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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
111,000 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Power Train

1999 MAZDA 626 , 2.0 L AT STOPPED ON HIGHWAY. GOT IT TOWED WITH THE HELP OF AUTO CLUB.DIAGNOSIS SAYS THE CAR NEED TRANSMISSION WORK. NOW NEED TO SPEND NEARLY $3500.00 TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THIS IS MORE THAN THE CAR'S VALUE. I COULD FIND FROM THE NET THAT THIS MODEL HAS EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. STILL THERE IS NO ACTION …

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1999 MAZDA 626 , 2.0 L AT STOPPED ON HIGHWAY. GOT IT TOWED WITH THE HELP OF AUTO CLUB.DIAGNOSIS SAYS THE CAR NEED TRANSMISSION WORK. NOW NEED TO SPEND NEARLY $3500.00 TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THIS IS MORE THAN THE CAR'S VALUE. I COULD FIND FROM THE NET THAT THIS MODEL HAS EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. STILL THERE IS NO ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S SIDE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249051

133,000 miles · Oct 24, 2008
Power Train

1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246642

114,200 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION ON 1999 MAZDA 626 2.0 AUTOMATIC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-BUILT. THE ODOMETER READING WAS 114,200 MILES. RE-BUILD OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2007. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242329

102,000 miles · Sep 9, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

1. & 2.TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BROKE, MAKING VEHICLE INOPERABLE & DAMAGING TIMING BELT. 3. WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF SPRING AND BELT AS WELL AS RELATED LABOR. OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. NOTE: MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THIS PART ON SOME VEHICLES (CAMPAIGN 00V134000) , ONE GROUP OF VIN # WERE PROVIDED…

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1. & 2.TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BROKE, MAKING VEHICLE INOPERABLE & DAMAGING TIMING BELT. 3. WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF SPRING AND BELT AS WELL AS RELATED LABOR. OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. NOTE: MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THIS PART ON SOME VEHICLES (CAMPAIGN 00V134000) , ONE GROUP OF VIN # WERE PROVIDED NHTSB AND THEN A CORRECTION WAS PROVIDED, BUT IT STOPPED SHORT OF THE # ON MY VEHICLE. SINCE THE VERY PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE, I BELIEVE MAZDA UNDERSTATED ITS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241455

125,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Power Train

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MY 1999 MAZDA 626 4 CYL. VEHICLE WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I10 IN PHOENIX WHEN SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0 AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AAMCO REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO EITHER BE REBUILT OR I NEEDED TO BUY A BRAND NEW ONE... THIS…

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TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MY 1999 MAZDA 626 4 CYL. VEHICLE WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I10 IN PHOENIX WHEN SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0 AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AAMCO REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO EITHER BE REBUILT OR I NEEDED TO BUY A BRAND NEW ONE... THIS COST ME 4000 DOLLARS TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240965

99,000 miles · Aug 29, 2008
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 MAZDA 626 HAD FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPETITIVE AND REQUIRES CONTINUOUS EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR IS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES. I WANT THE MANUFACTURES TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIO…

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THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 MAZDA 626 HAD FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPETITIVE AND REQUIRES CONTINUOUS EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR IS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES. I WANT THE MANUFACTURES TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS OF PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MY PAST REPAIR BILLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240223

145,000 miles · Jan 2, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DOWNHILL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. AS A RESULT, THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT LEG WHILE SEATED IN …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DOWNHILL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. AS A RESULT, THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT LEG WHILE SEATED IN A CHILD SEAT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #00V074000) HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AS OF JANUARY 2, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

NHTSA ODI #10213388

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2007
Power Train

MY MAZDA TRANSMISSION KEEPS ON HAVING PROBLEMS. I AVOID DRIVING ON FREE WAYS AS I NEVER FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHOSE TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL ANY TIME. I FIXED IT 1.5 YRS BEFORE. COST ALMOST HALF OF THE CAR'S WORTH. IT FAILED AGAIN NOW. THE ESTIMATE IS AGAIN HUGE TO FIX IT. IT IS FAILING EVEN AFTER REBUILDING NEW TRANSMISSION …

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MY MAZDA TRANSMISSION KEEPS ON HAVING PROBLEMS. I AVOID DRIVING ON FREE WAYS AS I NEVER FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHOSE TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL ANY TIME. I FIXED IT 1.5 YRS BEFORE. COST ALMOST HALF OF THE CAR'S WORTH. IT FAILED AGAIN NOW. THE ESTIMATE IS AGAIN HUGE TO FIX IT. IT IS FAILING EVEN AFTER REBUILDING NEW TRANSMISSION AND CHANGING THE FAULTY PARTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME THING WRONG IN DESIGN ITSELF AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT FIXING IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR MAKE IT SAFE FOR DRIVING. I AM AVOIDING DRIVING IT FOR SAFETY REASONS. I CONTACTED MAZDA EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED THAT "RECALLS ARE MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT BY INDIVIDUAL CAR MANUFACTURERS". I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN A HOPE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE PROBED AND MY VEHICLE BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211459

93,819 miles · Nov 17, 2007
Power Train

IN LATE JANUARY OF 2007 I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR HER TO USE IN THE YEARS SHE WOULD BE IN COLLEGE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES ON IT. SHE HAS DRIVEN THE CAR TO COLLEGE AND BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2007 SHE WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. SUDDENLY TH…

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IN LATE JANUARY OF 2007 I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR HER TO USE IN THE YEARS SHE WOULD BE IN COLLEGE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES ON IT. SHE HAS DRIVEN THE CAR TO COLLEGE AND BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2007 SHE WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER OR GO IN REVERSE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OUR MECHANIC. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP COMPLETELY OVERHAULED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACING FACTORY PARTS THAT THE OWNER SAID WERE DEFICIENT WITH BETTER PARTS. THE PARTS THAT THE SHOP USED WERE AN: OVERHAUL KIT VALVE BODY REPAIR KIT SOLENOID PACK TORQUE CONVERTER REVERSE DRUM FORWARD PISTON I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLES TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY A PROBLEM ON THE MAZDA 626 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209226

14,500 miles · Nov 2, 2007
Power Train

1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAS BEEN REBUILT TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY IN IT,TOO QUIT NOW. SOME ONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207723

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.