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2000 Mazda 626

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 626 years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Mazda 626 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

147 reports with mileage · 70 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 160 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports
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128,000 miles · Feb 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MAZDA 1996 626 AND A MAZDA 2000 626. BOTH 4 CYL AND BOTH AUTOMATICS, AND BOTH HAVING TO HAVE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. LEAVES YOU STRANDED ON THE ROAD, AND CAUSES BAD SHIFTS IN SPEED BEFORE YOU STOP GOING FORWARD COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312532

140,000 miles · Sep 25, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

I PURCHASED A 2000 MAZDA 626 USED IN 2001. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE CINCINNATI JAKE SWEENY MAZDA SHOP TO ADDRESS THE SHAKING AND NOISES THAT I WAS HEARING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS OKAY THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FINE AND THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM A BOTTLE OF ASPIRIN IN THE GLOVE BO…

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I PURCHASED A 2000 MAZDA 626 USED IN 2001. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE CINCINNATI JAKE SWEENY MAZDA SHOP TO ADDRESS THE SHAKING AND NOISES THAT I WAS HEARING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS OKAY THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FINE AND THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM A BOTTLE OF ASPIRIN IN THE GLOVE BOX. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND OTHER SHOPS CONTINUED TO INFORM ME THAT MY MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BAD. I WAS AGAIN INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 140,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS, SWAY LINK BAR AND STRUTS ARE ALL SHOT TO HECK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BEING THAT THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH NOW HAS ESCALATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243476

100 miles · Feb 22, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A GAS SMELL ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHILE. IN ADDITION, SHE ONLY NOTICED THE FUMES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A GAS SMELL ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHILE. IN ADDITION, SHE ONLY NOTICED THE FUMES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #10218900

60,000 miles · Feb 2, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING ON MY 2000 MAZDA 626 AND ALSO A FEW MONTH LATER THE MOTOR WENT OUT TOO, I HAD TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181418

50,000 miles · Jul 25, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

I OWN A 2000 MAZDA 626 WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS CAR AND SPENT OVER $3000 PARTS AND LABOR. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SEVERAL SENSORS, MASTER BREAK CYLINDER, CV BOOTS, AND RACK AND PINION. NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AC. THE MECHANIC SAYS I NEED TO…

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I OWN A 2000 MAZDA 626 WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS CAR AND SPENT OVER $3000 PARTS AND LABOR. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SEVERAL SENSORS, MASTER BREAK CYLINDER, CV BOOTS, AND RACK AND PINION. NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AC. THE MECHANIC SAYS I NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANS AND REPLACE THE AC COMPRESSOR. THIS IS ANOTHER $3000 OR MORE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS SITUATION. I PLEAD WITH YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL WEB FORUMS AND FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS. PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE MAZDA ACCOUNTABLE FOR BUILDING SUCH BAD CARS. FYI, I AM VERY, VERY DILIGENT IN GENERAL MAINTENANCE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. CHRIS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163371

73,700 miles · Jul 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2000 MAZDA 626 LS OVERHEATED ON JUNE 16, 2006. THE O/D OFF LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING WHEN ON THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR SINCE THE FALL OF 2005. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT YET FAILED BUT HAS BEGUN TO. THE CAR STRAINS WHENEVER I DRIVE IT & ITS LACK OF STABILITY HAS LED TO CLOSE CALLS WITH ACCIDENTS WHENEVER THERE'S RAIN OR SNOW…

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MY 2000 MAZDA 626 LS OVERHEATED ON JUNE 16, 2006. THE O/D OFF LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING WHEN ON THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR SINCE THE FALL OF 2005. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT YET FAILED BUT HAS BEGUN TO. THE CAR STRAINS WHENEVER I DRIVE IT & ITS LACK OF STABILITY HAS LED TO CLOSE CALLS WITH ACCIDENTS WHENEVER THERE'S RAIN OR SNOW. EVERY TIME I AM ON THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES, THE ENGINE HEATS UP TO THE POINT THAT IT BOILS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH OVERFLOWS ONTO THE REST OF THE ENGINE. AFTER APPROX. 15 MORE MINUTES, THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH & MY CAR STARTS TO RESIST SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. THE RPMS INCREASE WHEN THE LIGHT FLASHES & THERE'S A DANGEROUS DELAY IN MY ABILITY TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AS THE CAR LURCHES. ON JUNE 19, 2006, I TOOK THE MAZDA TO AN IMPORTS SPECIALIST WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WILL SOON FAIL. A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTS APPROX. $2800 & A USED ONE COSTS APPROX. $1800. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT FIT MY CAR ARE THE SAME TYPE OF TRANSMISSION THAT WAS INITIALLY PUT IN MY ENGINE & WILL FAIL AFTER ANOTHER 70,000 MILES DUE TO ITS BEING TOO SMALL FOR THE 626. PUTTING AN "EXTERNAL COOLING SYSTEM" UNDER THE HOOD IS APPROXIMATELY $300 & IS A TEMPORARY BANDAID FOR THE ISSUE WHICH WILL STILL OCCUR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH & FOUND THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE STATED THAT ALL AUTOMATIC MAZDA 626 LS VEHICLES FROM 1994-2000 HAVE ENGINES THAT WERE MADE FOR A SMALLER CAR & ARE THEREFORE TOO SMALL FOR THE 626 LS. ACCORDING TO SAID RESEARCH ALL 1994-2000 626 LS VEHICLES HAVE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WILL FAIL BETWEEN APPROX. 70-80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 74,400 MILES AT THE DATE OF THIS COMPLAINT. MAZDA REFUSES TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS SITUATION, YET IT HAS BECOME COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG CAR DEALERSHIPS, SO THE VALUE OF MY CAR HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY & IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SELL. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE IS PUT INTO THE CAR WHICH WILL COST

NHTSA ODI #10162877

97,500 miles · Feb 11, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN AUTOMATIC GEAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE, GEAR HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR ACTUALLY BEGINS TO MOVE.. AT 98000 I HAD TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT SELMA MAZDA IN SELMA, CA.. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110376

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

SUDDENLY THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WENT HIGH EASILY WHEN DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON WITH DTC(DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES) P0125 ERROR(TEMP. INSUFFICIENR FOR CLOSED LOOP FULE CONTROL, THE COOLANT). THE DEALERS CHECKED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE COOLANT OVERFLOW BOTTLE WAS LEAKING. HAD TO REPLACE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10063904

36,000 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HAD BEEN SERVICED INITIALLY TEN DAYS AFTER DATE OF PURCHASE. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH KNOCKING AND JOLTING WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR. MAJOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DURING ONE INCIDENT VEHICLE REFUSED TO START, AND LEAKED ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID ON FLATBED TRUCK. FINAL INCIDEN…

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ENGINE HAD BEEN SERVICED INITIALLY TEN DAYS AFTER DATE OF PURCHASE. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH KNOCKING AND JOLTING WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR. MAJOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DURING ONE INCIDENT VEHICLE REFUSED TO START, AND LEAKED ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID ON FLATBED TRUCK. FINAL INCIDENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP. LIGHT WAS RESET BY DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAS NOW SEIZED AT 36,000 KM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032744

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016012

Official recalls

1

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.