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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

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

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2002
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ODI #10001613

140,995 miles · Dec 16, 2002
Power Train

HAVING CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1994 MAZDA 626. HAD IT REBUILT AT 140000 MILES. AFTER REPAIR CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH PLUG BREAKING. CONSTANT RPMS STALLING AND NO POWER. NOW AT DECELERATING AT 20 MPH IT KICKS BACK. TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. TOOK INTO D…

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HAVING CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1994 MAZDA 626. HAD IT REBUILT AT 140000 MILES. AFTER REPAIR CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH PLUG BREAKING. CONSTANT RPMS STALLING AND NO POWER. NOW AT DECELERATING AT 20 MPH IT KICKS BACK. TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP ALSO AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO RECALL OR DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. LINKS BELOW ARE RELATED TO MY SITUATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. EXACT INCIDENT DATES ARE UNKNOWN AS IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. DATE LISTED IS EARLIEST DATE. WONDERING ON RECALL TO GET THIS FIXED AS IT SEEMS OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.BANTAPUBNET.COM/GEARS/2002/JANFEB02/NEWKID.HTML HTTP://WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/TRANS.HTML HTTP://WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/94SPEEDO.HTML HTTP://WWW.BANTAPUBNET.COM/GEARS/JAN00/6TRANSMISSIONTHERAPY.HTML

NHTSA ODI #10000147

140,995 miles · Dec 16, 2002
Power Train

HAVING CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1994 MAZDA 626. HAD IT REBUILT AT 140000 MILES. AFTER REPAIR CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH PLUG BREAKING. CONSTANT RPMS STALLING AND NO POWER. NOW AT DECELERATING AT 20 MPH IT KICKS BACK. TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. TOOK INTO D…

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HAVING CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1994 MAZDA 626. HAD IT REBUILT AT 140000 MILES. AFTER REPAIR CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH PLUG BREAKING. CONSTANT RPMS STALLING AND NO POWER. NOW AT DECELERATING AT 20 MPH IT KICKS BACK. TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP ALSO AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO RECALL OR DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. LINKS BELOW ARE RELATED TO MY SITUATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. EXACT INCIDENT DATES ARE UNKNOWN AS IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. DATE LISTED IS EARLIEST DATE. HTTP://WWW.BANTAPUBNET.COM/GEARS/2002/JANFEB02/NEWKID.HTML HTTP://WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/TRANS.HTML HTTP://WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/94SPEEDO.HTML HTTP://WWW.BANTAPUBNET.COM/GEARS/JAN00/6TRANSMISSIONTHERAPY.HTML

NHTSA ODI #10000146

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2002
Power Train

WENT TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL WAS TOLD MAY BE A RECALL PENDING. PLEASE ADVISE. DT

NHTSA ODI #770073

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2002
Power Train

EVEN TAKING GOOD CARE OF IT, TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN. DT

NHTSA ODI #769861

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Power Train

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ODI #769094

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2002
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVisibility

THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS FROM THE START RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. I'VE HAD TO CALL THE CORPERATION FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON, THEY HAD THE DEALER REPLACE A SENSOR FOR ABOUT $1200.00. THIS CAR HAS NO BUSINESS BEING SOLD. NOW THE DEALER IS NO LONGER SELLING MAZDA'S. THE NEW DEAL…

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THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS FROM THE START RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. I'VE HAD TO CALL THE CORPERATION FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON, THEY HAD THE DEALER REPLACE A SENSOR FOR ABOUT $1200.00. THIS CAR HAS NO BUSINESS BEING SOLD. NOW THE DEALER IS NO LONGER SELLING MAZDA'S. THE NEW DEALER IS JAY MAZDA AND THEY DON'T CARE. DT

NHTSA ODI #769007

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Power Train

THE MAZDA 626 IS NOW ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION AND IS CURRENTLY NOT DRIVEABLE BECAUSE IT NEEDS ANOTHER NEW ONE. FOR THE PAST 5,000 MILES THE CAR'S HOLD LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH, THE CAR JERKS AND THE SPEED DROPS ABOUT 40-50 MILES. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANYTIME FOR THAT MATTER. THE LA…

