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

57,500 miles · Jan 26, 2005

Power Train

THE OD OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING, THEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, POPPED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A GARAGE, BUT NO LEAKS WERE FOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *JB *SC

NHTSA ODI #10105387

99,989 miles · Jan 25, 2005

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IS HORRIBLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10107858

73,200 miles · Jan 20, 2005

Power Train

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING OUR 1999 MAZDA 626 ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR, THE O/D DASH LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. AFTER PULLING OVER I DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD SPILLED OUT FROM VENT TUBING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OUT. WE GOT SEVERAL OTHER OPINIONS WHICH INCLUDED REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION AT $1800. WE WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM OUR DEALERSHIP ON THIS PROBLEM AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME AND WORSE SITUATIONS (VERY COSTLY TRANSMISSION REPAIRS ).*JB

NHTSA ODI #10107647

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2005

Power Train

MY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHUOUT WARNING. I HAVE HEARD THERE IS A CLASSACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED THAT IS ESTIMATED AT $2000. THIS CAR IS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106057

77,000 miles · Jan 7, 2005

Power Train

Read full complaint

WE HAVE 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH 77K MILE ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE COMES LOOSE WHERE CABLE ATTACHES TO TRANSMISSION. END OF CABLE HAS A RUBBER BUSHING THAT SLIDE ONTO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS DETERIATED AND WILL NOT SAY ATTACHED. TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN GEAR; ENGINE MUST BE SHUT OFF. ONCE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, IT CAN'T BE RESTARTED UNTIL SHIFT CABLE IS REATTACHED. CABLE COMES OFF WHEN SHIFTER IS MOVED REPEATING CYCLE. BUSHING CAN NOT BE REPLACED, ENTIRE CABLE MUST BE REPLACED. MADZA SERVICE DEPARTMENT QUOTES $655 PLUS TAXES TO MAKE REPAIRS. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. SURELY OTHER MAZDA 626 OWNERS ARE EXPERENCING THE SAME PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105926

85,620 miles · Dec 29, 2004

Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING..I ALMOST CRASHED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10104688

78,000 miles · Dec 12, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONTINUOUS 3 CYLINDER MISFIRE, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IN SEP 2003. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SPORADICALLY COMES ON AND DOES NOT THROW CODE. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE TRANSMISSION "HARD SHIFTS" AND I LOSE SIGNIFICANT GAS MILEAGE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10102773

117,000 miles · Dec 2, 2004

Power Train

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IF IT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO IDLE FOR AT LEAST 5 - 10 MINUTES, IT WOULD SLAM INTO DRIVE. IT WOULD ALSO DOWN SHIFT AT 60 ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN AT A STOP IT WOULD JERK/STUTTER AS YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR.*AK TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10100932

90,000 miles · Nov 30, 2004

Power Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON. CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION. LEAD TO REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION. CAR ONLY HAD 90000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100788

68,000 miles · Nov 19, 2004

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND FAILED ON THE MAZDA 626 V6 1999. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100212

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.