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2001 Mazda 626

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 626 years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Mazda 626 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

140 reports with mileage · 48 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 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports4 fire reports11 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

20 reports
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81,759 miles · Jan 20, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 MAZDA 626 THIS WEEK. I HAD A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNAL COOLANT IN 2003 WHICH ALSO COST ME MONEY. LAST WEEK I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. I DO NOT FEEL THE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING SHOULD OCCUR I…

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MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 MAZDA 626 THIS WEEK. I HAD A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNAL COOLANT IN 2003 WHICH ALSO COST ME MONEY. LAST WEEK I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. I DO NOT FEEL THE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING SHOULD OCCUR IN A 2001 AUTOMOBILE WHEN REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107601

72,800 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1. TURNED AIR CONDITIONER ON. NO COLD AIR COMING OUT, THEN SHORTLY NOTICED THE CAR HEAT GAUGE WAS SHOWING HOT, AND FUMES COMING FROM HOOD. 2. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND WAITED ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE CHECKING THE HOOD. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD COOLANT. OPENED THE COOLANT TANK, AND THERE WAS NO STEAM OR H…

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1. TURNED AIR CONDITIONER ON. NO COLD AIR COMING OUT, THEN SHORTLY NOTICED THE CAR HEAT GAUGE WAS SHOWING HOT, AND FUMES COMING FROM HOOD. 2. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND WAITED ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE CHECKING THE HOOD. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD COOLANT. OPENED THE COOLANT TANK, AND THERE WAS NO STEAM OR HOT FLUIDS FROM THE TANK. 3. TRIED RESTARTING AFTER COOLING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR STORE. HAD TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE SINCE THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093712

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE: MAZDA 626 2001. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS KICKED ON NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT A 35-40MPH. MECHANICS INDICATE THAT THE CODE REFERENCES THE ONE OF TWO PROBLEMS- OXYGEN SENSOR DEFECT OR CATALYST INEFFICIENCY. BUT, BECAUSE THE CODE IS NOT SPECIFIC AS TO WHICH PIECE IS DEFECTIVE THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE A…

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VEHICLE: MAZDA 626 2001. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS KICKED ON NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT A 35-40MPH. MECHANICS INDICATE THAT THE CODE REFERENCES THE ONE OF TWO PROBLEMS- OXYGEN SENSOR DEFECT OR CATALYST INEFFICIENCY. BUT, BECAUSE THE CODE IS NOT SPECIFIC AS TO WHICH PIECE IS DEFECTIVE THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IF THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS OFF DON'T WORRY OR BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IF THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND OF COURSE THE LIGHT TURNS ITSELF OFF. I RETURN TO THE SERVICE STATION WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER A TWO MONTH TIME SPAN. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO "SOLVE" THE PROBLEM BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE. THIS IS NOT A VALID ANSWER. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT ACTIVATE IF THERE IS "NO PROBLEM". PLEASE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. IF YOU ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM PLEASE FILE A COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088940

60,814 miles · Aug 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SPILLED COOLANT. IT HAD BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP 5 TIMES FOR OVERHEATING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087632

23,000 miles · Apr 9, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

IN AUGUST 2001, I PURCHASED A MAZDA 626. IN MAY 2003, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AT 23,000 MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR SUB-TANK. AT 31,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 11 DAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUE…

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IN AUGUST 2001, I PURCHASED A MAZDA 626. IN MAY 2003, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AT 23,000 MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR SUB-TANK. AT 31,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 11 DAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, THERMOSTAT GASKET, AND THE THROTTLE BODY GASKET. *AK MY CAR IS NEARING THE END OF ITS 3 YEAR/36,000 WARRANTY AND I AM FRIGHTENED ABOUT HOW MUCH FUTURE REPAIRS WILL COST, AS WELL AS THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10065857

