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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

What owners actually said

188 reports
103,000 miles · May 26, 2004
EquipmentPower Train

PURCHASED AUTO IN JULY 2001. I DRIVE A GREAT DEAL AND TOOK MY CAR RELIGIOUSLY IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALER. UPON GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 30K MILES I HAD TO GET MY ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE OIL FILTER. TRANSMISSION (CLUTCH PAK) BURNED OUT AT 100K MILES. NO HELP FROM MAZDA. THEY ACTUALLY HAD MY CAR FOR OVER A …

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PURCHASED AUTO IN JULY 2001. I DRIVE A GREAT DEAL AND TOOK MY CAR RELIGIOUSLY IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALER. UPON GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 30K MILES I HAD TO GET MY ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE OIL FILTER. TRANSMISSION (CLUTCH PAK) BURNED OUT AT 100K MILES. NO HELP FROM MAZDA. THEY ACTUALLY HAD MY CAR FOR OVER A MONTH AND WANTED ME TO PAY ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR HOOKING THE CAR UP TO THE MACHINE. NO ESTIMATE WAS GIVEN. MAZDA ASSOCIATES CONSTANTLY WERE UNAVAILABLE AND HUNG UP ON ME MANY TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #10073180

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2004
Electrical SystemPower Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT! CAR WAS TOWED TO WORKSHOP AND REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE PUT IN COST $3100. WAS LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS FROM PURCHASE DATE, THEREFORE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEMS DID NOT STOP THERE, IN ABOUT 50 DAYS, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON... TOOK IT TO THE SAME PLACE WHO WORKED…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT! CAR WAS TOWED TO WORKSHOP AND REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE PUT IN COST $3100. WAS LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS FROM PURCHASE DATE, THEREFORE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEMS DID NOT STOP THERE, IN ABOUT 50 DAYS, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON... TOOK IT TO THE SAME PLACE WHO WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION. TECHNICIAN REPORTED NEW PROBLEM UNRELATED TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NEW SERVICE COST $500. THE CAR COST ME BIG $$$ IN MAINTAINANCE.... DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE END OF THE PROBLEMS... MAZDA 626 OWNERS WATCH OUT!

NHTSA ODI #10072504

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2004
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT DEALER DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072023

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

29,000 miles · Mar 11, 2004
Tires

ALL FOUR OF TIRES SIDEWALL SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TIRE SIZE P185/70R14. *AK *SC

NHTSA ODI #10058090

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

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.