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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

139 reports
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30,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Power Train

2001 MAZDA 626 - 6CLYINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND BROUGHT IT IN REGULAR ACCORDING TO RECOMMENDED MAINTANENCE SCHEDULE. AFTER 30,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. HAD TO BE REPLACE WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10066569

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

97,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Power Train

HELLO, I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY MADZA 626. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE TALKED TO 3 OTHERS AND THEY ALL TELL ME THE SAME THING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE MADZA 626. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2001 AND IT HAS ALMOST 99,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN …

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HELLO, I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY MADZA 626. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE TALKED TO 3 OTHERS AND THEY ALL TELL ME THE SAME THING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE MADZA 626. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2001 AND IT HAS ALMOST 99,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL COST ME $2500-3000 TO FIX IT. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL BE CHEAPER FOR ME IN THE LONG RUN TO TRADE IT IN AND GET A NEW CAR. I AM FORCED TO GET A NEW CAR BECAUSE MY 2001 MADZA 626 DOES NOT RUN. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10064318

60,000 miles · Mar 27, 2004
Power Train

MAZDA 626LX TRANSMISSION WENT THREE TIMES AND THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLDMOBILE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064020

45,800 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Power Train

626 MAZDA LX 2001, 46,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS REQUIRING FULL EXCHANGE (REBUILT) TRANSMISSION. ORIGINALLY QUOTED AT $2,400. HOWEVER AFTER EXTENSIVE COMPLAINT MAZDA REPRESENTATIVE ASSISTED W/CHARGING FOR LABOR $700.00 ONLY. MAZDA IS BEING UNFAIR WITH THIS SITUATION...NO CAR SHOULD BE HAVING THIS KIN…

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626 MAZDA LX 2001, 46,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS REQUIRING FULL EXCHANGE (REBUILT) TRANSMISSION. ORIGINALLY QUOTED AT $2,400. HOWEVER AFTER EXTENSIVE COMPLAINT MAZDA REPRESENTATIVE ASSISTED W/CHARGING FOR LABOR $700.00 ONLY. MAZDA IS BEING UNFAIR WITH THIS SITUATION...NO CAR SHOULD BE HAVING THIS KIND OF FAILURE AT 46,000 MILES. LOOKING TO HAVE ENTIRE JOB WARRANTED ...WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED BY 3 DAYS WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057018

76,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Power Train

O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH WHEN VEHICLE'S TOTAL MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 76,000 MILES. INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD OVERHEATED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THUS DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER EXPENSES OF REPAIRS. *LA *MR

NHTSA ODI #10057882

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

5,512 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power Train

VEHICLE BOUGHT NEW. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - OVERREVING, SHIFT HUNTING, HARD TO ENGAGE, SLIPPING, NOISE, VIBRATION, ENGINE HESITANCY. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 5512 MILES WITH REBUILT UNIT; REBUILT UNIT IS WORSE THAN ORIGINAL.

NHTSA ODI #10069271

35,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Power Train

2001 MAZDA 626 ESV6 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SLIPS AND JERKS. THE TRANS HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE EARLY 30K RANGE. IT IS NOW IN THE 63K RANGE AND STARTING AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. WE ARE BEING TOLD IT WILL COST US 2800 FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #10053107

55,000 miles · Dec 25, 2003
Power Train

RETAINING CLIP FROM TRANSMISSION GEARSHIFT LEVER (ON TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY) WAS FOUND MISSING AND SHIFT CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM LEVER CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE STUCK IN REVERSE (THE GEAR VEHICLE WAS IN WHEN COMPONENT FAILED). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS SHIFTER INDICATOR SHOWED VEHICLE IN DRIVE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10051082

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.