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 reports

52,884 miles · Mar 30, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V134000; MAZDA ISSUED A TIMING BELT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, BUT THE TIMING BELT MADE NOISE LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BREAK. *AK THE TIMING BELT KIT. 2 SERPENTINE BELTS, TENSIONER SPRING ASSEMBLY AND THE IDLER PULLEY WERE REPLACED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10113704

50,000 miles · Mar 29, 2005

Power Train

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD CONSISTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AFTER AROUND 50,000 MILE. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TAKING THE ADVICE OF MAZDA TRANSMISSION EXPERTS AND OTHER TECHS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANNY LEAKS THAT WOULD MAKE THE CAR LOOK LIKE IT WAS FLOATING ON A CLOUD CAUSED BY THE FLUID FALLING ON A HOT EXAUST. NOW AT 104,000 MILES RIGHT AFTER HAVING MY SEALS CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION APEARS TO HEAT UP WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND LEAVES ME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR HOPING I CAN MAKE IT HOME. THIS TRANSMISSION IS GARBAGE AND HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WHO EVER LET THIS ENGINEERING DISASTER BE SOLD SHOULD PAY FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE CAUSED.

NHTSA ODI #10115988

90,000 miles · Mar 17, 2005

Power Train

I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626 AND I HAVE CHANGED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE TWICE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVERHEATED TWICE. I HAVE THE REGULAR MAINTAINANCE ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE SPENT $5000.00 FOR BOTH TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10114251

76,000 miles · Mar 15, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE.*AK DEALER REPLACED TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10111442

87,186 miles · Mar 12, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BOTH FAULTY. ENGINE DID NOT REVERSE, SOON AFTER ENGINE EXPLODED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10113996

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2005

Power Train

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING TO A WEEKEND GETAWAY WITH MY WIFE AND A FEW FRIENDS MY 1999 MAZDA 626'S (85,000 MILES) OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTET TO BLINK. I THOUGHT SINCE I WAS GOING 80 MPH AND I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THAT FAST THAT IT MENT THAT THE OVERDRIVE WOULD NOT WORK. I CHECKED THE USERS MANUAL AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT A BLINKING OVERDRIVE LIGHT. SO WHEN I GOT OFF THE EXIT I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHIFTING HARD SO I PULLED OFER AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TEMPERATURE OR THE COOLANT BUT THERE WAS TRANSMITION FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGIRE. I HAVE JUST HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND I BELIVE IT WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMITION. I HAVE HEARD MANY MANY HOROR STORIES OF 626'S TRANSMITIONS GOING OUT WITH RELATIVLY LOW MILES AND THOUGHT I WOULD BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION SINCE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 85,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #10112311

76,750 miles · Feb 27, 2005

Power Train

COMPLETE TRANS FAILURE AT 76,800 MILES. REQUIRED A COMPLETE REBUILD 1950.00. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10112234

80,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED WHEN BRAKING FROM 40 MPH OR MORE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, AND THE TIMING BELT SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE SECOND TIME. CONSUMER HAD BOTH PART…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10111629

60,000 miles · Feb 5, 2005

Power Train

WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. MY CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. TRANSMISSION FAILURE- MAZDA 626- 60,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109878

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2005

Power Train

MAZDA 626ES, 6 CYLINDER. TRANSMISSION SNAPS INTO AND OUT OF GEAR AT IRREGULAR RPM'S. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES. MILEAGE = 86268.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108165

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.