IllustrationMETAL BAR IN FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS ARE NOT COVERED BY CUSTIONING. FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS CAN FEEL THE METAL BAT ON THE BACKS OF THEIR HEADS. IN AN INCIDENT WHERE THE HEAD IMPACTS THE HEADREST, THERE IS NO CUSTIONING IN FRONT OF THE METAL TO ABSORB THE FORCE. WE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD.
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
Seats complaints
4 reportsMETAL BAR INSIDE VEHICLE HEAD RESTS SEPARATES FROM THE FOAM. DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE HEAD RESTS WILL CAUSE THE METAL BAR TO PUSH THROUGH THE HEAD REST FOAM. THE RESULT IS A HARD METAL BAR PROTRUDING FROM THE HEAD REST. IN AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER'S / DRIVER'S HEADS WILL HIT A RIGID STEEL BAR, RATHER THAN A PADDED SUPPORT. …
Read full complaint
METAL BAR INSIDE VEHICLE HEAD RESTS SEPARATES FROM THE FOAM. DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE HEAD RESTS WILL CAUSE THE METAL BAR TO PUSH THROUGH THE HEAD REST FOAM. THE RESULT IS A HARD METAL BAR PROTRUDING FROM THE HEAD REST. IN AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER'S / DRIVER'S HEADS WILL HIT A RIGID STEEL BAR, RATHER THAN A PADDED SUPPORT. *NLM
THE HEADRESTS ARE DESIGNED DEFECTIVE, THE METAL SUPPORT BAR SEPARATES FROM THE HEADREST AND RESTS AGAINST THE COVER. THE HEAD SITS ON THE METAL BAR. IN THE EVENT OF ANY TYPE OF COLLISION THE RESULTS COULD BE DISASTEROUS
WHILE SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN, VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED TOTALLING THE CAR. IN THE PROCESS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED THUS CAUSING THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*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.