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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

5 reports
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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

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2001 MAZDA 626 AT 30,000 MILE CHECK. ROTORS ARE RUSTING MORE THAN USUAL, WITH ONLY ABOUT 70% CONTACT WITH THE BREAK PADS. IT STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT A WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. I CLAIM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AVERAGE FOR REPAIR WORK ON BREAKS IS AB…

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2001 MAZDA 626 AT 30,000 MILE CHECK. ROTORS ARE RUSTING MORE THAN USUAL, WITH ONLY ABOUT 70% CONTACT WITH THE BREAK PADS. IT STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT A WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. I CLAIM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AVERAGE FOR REPAIR WORK ON BREAKS IS ABOUT 40-50,000 MILES. THIS IS WELL UNDER THAT AND 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10050957

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2003
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, WITHIN 15 MINUTES I WAS AT THE DEALER. I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING. I PUT AN EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION RADIATOR AND THE LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED ON. I HAVE TO REPLACE MY BRAKES 4 TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. T…

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I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, WITHIN 15 MINUTES I WAS AT THE DEALER. I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING. I PUT AN EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION RADIATOR AND THE LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED ON. I HAVE TO REPLACE MY BRAKES 4 TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. THEY SAY IT IS MY DRIVING. HOW CAN THIS BE? ONCE IT TOOK THEM A WEEK TO PUT BRAKE PADS. THAT MONDAY THEY SAID IT NEEDED ROTORS AND DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. THAT FRIDAY I PICKED UP MY CAR AND THEY SAID IT DID NOT NEED ROTORS AFTER ALL!!! THEY RENTED ME A CAR, 2 MONTHS LATER MY CREDIT CARD WAS CHARGED FOR THE WEEKS RENTAL. BESIDES THIS THE NATIONAL CITY MILE OF CARS WESCOTT MAZDA-KIA DEALER ARE SEXIST AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WOMEN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE GUY (TOM) CALLED ME AN ASS AND NEVER APOLOGIZED EVEN AFTER I TOLD HIS BOSS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046939

38,000 miles · Jun 5, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 2001 MAZDA 626 WITH 45,000 MILES. HIGH MILEAGE DO TO 90%HIWAY DRIVING IN MY WORK. AT ABOUT 38000 MILES NOTICED A VIOLENT VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT HI SPEED AND A LOUD CLUNK WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER ADVISED ME TO GET THE ROTORS TURNED WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT AT AROUN…

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I OWN A 2001 MAZDA 626 WITH 45,000 MILES. HIGH MILEAGE DO TO 90%HIWAY DRIVING IN MY WORK. AT ABOUT 38000 MILES NOTICED A VIOLENT VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT HI SPEED AND A LOUD CLUNK WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER ADVISED ME TO GET THE ROTORS TURNED WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT AT AROUND 80000 TO 90000 MILES. THEY SAID THE CLUNKING SOUND IS NORMAL WHEN THE ROTORS ARE WARPED. DEALER SAID WARRNTY DOES NOT COVER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DEFECTIVE BRAKE AT 38000 HIGHWAY MILES IS NOT ROUTINE IN MY OPINION. LAST TIME I WILL OWN A MAZDA.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021089

35 miles · Apr 10, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015602

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.