← New search

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 626 years →

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
Clear category filter
53,013 miles · Jun 6, 2007
Power Train

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYL HAD LOW POWER FROM THE BEGINNING. WHEN IT REACHED ABOUT 52000 MILES I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHIFTING SLOWLY. AT ABOUT 53000 THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND WITHIN A WEEK OR SO THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START MOVING AFTER A STOP. I CALLED HAROLD MAZDA AND THEY TOLD M…

Read full complaint

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYL HAD LOW POWER FROM THE BEGINNING. WHEN IT REACHED ABOUT 52000 MILES I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHIFTING SLOWLY. AT ABOUT 53000 THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND WITHIN A WEEK OR SO THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START MOVING AFTER A STOP. I CALLED HAROLD MAZDA AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH THEY PUT IN FOR A MERE $3800 AS IT WAS 3013 MILES OVER THE 50000 MI WARANTEE PERIOD.. AT THE TIME I ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS A REASON IT FAILED AND THEY TOLD ME NO THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE MAZDA 626. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO REDUCE THE LIKELYHOOD OF IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN - THEY DID NOT MENTION THE COOLING UNIT I HAVE READ ABOUT. NOW MY MAZDA 626 IS AGAIN SHIFTING SLOWLY AND I AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS ONLY 67000 MILES ON IT NOW BUT THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF IT'S 1 YR WARANTEE PERIOD. MAZDA SHOULD BE MADE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND OFFEER COMPENSATION TO IT'S VICTIMS.

NHTSA ODI #10192610

90,426 miles · May 30, 2007
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 626 LX 2.0 I4. THESE PARTICULAR FORD TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILING. IT IS VERIFIED TO BE A POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192011

78,900 miles · May 6, 2007
Power Train

2001 MAZDA 626 ES V6 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189906

115,000 miles · Dec 26, 2006
Power Train

AS WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER 626'S, OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE INTERSTATE....WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10177015

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2006
Power Train

2001 MAZDA 626 LX WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT BEGAN HAVING ITS O/D OFF LIGHT FLASH ON MY DASHBOARD. THEN MY SHIFTING IN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BEFORE THIS AND THE ONLY REASON MUST BE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I AM A STUDENT AND AM HAVING TO WORK OVERTIME TO…

Read full complaint

2001 MAZDA 626 LX WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT BEGAN HAVING ITS O/D OFF LIGHT FLASH ON MY DASHBOARD. THEN MY SHIFTING IN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BEFORE THIS AND THE ONLY REASON MUST BE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I AM A STUDENT AND AM HAVING TO WORK OVERTIME TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH MAY ALSO FAIL DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175316

104,000 miles · Oct 6, 2006
EquipmentPower Train

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 HAS HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED AND NOW INSTALLING THE THIRD ONE @104000 MILES FIRST TIME THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR AT 53000 MILES WE HAD TO FIGHT WITH MAZDA NORTH AMERICA FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. ALSO WHEELER MAZDA IN YUBA CITY DID NOT HELP OR CARE W…

Read full complaint

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 HAS HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED AND NOW INSTALLING THE THIRD ONE @104000 MILES FIRST TIME THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR AT 53000 MILES WE HAD TO FIGHT WITH MAZDA NORTH AMERICA FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. ALSO WHEELER MAZDA IN YUBA CITY DID NOT HELP OR CARE WITCH THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AT NEW. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER FOR ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE. NOW THE SECOND ONE JUST WENT OUT @ 104000 MILES AND THE MAZDA REP FOR MAZDA NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT HELP AT ALL. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ONE IS2,900 DOLLARS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY. THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT FROM A NEW CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE AXLES WENT OUT @ 70000 MILES THE STEREO WENT OUT 2 TIMES IN THE FIRST MONTH. THE 2ND TRANSMISSION STARTED SQUEAKING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT. THANKS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10170122

80,000 miles · Sep 24, 2006
Power Train

2001 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYL AUTO TRANS. AT 80K MILES, AFTER LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS, THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. THEN, THERE WAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING, THEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSION REBUILDS AT A COST OF $3500 OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE MY LAST REBUILD AND I AM…

Read full complaint

2001 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYL AUTO TRANS. AT 80K MILES, AFTER LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS, THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. THEN, THERE WAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING, THEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSION REBUILDS AT A COST OF $3500 OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE MY LAST REBUILD AND I AM SEEING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET SITTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169145

35,500 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Power Train

ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26 AT AROUND 3:00 PM I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN HOMESTEAD WHEN MY 2001 MAZDA 626 V4 STARTED TO SPIKE IN RPM'S UP ABOVE NORMAL. AT THIS SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT I STARTED TO DECELERATE IN SPEED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND BEFORE THIS I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH MY AUTOMOBIL…

Read full complaint

ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26 AT AROUND 3:00 PM I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN HOMESTEAD WHEN MY 2001 MAZDA 626 V4 STARTED TO SPIKE IN RPM'S UP ABOVE NORMAL. AT THIS SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT I STARTED TO DECELERATE IN SPEED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND BEFORE THIS I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH MY AUTOMOBILE PURCHASE. UPON INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT IN DRIVE AND REVERSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME AND UPON CALLING A MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET ONLINE I STARTED TO SEARCH FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND WITH GREAT DISPLEASURE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAZDA 626 LINE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY KIND OF RECALL OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS ISSUE BY THE GOVERNMENT OR BY MAZDA AT ALL. WHY IS THERE NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO COMPANIES AND FAULTY EQUIPMENT? IT IS JUST LIKE THE SAYING GOES ??THE POOR GET POORER AND THE RICH GET RICHER". MY CAR IS A 2001 AND ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. I DO NOT DRIVE LIKE A CRAZY PERSON AND DRIVE A TOTAL OF 8 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILING IT JUST WENT FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON THE BUSY PART OF THE HIGHWAY OR ON I-95 WHERE THERE ARE LARGE SEMI TRUCKS GOING BY AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS. THIS COULD HAVE ENDED WORSE THAN IT DID. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO START DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE? I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT MY GOVERNMENT WOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN THAT. PLEASE DO NOT PROVE ME WRONG AND INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167011

11,000 miles · Aug 15, 2006
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MY CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED AND THE RPMS WERE WAY HIGH. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GO IN ANY GEAR. LUCKILY I PULLED OVER WHEN I DID. CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY SEE SO MANY MAZDA VEHICLES COME IN BECAUSE MAZDA PUT IN A FORD TRANSMISSION MADE FOR A …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MY CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED AND THE RPMS WERE WAY HIGH. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GO IN ANY GEAR. LUCKILY I PULLED OVER WHEN I DID. CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY SEE SO MANY MAZDA VEHICLES COME IN BECAUSE MAZDA PUT IN A FORD TRANSMISSION MADE FOR A SMALLER VEHICLE. THEREFORE THE TRANSMISSION BURNS OUT. WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REBUILT AND TO ADD THIS COOLING UNIT $2,100.00. THANK YOU MAZDA FOR KEEPING YOUR CUSTOMERS INFORMED OF THIS. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT IT NEEDED THIS COOLING UNIT OR MY TRANSMISSION WOULD BURN UP, I WOULD HAVE SPENT THE $140.00 FOR THE UNIT. BUT MAZDA DID NOT FEEL THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WERE PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION. NEVER WILL BY MAZDA AGAIN!!!!! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165513

49,000 miles · Aug 9, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURT…

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, HOWEVER NO DETERMINATION HAS YET BEEN MADE ON THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI #10165031

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.