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MAZDA 626 LX 2001 MODEL ON AUGUST 19, 2001 AT MAGNUSSEN'S FORD/NISSAN/MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN NEWARK CA. LITTLE DID I KNOW, I BOUGHT A LEMON!!!!! I RETURNED THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES AND TELLING THE SERVICE DEPT PEOPLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND OVERRUNNING IN GEAR. AT ONE POINT, I HAD A FRIEND…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MAZDA 626 LX 2001 MODEL ON AUGUST 19, 2001 AT MAGNUSSEN'S FORD/NISSAN/MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN NEWARK CA. LITTLE DID I KNOW, I BOUGHT A LEMON!!!!! I RETURNED THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES AND TELLING THE SERVICE DEPT PEOPLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND OVERRUNNING IN GEAR. AT ONE POINT, I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MEET WITH THE SERVICE DEPT PEOPLE. THIS WAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2001. RUDY DIEPHUS COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS GETTING A SONG AND DANCE FROM THE MAGNUSSEN SERVICE DEPT. RUDY BUILT AND DROVE RACE CARS FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS, AND KNEW I HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER BOB (WHO IS NO LONGER THERE) SAID THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE BROKEN IN, NOT ENOUGH MILES ON THE CAR. BOB ALSO SAID THAT ALL MAZDA 626'S DRIVE LIKE THIS (TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/OVERRUNNING IN GEAR). IN ADDITION, I WAS TOLD TO KEEP A JOURNAL OF EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED. THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM, WRITING AND DRIVING AT THE SAME TIME. AGAIN, RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO MAGNUSSEN'S AND MET WITH A DIFFERENT SVC MANAGER. HERE IT IS APRIL 2002, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION TECH WAS GOING TO RUN A SPECIAL TEST ON THE CAR (LINE PRESSURE CHECK AT IDLE AND STALL SPEEDS). SURE ENOUGH, I WAS RIGHT! THE TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIPS LOT, THE CAR WAS (AND IS) RUNNING WORSE THAN EVER. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IS WORSE THAN THE FIRST. I RETURN THE CAR AND THE CAR STAYS THERE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON APRIL 26, 2002, (RUNNING WORSE) AND DROVE TO VACAVILLE ABOUT 100 MILES ONE WAY FROM WHERE I WAS LIVING. I FELT SOMETHING FUNNY UNDER THE HOOD AND DROVE INTO VACAVILLE AND FOUND A MAZDA DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS AND THE CAR NEEDED NEW MOUNTS.

NHTSA ODI #10070874

26,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentUnknown Or Other

I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE 03/2001. I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM MARLIN MAZDA. THIS CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE SUNROOF AND CORNER ROOF BETWEEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER DOOR LEAKED WATER WHEN IT WOULD RAIN. JANUARY 2003 MY CAR RAN HOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT BLOWING.THEY SAID THEY…

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I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE 03/2001. I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM MARLIN MAZDA. THIS CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE SUNROOF AND CORNER ROOF BETWEEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER DOOR LEAKED WATER WHEN IT WOULD RAIN. JANUARY 2003 MY CAR RAN HOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT BLOWING.THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEAD ON MY ENGINE AND THAT SOME HOSE WAS NOT CONNECTED, THIS IS WHY MY AIR WASN'T BLOWING? MY CAR STALLED ON ME 08/27/03. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WASN'T EVEN HOT. TOWED TO MARLIN MAZDA.I PAID FOR NEW BATTERY. I ASKED THEM TO CHAECK UNDER HOOD TO BE SURE NO OTHER PROBLEMS, THEY TOLD ME AT LEAST $500 TO CHECK ENGINE THOROUGHLY? WEEK LATER STALL AGAIN. THIS TIME TOWED TO OCEAN MAZDA,KNOCKING NOISE UNDER HOOD, THEY SAID IT IS THE ENGINE AND OIL PUMP. THEY TRIED TO LOOK UP FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY'RE NOT REPAIRING IT BECAUSE MARLIN MAZDA VOIDED MY WARRANTY(MARLIN SAID SLUDGE IN ENGINE/ CODE W8.) THAT WAS A LIE! I HAVE BEEN GETTING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. OCEAN MAZDA CHECKED ENGINE NO SLUDGE BUT THEY CAN'T DO REPAIR WORK WITHOUT WARRANTY. THEY TRIED TO CALL DISTRICT MANAGER BECAUSE CODE W8 DOES NOT EXIST!!! ALSO, I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH THEY SEEM TO HAVE NO RECORD OF? I HAVE SPOKEN TO MAZDA AMERICAN CREDIT TO GET COPIES OF LOAN PAPERS THAT SHOWS PURCHASE OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. I GUESS THE NEXT STEP IS A LAW SUIT. AFTER ALL THESE HEADACHES I DON'T EVEN WANT THIS CAR ANYMORE. I AM ALREADY PAYING A HIGH CAR NOTE FOR EXTRA COVERAGE AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DESCENCY TO REPAIR MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10070769

