IllustrationAUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING AND SHIFTING POORLY SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES. NOW AT 87000, THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING ON AND OFF. SUSPECT I'LL HAVE TO HAVE IT REBUILT. FOUND MANY COMPLAINS ON THIS TRANSMISSION, BUT MAZDA AND FORD APPEAR TO WANT TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
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
What owners actually said
318 reportsSLUGGISH PERFORMANCE AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH RESULTED IN MY BRINGING THE AUTOMOBILE INTO MY MECHANIC FOR SERVCING - DIAGNOSTIC CODE (2ND TIME FOR THIS CODE) RESULTED IN A REPLACEMENT OF 2 OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT A COST OF > $750. THE FIRST TIME THIS CODE APPEARED, THE MECHANIC TUNED UP T…
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SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH RESULTED IN MY BRINGING THE AUTOMOBILE INTO MY MECHANIC FOR SERVCING - DIAGNOSTIC CODE (2ND TIME FOR THIS CODE) RESULTED IN A REPLACEMENT OF 2 OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT A COST OF > $750. THE FIRST TIME THIS CODE APPEARED, THE MECHANIC TUNED UP THE ENGINE, WHICH COST $300.
NORMAL CITY DRIVING. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OVERHEATING, CATASTROPHIC. REBUILT.
DRIVING FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, 1999 MAZDA 626 THE TRANSMISSION OD LIGHT FLASHES AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT AND BLOWS THE EXTREMLY HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT INTO THE ENVRONMENT AND ONTO THE EXAUST PIPE AND ENGINE COMPONENT AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NOT VERY ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY IF ALL MAZDA AND FORD DO THIS, AND ACCORDING TO HT…
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DRIVING FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, 1999 MAZDA 626 THE TRANSMISSION OD LIGHT FLASHES AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT AND BLOWS THE EXTREMLY HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT INTO THE ENVRONMENT AND ONTO THE EXAUST PIPE AND ENGINE COMPONENT AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NOT VERY ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY IF ALL MAZDA AND FORD DO THIS, AND ACCORDING TO HTTP://ATXPROBES.COM/CD4E.HTML AND MAZDA TSB 05-005/02 THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MAZDA SAY TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND ADD A TRANSMISSION COOLER AT OWNERS EXPENSE. I SAY YOU AND THE EPA NEED TO MAKE MAZDA AND FORD RECALL AND MAKE THE REPAIRS.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MOVE MY CAR ,AND ALLOWED EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO ACCESS AN MVA FURTHER AHEAD IN TRAFFIC.*AK
1999 MAZDA 626 WITH 68,000 - ACCORDING TO DEALER TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND SEVERAL TIMES OD LIGHT HAS BEGUN FLASHING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CLAIMS CODE 736 - "IMPROPER GEAR RATIO." DEALER EXPLAINED THAT SHE HAD SEEN THIS EXACT PROBLEM "MANY" TIMES AND REQUIRES…
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1999 MAZDA 626 WITH 68,000 - ACCORDING TO DEALER TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND SEVERAL TIMES OD LIGHT HAS BEGUN FLASHING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CLAIMS CODE 736 - "IMPROPER GEAR RATIO." DEALER EXPLAINED THAT SHE HAD SEEN THIS EXACT PROBLEM "MANY" TIMES AND REQUIRES $2900 REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLS THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES IN THE ENGINE. BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND PERFORM ROUTINELY MAINTANANCE ON IT AND IT STILL FAILED.*AK
DRIVER WAS ACCELERATING UP ON A HILL AND VEHICLE STARTED DECELERATING. THEN, VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND TOOK THE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND UNABLE TO MOVE…
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DRIVER WAS ACCELERATING UP ON A HILL AND VEHICLE STARTED DECELERATING. THEN, VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND TOOK THE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND UNABLE TO MOVE IT. *AK
I BROUGHT A 1999 MAZDA 626 AT AROUND 64,000 MILES. I ALWAYS GOT MY FLUIDS CHECK AND CHANGE AROUND EVERY 3,000 MILES. IT DROVE FINE UNTIL RECENTLY AT 115,000 MILES WHEN IT HAD A HARD TIME GOING INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE O/D LIGHT ALSO STARTED FLASHING. IT FINALLY GOT THE PLACE WHERE IT WOULDN'T MOV…
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I BROUGHT A 1999 MAZDA 626 AT AROUND 64,000 MILES. I ALWAYS GOT MY FLUIDS CHECK AND CHANGE AROUND EVERY 3,000 MILES. IT DROVE FINE UNTIL RECENTLY AT 115,000 MILES WHEN IT HAD A HARD TIME GOING INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE O/D LIGHT ALSO STARTED FLASHING. IT FINALLY GOT THE PLACE WHERE IT WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD AT ALL. I HAD TO MISS A DAY AT WORK BECAUSE OF IT. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED AND LOOK AT BY A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE MY 2ND GEAR WAS ABOUT TO GO OUT. HE TRIED TO GET IT TO WORK BY CHANGING MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACING MY ALTERNATOR BELT. THE CAR RAN GOOD FOR ONLY ONE DAY AND ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKLY, MY CAR MADE IT HOME, BUT THE NEXT DAY IT WOULDN'T EVEN MOVE FORWARD. IT WILL COST BETWEEN 1,200 AND 2,500 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS MONEY THAT I DO NOT HAVE! I STILL GOT TWO YEARS WORTH OF PAYMENT TO MAKE ON IT AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GOING TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY. HOPEFULLY I CAN COME UP WITH THE MY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*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.