IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REBUILT 6 TIMES. DUE TO THE COMPUTER SHUTTING DOWN WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE SHIFTING BECOMES HARDER WHILE DRIVING. NLM
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
Power Train complaints
177 reportsCONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES . HOLD LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, AND SHIFTING IN GEARS WILL BE EXTREMELY ROUGH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE IT JERKS REALLY HARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 104774 MI,AND AFTER THAT I`VE HAD TO BRING IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES FOR RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION,AS OF TODAY THE HOLD LIGHT IS FLASHING AND IT WONT SHIFT PAST 3RD GEAR.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
EXHAUST FAILURE...FIRE UNDER CAR, CAR STOPPED RUNNING, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS MELTED, ENTIRE SYSTEM REPLACED, COVERED BY CALIFORNIA WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NO REVERSE, NO NEUTRAL GEARS. ONLY HAVE 1ST AND 3 RD GEARS. TRANSMISSION OIL READ OKAY TILL THIS HAPPENED, NOW IT IS GONE AND DEALER SAYS THE FLUID IS FRIED. LOOKIN…
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EXHAUST FAILURE...FIRE UNDER CAR, CAR STOPPED RUNNING, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS MELTED, ENTIRE SYSTEM REPLACED, COVERED BY CALIFORNIA WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NO REVERSE, NO NEUTRAL GEARS. ONLY HAVE 1ST AND 3 RD GEARS. TRANSMISSION OIL READ OKAY TILL THIS HAPPENED, NOW IT IS GONE AND DEALER SAYS THE FLUID IS FRIED. LOOKING AT $3000. FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK
COMPLETE TRASMISSION FAILURE; SEVERAL MECHANICS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING/MECHANICAL DEFECT KNOWN TO MAZDA AND FORD. I WOULD LIKE SOME RECOURSE AGAINST MAZDA FOR THIS.*AK
TRANSMISSION JERKS, COST TO FIX IS OVER $2000.00, MAZDA DOESNT CARE.*AK
TRANSMISSION WAS BEHAVING BADLY---SERIOUS SHIFT SHOCK---DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ROAD TESTED, WROTE "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT." 2 WEEKS LATER TRANSMISSION FAILED TOTALLY ON X-WAY---ENGINE ACCELERATED AND I NEARLY LOST CONTROL, IN DENSE TRAFFIC. LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE, I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON HIGHWAY.*AK
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.