24,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE IS MISFIRING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND TOLD ME I WAS PUTTING "BAD GAS" IN THE CAR; THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED A DISTRIBUTOR CAP, THE FOURTH THE IGNITION WIRES, THE FIFTH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR, AND NOW FOR …

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THE ENGINE IS MISFIRING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND TOLD ME I WAS PUTTING "BAD GAS" IN THE CAR; THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED A DISTRIBUTOR CAP, THE FOURTH THE IGNITION WIRES, THE FIFTH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR, AND NOW FOR THE SIXTH ATTEMPT THEY ARE REPLACING VALVE ONE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 31 DAYS (21 BUSINESS DAYS) AND AS OF YESTERDAY, EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE VALVE IN THE ENGINE, THE PROBLEM HAS STILL NOT BEEN CORRECTED. I'VE HAD A RENTAL CAR FOR THE 31 DAYS THEY'VE HAD MY CAR. I PURCHASED THE OPTIONAL INSURANCE BECAUSE MY INSURANCE AGENT ADVISED ME TO DO SO (WHAT THE RENTAL COMPANY EXPECTS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT AN INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD PAY...THEREFORE I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENCE). MAZDA REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE INSURANCE ON THE RENTAL CAR WHICH, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I BELIEVE IS UNREASONABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE MY LEMON LAW RIGHTS, HOWEVER MY CAR HAD OVER 18,000 MILES ON IT AT INCEPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS 18 MONTHS OLD. MY PURPOSE IN FILING THIS COMPLAINT IS TO WARN OTHER CONSUMERS AGAINST THE MAZDA 626 AS IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #10070286

41,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSeat Belts

I HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY MAZDA 626 AND IT'S A 2001. THE TIMES THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THE SHOP THAT WOULD TELL ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT OF COURSE I KNOW MY CAR BETTER I DO DRIVE IT MORE THAN THEY HAVE TOO. WHAT I DISCOVERED JUST TODAY IS OFF THE MAP FUNNY(LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT), WAS DEAL…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY MAZDA 626 AND IT'S A 2001. THE TIMES THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THE SHOP THAT WOULD TELL ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT OF COURSE I KNOW MY CAR BETTER I DO DRIVE IT MORE THAN THEY HAVE TOO. WHAT I DISCOVERED JUST TODAY IS OFF THE MAP FUNNY(LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT), WAS DEALING WITH MY ODOMETER READING. SO IF I CAN PLEASE ALLOW ME YOUR HELP BEFORE MY GIVE OUT ON ME. THANK YOU MRS. JACKSON

NHTSA ODI #10070126

38,115 miles · Sep 2, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WATER LEAKED INTO SUN ROOF. LAST WEEK THE CAR STALLED. TOWED IT TO MARLIN MAZDA. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $65 FOR A NEW BATTERY.CONSUMER CANCELLED WARRANTY, STATING SLUDGE IN ENGINE. THAT WAS A LIE. TOWED VEHICLE TO OCEAN MAZDA, THEY DID NOT FIND SLUDGE. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT…

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VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WATER LEAKED INTO SUN ROOF. LAST WEEK THE CAR STALLED. TOWED IT TO MARLIN MAZDA. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $65 FOR A NEW BATTERY.CONSUMER CANCELLED WARRANTY, STATING SLUDGE IN ENGINE. THAT WAS A LIE. TOWED VEHICLE TO OCEAN MAZDA, THEY DID NOT FIND SLUDGE. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE WARRANTY WA SCANCELLED BY MARLIN MAZDA (CODE W8). OCEAN MAZDA SAID THIS CODE DID NOT EXIST. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW 03/2001. MY FACTORY WARRANTY WAS FOR 3 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. CONSUMER ONLY HAD 38,000 MILES AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037099

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.