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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002
Power TrainSteering
IN EARLY 2001,MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SQUEAKING LOUDLY.THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING.THE VERY NEXT MONTH I WAS DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP,STOPPED TO GET GAS,AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING.THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHICH I HAD NOT.IN MAY,2002 I AGAIN MADE A LONG TRIP,STOPPED SUDDENL…
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IN EARLY 2001,MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED SQUEAKING LOUDLY.THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING.THE VERY NEXT MONTH I WAS DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP,STOPPED TO GET GAS,AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING.THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHICH I HAD NOT.IN MAY,2002 I AGAIN MADE A LONG TRIP,STOPPED SUDDENLY FOR A WRECK,WITH ANOTHER INCIDENT OF SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE.THE DEALER NOW SAYS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH I HAVE SEEN NOTED MULTIPLE TIMES AS A DEFECT ON THIS WEB SITE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762888
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
FRONT COLLISION AT 35 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8010762
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 5000 MILES. JUST OVER A YEAR OF OWNING IT I HAD TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE CAR. IN APRIL OF 2002 IT NEEDED A BRAKE JOB AGAIN. FOR A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD IT IS HAVING TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. NOW THE BRAKES THINK THEY ARE ON AT ALL TIMES AND THE CAR VIBRATES. I HAVE WENT TO THREE MEC…
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I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 5000 MILES. JUST OVER A YEAR OF OWNING IT I HAD TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE CAR. IN APRIL OF 2002 IT NEEDED A BRAKE JOB AGAIN. FOR A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD IT IS HAVING TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. NOW THE BRAKES THINK THEY ARE ON AT ALL TIMES AND THE CAR VIBRATES. I HAVE WENT TO THREE MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THEY SOLD ME A CAR THAT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO ME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762097
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE IS STALLING OUT WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO SHOP FOUR TIMES ALREADY IN ONE MONTH, BUT THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008754
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2002
Power Train
WITH THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED PROPERLY, TRANSMISSION WAS TOO YOUNG TO FAIL. NLM
NHTSA ODI #760819
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 75-80 MPH THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED TO SMOKE FROM ENGINE AREA AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8007632
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2002
Power Train
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #759718
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2002
Power Train
WHEN DRIVING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS, AND VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN IN OVERDRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8006238
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE WEAR OUT EVERY 10,000 MILES OR SO. THERE IS CURRENTLY 47,000 ON THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKES 7 TIMES!!! I NOTIFIED MAZDA USA, AND NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR" AND …
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THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE WEAR OUT EVERY 10,000 MILES OR SO. THERE IS CURRENTLY 47,000 ON THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKES 7 TIMES!!! I NOTIFIED MAZDA USA, AND NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR" AND THAT I MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS, WHICH., BY THE WAY, ARE NOT BAD
NHTSA ODI #759535
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2002
Power Train
THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING JUST BEFORE I BEGIN TO SEE THE CAR SMOKING, I LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND THERE IS TRANSMISSION FLUILD ON THE MOTOR AND THEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR...THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK INTO THE GEAR.*AK
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.
1999 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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