE A LONG TRIP,STOPPED SUDDENL…
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IN EARLY 2001,MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SQUEAKING LOUDLY.THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING.THE VERY NEXT MONTH I WAS DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP,STOPPED TO GET GAS,AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING.THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHICH I HAD NOT.IN MAY,2002 I AGAIN MADE A LONG TRIP,STOPPED SUDDENLY FOR A WRECK,WITH ANOTHER INCIDENT OF SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE.THE DEALER NOW SAYS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH I HAVE SEEN NOTED MULTIPLE TIMES AS A DEFECT ON THIS WEB SITE.*AK
WITH THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED PROPERLY, TRANSMISSION WAS TOO YOUNG TO FAIL. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS, AND VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN IN OVERDRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK
THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING JUST BEFORE I BEGIN TO SEE THE CAR SMOKING, I LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND THERE IS TRANSMISSION FLUILD ON THE MOTOR AND THEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR...THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK INTO THE GEAR.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
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.