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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
81,000 miles · Dec 6, 2007
Power TrainInjury

MY 2000 MAZDA 626 4-CYL TRANSMISSION FAIL TO SHIFT ANY GEAR. AND LEFT ME 2 HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210996

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2007
Power Train

(1) HESITATION IN SHIFTING. (2) TRANSMISSION FAILURE (3) REBUILD WITH AAMCO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209311

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2007
Power Train

WE HAVE A 2000 MAZDA 626 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LAST YEAR, WE PAID OVER 4000 TO HAVE ANOTHER TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND THIS ONE WENT OUT THIS YEAR. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, WE WENT TO OUR MAZDA DEALER HERE IN CHAMPAIGN AND THEY KEPT TELLING US IT WAS A SEAL, UNTIL FINALLY THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE T…

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WE HAVE A 2000 MAZDA 626 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT LAST YEAR, WE PAID OVER 4000 TO HAVE ANOTHER TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND THIS ONE WENT OUT THIS YEAR. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, WE WENT TO OUR MAZDA DEALER HERE IN CHAMPAIGN AND THEY KEPT TELLING US IT WAS A SEAL, UNTIL FINALLY THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS QUITE DISTURBING TO FIND SO MAY COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE MAZDA TRANSMISSION AND TO REALIZE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A FORD ENGINE, WE DID NOT KNOW THIS, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT A FORD ANYTHING! I UNDERSTAND THAT MAZDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR AWHILE AND DID NOTHING TO TRY TO HELP THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209023

40,000 miles · Nov 1, 2007
EquipmentPower Train

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004 WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEB OF 2005 WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION BY THE DEALER. RECENTLY THE CAR HAD THE O/D LIGHT FLASH AND IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. WITH 85,000…

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I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004 WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEB OF 2005 WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION BY THE DEALER. RECENTLY THE CAR HAD THE O/D LIGHT FLASH AND IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. WITH 85,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION NOW NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AGAIN AFTER LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207694

79,483 miles · Oct 28, 2007
Power Train

2000 YEAR MAZDA 626, TRANSMISSION FAILURE 79,483 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207109

127,000 miles · Sep 5, 2007
Power Train

MAZDA 626 ES 2000. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REPLACED TRANSMISSION FROM EAGLE TRANSMISSION, O/D LIGHT FLASHING AFTER TRIP TO DALLAS, FAILED TRANSMISSION AGAIN. 2 MONTHS AFTER REBUILDING TRANSMISSION. NOW I SEE TSB ON THIS PROBLEM. MAZDA KNOWS THAT THIS TRANSMISSION IS TOO SMALL AND OVERHEATS. WHAT WILL THEY DO? *TR UPDATED 04/21…

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MAZDA 626 ES 2000. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REPLACED TRANSMISSION FROM EAGLE TRANSMISSION, O/D LIGHT FLASHING AFTER TRIP TO DALLAS, FAILED TRANSMISSION AGAIN. 2 MONTHS AFTER REBUILDING TRANSMISSION. NOW I SEE TSB ON THIS PROBLEM. MAZDA KNOWS THAT THIS TRANSMISSION IS TOO SMALL AND OVERHEATS. WHAT WILL THEY DO? *TR UPDATED 04/21/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10201997

111,000 miles · Aug 24, 2007
Power Train

2000 MAZDA 626 LX 4-CYL MAZDA IS EXPERIENCING JERKING OR GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM. TOOK CAR IN TO TWO DIFFERENT MAZDA SHOPS-ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS-WITHIN A 60 DAY SPAN- AND THE PROBLEM STILL WAS NOT CORRECTED OR DIAGNOSED. SPENT MORE THAN $1100 IN REPAIRS. LATER RESEARCHED ON MY OWN AND FOUND OUT THAT FORD TRANSMISSION MODEL …

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2000 MAZDA 626 LX 4-CYL MAZDA IS EXPERIENCING JERKING OR GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM. TOOK CAR IN TO TWO DIFFERENT MAZDA SHOPS-ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS-WITHIN A 60 DAY SPAN- AND THE PROBLEM STILL WAS NOT CORRECTED OR DIAGNOSED. SPENT MORE THAN $1100 IN REPAIRS. LATER RESEARCHED ON MY OWN AND FOUND OUT THAT FORD TRANSMISSION MODEL CD4E USED IN MY MODEL CAR WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. AFTER DISCUSSING WITH MAZDA, I WAS TOLD TO JUST DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THEN HAVE IT REPLACED FOR $3000. I ASKED ABOUT HAVING A TRANSMISSION FAN INSTALLED AND WAS DISCOURAGED. MAZDA SERVICE BULLETIN 005-02 INSTRUCTS TECH'S TO INSTALL A TRANSMISSION FAN IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT MATCHES THE BULLETINS DESCRIPTION. I STILL WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATTER. HOW CAN MAZDA GET AWAY WITH NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS? OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN THOUSANDS OF MESSAGES ON THE MESSAGE BOARD ALL DISCUSS THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNETHICAL AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200644

98,000 miles · Aug 19, 2007
Power Train

THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL, AFTER READING THE FORUMS, THIS IS CLEARLY AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION. IF I WOULD HAVE READ THE FORUMS BEFORE THE FAILURE I WOULD HAVE TRADED IN THE CAR WHILE IT HAD SOME VALUE. HOPEFULLY YOU ARE READING THIS BEFORE YOUR 626 TRANNY FAILS. THE ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR …

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THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL, AFTER READING THE FORUMS, THIS IS CLEARLY AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION. IF I WOULD HAVE READ THE FORUMS BEFORE THE FAILURE I WOULD HAVE TRADED IN THE CAR WHILE IT HAD SOME VALUE. HOPEFULLY YOU ARE READING THIS BEFORE YOUR 626 TRANNY FAILS. THE ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR WERE $3500 AND THERE WAS $1800 LEFT ON THE NOTE. WE ONLY GOT $500 FOR THE TRADE. THE REPAIR DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE TRANNY PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10200080

49,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SWAY BAR WILL FAIL, THE ROTORS WERE BENT, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SWAY BAR WILL FAIL, THE ROTORS WERE BENT, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED REPAIR INVOICES, INSURANCE ESTIMATE, AND PROOF OF OWNERSHIP. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10198823

62,500 miles · Aug 7, 2007
Power Train

THE MAZDA 626 LX CD4E TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL, BECAUSE THEIR POOR DESIGN, NO MATTER HOW YOU DO. THIS TRANSMISSION IS ON MAZDA 626 ON YEAR 1994-2002. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10198802

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.