IllustrationSIDE MOLDING COMING OFF, ANTENNA WILL NOT GO UP NOR DOWN, HOLD LIGHT KEEP FLASHING, SUN ROOF WILL NOT SLIDE BACK, AIR BAG FLASHES SOMETIME,CUP HOLDER WILL NOT KEEP CONTAINERS FROM TILTING OVER,OIL DIP STICK HANDLE BROKE OFF,CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK,CRACKED MANIFOLD
1994 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Mazda 626 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model 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
Limited mileage data: 64 of 282 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports6 fire reports14 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
14 reportsAIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, POWER WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. AFTER LETTING WINDOWS DOWN, THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO UPRIIGHT POSITION. *AK THE CONSUMER CAN NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM INSIDE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ILUMINATES. *YH
WHILE LEAVING PARKING LOT WHEN THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. DID NOT HIT ANY BUMPS OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY & WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHTCOMES ON WITHOUT A REASON AND STAYS ON FOR LONG TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER SMELLS SMOKE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED *AK
WHEN VEHICLE REAR ENDED A FORD EXPEDITION, TRAVELING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF EITHER AIR BAG. THE FENDER, HOOD, HEADLIGHTS, ETC WERE ALL PUSHED BACK TO THE MOTOR. OWNER NOT SURE IF VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE CHILD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HIT HIS HEAD , THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT IS RUSTING . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 15PH, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH SUCH A FORCE CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER AND BROKE WINDSHEILD ON PASSENGER SIDE. *AK
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT IN TWO ACCIDENTS, ONCE CRACKING WINDSHIELD AND WRENCHING THUMB. SECOND TIME CAUSED A FRACTURED NASAL BONE AND COMPLETE CLOSURE OF RIGHT EYE.
AIR BAG PREMATURELY DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH. *AK CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT HAPPENING FIRST AFTER AIR BAG WENT OFF, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO LIGHT POLE, THERE WERE INJURIES.*JB
DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG CAUSED BURNS TO DRIVERS FACE AS WELL AS SPLITTING DRIVERS LIP. *DH
Official recalls
215V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Oct 19, 2015
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
99V358000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Dec 17, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LEVER.
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
2RQ99022 · Headlight Failure
Opened Dec 20, 1999 · Closed Aug 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.