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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2003
Power Train

I OWN A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE TRANSMISSION IS DYING AND NEEDS A NEW ONE. MY CAR HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT, AND REPAIR RANGE ABOVE 1,000 DOLLARS. CHECKING AROUND I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION. PLEASE TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO CORRECT THIS DEFICIENCY. IS MY CAR STILL COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY? *…

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I OWN A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE TRANSMISSION IS DYING AND NEEDS A NEW ONE. MY CAR HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT, AND REPAIR RANGE ABOVE 1,000 DOLLARS. CHECKING AROUND I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION. PLEASE TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO CORRECT THIS DEFICIENCY. IS MY CAR STILL COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10038968

37,600 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Power Train

1999 MAZDA 626, WITH 39022 MILES IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OD/ LIGHT CAME ON TRANSMISSION FLUID SPEWING ALL OVER ENGINE. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, STALLS AND SPUTTERS. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10038809

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2003
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY MAZDA 626 IN APRIL 2003 AND ONE MONTH LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND I HAD TO HAVE REBUILT. THAT MAD ME MAD, BUT WHAT MADE ME REALLY MAD WAS THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY EXTENDED WARRENTY I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRENTY WOULD COMPLETELY COVER REPAIRS TO KEEP MY CAR RUNNING. EVEN WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN MY TRANSMIS…

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I BOUGHT MY MAZDA 626 IN APRIL 2003 AND ONE MONTH LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND I HAD TO HAVE REBUILT. THAT MAD ME MAD, BUT WHAT MADE ME REALLY MAD WAS THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY EXTENDED WARRENTY I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRENTY WOULD COMPLETELY COVER REPAIRS TO KEEP MY CAR RUNNING. EVEN WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT EVERYBODY THERE WAS TELLING ME DON'T WORRY THE WARRENTY WOULD COVER IT. WELL HOW COME WHEN I WENT TO KENNEDY TRANSMISSION (THAT'S WHERE THE WARRANTY COMPANY SENT ME TO GET THE WORK DONE) I WAS TOLD THE TOTAL BILL WAS $ 2,600.00 AND THAT I HAD TO PAY ALMOST A $ 1,000.00 OUT OF MY POCKET ! THAT'S RIGHT AFTER I JUST GOT DONE PAYING $ 2,000.00 DOWN ON THE CAR, AND I HAD JUST MADE MY FIRST CAR PAYMENT WHICH WAS ANOTHER $ 380.00. KENNEDY TRANSMISSION TOOK ALMOST THREE WEEKS TO FIX MY TRANN, THEN THE DAY AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK MY CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE KENNEDY DID SOMETHING TO MY CAR AND THEY HAD TO TAKE IT FOR ANOTHER DAY. NOW IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS AND MY TRANNY HAS A LEAK IN IT ! THIS IS CRAZY AND I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH STORIES JUST LIKE MINE ABOUT THERE 626. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE MAZDA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL CARS WITH SUCH HORRIBLE TRANSMISSIONS, AND IF A DEALERSHIP LIKE MINE KNOWS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR (NAD I'M SURE THEY KNEW) SHOULD NOT SELL THE CAR OR AT LEAST TAKE THE CAR BACK. I WILL NEVER BUY A MAZDA AGAIN . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037545

42,750 miles · Sep 5, 2003
Visibility

-1999 MAZDA 626 ES- THE BLACK RUBBER WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO PEEL OFF. AS I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE RUBBER TRIM WOULD FLAP AROUND VIOLENTLY AND EVENTUALLY I HAD TO PULL OFF AND BUY/APPLY SOME TAPE TO STOP IT FROM FLYING OFF COMPLETELY. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF MY M…

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-1999 MAZDA 626 ES- THE BLACK RUBBER WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO PEEL OFF. AS I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE RUBBER TRIM WOULD FLAP AROUND VIOLENTLY AND EVENTUALLY I HAD TO PULL OFF AND BUY/APPLY SOME TAPE TO STOP IT FROM FLYING OFF COMPLETELY. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF MY MOTHER OR GRANDMOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE STRIPPING CREATES A REAL DIVERSION TO DRIVING AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE WINDSHIELD WOULD EVENTUALLY COME LOOSE. THE TAPE PULLED UP MY PAINT JOB AROUND THE WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037267

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2003
Unknown Or Other

AIR CONDITION DUCTS BLEW OUT LITTLE PARTICLES OF WHAT LOOK LIKE PLASTIC FOAM. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON LITTLE BLACK PARTICLES CAME OUT OF THE VENTS AND FLEW INTO THE DRIVERS EYES. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PAR…

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AIR CONDITION DUCTS BLEW OUT LITTLE PARTICLES OF WHAT LOOK LIKE PLASTIC FOAM. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON LITTLE BLACK PARTICLES CAME OUT OF THE VENTS AND FLEW INTO THE DRIVERS EYES. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PARTICLES WERE INSULATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR. *NLM THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE INSULATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10038585

60,800 miles · Aug 26, 2003
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY MAZDA 626 HAS FAILED. THE CLUTCHES ARE NON OPERATIONAL AND SADLY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. EVEN IN THE 30,000 AND 60,000 MILE CHECK UP THEY DO NOT CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OR SUGGEST THAT IT BE DONE.…

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THE TRANSMISSION ON MY MAZDA 626 HAS FAILED. THE CLUTCHES ARE NON OPERATIONAL AND SADLY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. EVEN IN THE 30,000 AND 60,000 MILE CHECK UP THEY DO NOT CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OR SUGGEST THAT IT BE DONE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10036643

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2003
Power Train

I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HERTZ RENTAL FOR MY DAUGHTER IN MARCH 2000 AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME RECALLS ON THIS CAR WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION.*AK SECONDLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY DAUGHTER HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANS…

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I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HERTZ RENTAL FOR MY DAUGHTER IN MARCH 2000 AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME RECALLS ON THIS CAR WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION.*AK SECONDLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY DAUGHTER HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (I THINK). FOR INSTANCE, WE TOOK THE CAR TO SAN FRANCISCO AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO GO UP A SMALL HILL AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. ALSO, ON SEVERAL INSTANCES, MY DAUGHTER WOULD STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE (FROM AN INTERSECTION OR STOP) BUT THE ENGINE WOULD JUST REV UP AND THE CAR WON'T GO (SHE HAS TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, WAIT UNTIL THE ENGINE GETS TO A LOWER RPM AND THEN SLOWWWWLY STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MAKE THE CAR GO). I CHECK THE INTERNET TODAY AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEEE SO MANY MAZDA 626 OWNERS WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITHOUT A RECALL FROM MAZDA. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET MAZDA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR HAVE THE NHTSA FORCE MAZDA TO FIX THESE DEFECTS? I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT THE NHTSA AND MAZDA IS AWARE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR MAZDA'S IRRESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10033384

71,500 miles · Aug 10, 2003
Power Train

MY 1999 MAZDA 626 HAS 72000 MILES ON IT AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP TO BE PREPARED. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMER OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THIS NEE…

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MY 1999 MAZDA 626 HAS 72000 MILES ON IT AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP TO BE PREPARED. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMER OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I PUT FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU THAT THIS WILL BE LOOKED INTO TO AND THAT A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE. THANKS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10031198

50,000 miles · Aug 8, 2003
Seats

METAL 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.

NHTSA ODI #10031069

68,389 miles · Jul 15, 2003
Power Train

NAR 07-15-2003 THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE A LITTLE AFTER 60,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10029502

Official recalls

2

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.