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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

What owners actually said

217 reports
170,000 miles · Oct 9, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MAZDA 626, YEAR 2000. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. FOLLOWING COMPUTER CODES LED TO $800 IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. CAR DRIVES WELL UNTIL O/D BEGINS TO FLASH, RPM FLUXES BETWEEN 1000 AND 5000 AND TRANNY SLIPS. ON PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF MOTOR THEN RESTARTING AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE TRANNY SLAMS INTO GEAR WITH A…

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MAZDA 626, YEAR 2000. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. FOLLOWING COMPUTER CODES LED TO $800 IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. CAR DRIVES WELL UNTIL O/D BEGINS TO FLASH, RPM FLUXES BETWEEN 1000 AND 5000 AND TRANNY SLIPS. ON PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF MOTOR THEN RESTARTING AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE TRANNY SLAMS INTO GEAR WITH A BANG. NEVER KNOW WHEN RPM IS GOING TO GO CRAZY AND THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. THIS CAUSES A MAD SCRAMBLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH IS SOMETIMES HARD AS YOU MAY BE IN THE PASSING LANE. COST ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $1800 + 400 600 FOR INSTALL FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM A DEALER OF TRANSMISSIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CAR. THIS MODEL/TRANSMISSION COMBINATION IS USED ON ABOUT THE 10 PRECEDING YEARS. TAKEN TOGETHER THEY PRESENT A GOOD CASE FOR A DEALER RECALL I WOULD THINK. EVEN THOUGH MAZDA ISSUED A TSB IT IS ONLY MEANT TO DELAY THE PROBLEM UNTIL ULTIMATE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286882

117,000 miles · Aug 17, 2009
Power Train

SHIFTING BRACKET CONTINUALLY FALLS OFF. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR ( DRIVE REVERSE ETC) UNTIL TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE ENGINE REVES ITSELF FROM 2000 TO 4000 WITHOUT PRESSING DOWN MORE ON GAS PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO FIRST UNTIL YOU REACH 50MPH OR RELEASE GAS REPEATEDLY WHIL…

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SHIFTING BRACKET CONTINUALLY FALLS OFF. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR ( DRIVE REVERSE ETC) UNTIL TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE ENGINE REVES ITSELF FROM 2000 TO 4000 WITHOUT PRESSING DOWN MORE ON GAS PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO FIRST UNTIL YOU REACH 50MPH OR RELEASE GAS REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS ON ANY ROAD. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OVER 55MPH. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD CARS ALMOST HIT ME IN THE REAR. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND THE COST IS OVER $2000. BOOK VALUE IS NOT MUCH MORE THE CAR HAS 117585 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280727

104,000 miles · Aug 6, 2009
Power Train

2000 MAZDA 626 2.5L AUTO. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF FLUID COOLING. DESIGN FLAW IS TO BLAME. TRANS FLUID IS IN CONTACT WITH COOLING AGENT(AIR, ANTIFREEZE) FOR A DISTANCE OF FOUR INCHES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279593

104,000 miles · Aug 6, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10279592

140,000 miles · Jul 28, 2009
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON OUR MAZDA 626 2000. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION BESIDES THE FACT THAT WE NEED A TRANSMISSION OVERHALL WHICH WILL RUN US 4,000 - 5,000. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH BY THE MECHANIC AND SUBSEQUENTLY BY MYSELF INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT OF MAZDA. WE ARE…

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THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON OUR MAZDA 626 2000. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION BESIDES THE FACT THAT WE NEED A TRANSMISSION OVERHALL WHICH WILL RUN US 4,000 - 5,000. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH BY THE MECHANIC AND SUBSEQUENTLY BY MYSELF INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT OF MAZDA. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY THIS DID NOT CAUSE INJURY TO MY HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF INITIAL OCCURRENCE OR THE MECHANIC WHO TEST-DROVE IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278560

100,000 miles · Jul 27, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION ALREADY WENT OUT IN MY 2000 MAZDA 626. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MAZDA 4CYL ENGINES FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. I THINK IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS LIFE IS THIS SHORT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278459

128,522 miles · Jun 27, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MY 2000 MAZDA 626. EVERYTHING I READ ABOUT THE ISSUE TELLS ME THAT THE FORD TRANSMISSION IN THE MAZDA WAS NOT MADE TO HANDLE A VEHICLE THAT SIZE. THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR JUMP. I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE SINCE THERE ARE ALSO CHANGES IN VELOCITY DUE TO THE SLI…

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TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MY 2000 MAZDA 626. EVERYTHING I READ ABOUT THE ISSUE TELLS ME THAT THE FORD TRANSMISSION IN THE MAZDA WAS NOT MADE TO HANDLE A VEHICLE THAT SIZE. THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR JUMP. I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE SINCE THERE ARE ALSO CHANGES IN VELOCITY DUE TO THE SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275117

90,000 miles · Jun 21, 2009
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower TrainCrashInjury

MY 2000 MAZDA 626 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING APRIL 10, 2008! THE CAR STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN 3 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, NO AC OR DEFROST COULD BE RUN. THEN THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD! ALL THESE PROBLEMS RESULTED IN ME ALMOST BEING KILLED FROM AN AUTOMOB…

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MY 2000 MAZDA 626 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING APRIL 10, 2008! THE CAR STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN 3 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, NO AC OR DEFROST COULD BE RUN. THEN THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD! ALL THESE PROBLEMS RESULTED IN ME ALMOST BEING KILLED FROM AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT! THIS HAPPENED JUNE 8, 2009 WHICH WAS A MONDAY APPROX. 4 PM. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. WINDSHIELD SHATTERED ALL OVER MY HAND RESULTING IN SEVERE LACERATIONS! THIS CAR NEEDS LOOKED AT ASAP!!!! PLEASE HELP *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274560

50,000 miles · Jun 4, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH HER TRANSMISSION. SHE HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $3,200. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, SHE NOTICED THAT T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH HER TRANSMISSION. SHE HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $3,200. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, SHE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT THE COST OF $3,500. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER YEARS AGO AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10272889

117,000 miles · May 14, 2009
Power Train

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO PUT MY 2000 MAZDA 626 INTO THE SHOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I WAS EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING WHILE PLACING THE CAR IN GEARAND ACCELERATING. THE FIRST REPAIR COST ME 800 DOLLARS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS 1200 AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T…

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO PUT MY 2000 MAZDA 626 INTO THE SHOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I WAS EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING WHILE PLACING THE CAR IN GEARAND ACCELERATING. THE FIRST REPAIR COST ME 800 DOLLARS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS 1200 AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T EQUIVALENT FOR THE WEIGHT AND SIZE OF MY CAR. I'M EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS ONCE AGAIN AND IT'S NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER I'M A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE AND I CAN'T AFFORD THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268704

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.