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THE MAZDA 626 IS NOW ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION AND IS CURRENTLY NOT DRIVEABLE BECAUSE IT NEEDS ANOTHER NEW ONE. FOR THE PAST 5,000 MILES THE CAR'S HOLD LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH, THE CAR JERKS AND THE SPEED DROPS ABOUT 40-50 MILES. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANYTIME FOR THAT MATTER. THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT DECIDED TO JERK AND DROP DOWN TO 15 MILES AND HOUR. NOT ONLY WAS I ALMOST REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES BUT I ALMOST FLEW THROUGH THE WINDSHEILD.AT THE NEXT RED LIGHT THE CAR DECIDED NOT TO EVEN GO ANYMORE. YOU CAN PRESS THE GAS BUT IN DRIVE IT WON'T MOVE. BUT IT DOES GO IN REVERSE ALTHOUGH IT STILL JERKS AND THE HOLD LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH. THE CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SOME PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD NEW VEHICLES AND CAN'T AFFORD $1200-$2500 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. SO THEREFORE WE CONTINUE TO BE WITHOUT A CAR WHILE THE MANUFACTURER MAKES MONEY OFF OF US PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO WHEN WE BOUGHT A MAZDA. THEY ALL ALSO NEED NEW MOTOR MOUNTS(WHICH AREN'T CHEAP)VERY SOON.YOU WOULD THINK SINCE SOOOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN A MAZDA THEY WOULD HELP THEM TO FIX IT. A GUY AT A JUNKYARD ONCE TOLD ME HE WOULD BE A MILLIONAIRE IF HE COULD SUPPLY A TRANSMISSION TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CALL NEEDING ONE FOR THEIR MAZDA. THAT'S SICK...*AK

NHTSA ODI #766725

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
Electrical SystemPower Train

THE "HOLD" LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO BLINK THIS MORNING. NOW THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY - LIKE A PERFORMANCE TRANSMISSION... BASICALLY CRASH, BANG, SCREECH. I'VE CHECKED SEVERAL WEBSITES, AND HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM COMMONLY. SO FAR MAZDA HAS NOT ISSUE…

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THE "HOLD" LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO BLINK THIS MORNING. NOW THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY - LIKE A PERFORMANCE TRANSMISSION... BASICALLY CRASH, BANG, SCREECH. I'VE CHECKED SEVERAL WEBSITES, AND HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM COMMONLY. SO FAR MAZDA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY CONSIDER IT. THIS IS STILL A LOW MILEAGE CAR!!!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #766657

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Power Train

I TOO AM EXPERIENCING THESE NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 94 MAZDA 626 WITH ALL THE COMMON SYMPTOMS LIKE OD LIGHT FLASHING, ROUGH AND JERKY GEAR SHIFTS, LOSING POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN, FIXING IN LOW GEARS ETC. ITS SO AGONIZING THAT DESPITE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING TO GO FOR COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS, MANY EVEN MUL…

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I TOO AM EXPERIENCING THESE NOTORIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 94 MAZDA 626 WITH ALL THE COMMON SYMPTOMS LIKE OD LIGHT FLASHING, ROUGH AND JERKY GEAR SHIFTS, LOSING POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN, FIXING IN LOW GEARS ETC. ITS SO AGONIZING THAT DESPITE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING TO GO FOR COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS, MANY EVEN MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME VEHICLE, NO ONE IS ABLE TO MAKE MAZDA TO FIX THIS FOR GOOD ON ALL THE 94 MAZDA 626S. ITS SUCH A PITY THAT EVEN MAZDA DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ITS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF IF, BUT WHEN THESE POORLY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FAIL. I HOPE NHTSA CAN INTERVENE AND INVESTIGATE THESE ALL TOO COMMON AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FAILURES NOW, RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL FATALITIES ARE REPORTED. HAVING READ SO MANY SAD HISTORIES WITH THIS MODEL, THERE IS NO POINT SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN HAVING THIS TROUBLING TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR MY CAR, ITS OBVIOUS THE PROBLEM IS BOUND TO OCCUR AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR IN THIS ECONOMY. I CAN'T TRADE-IN MY CAR EITHER (I HATE TO VICTIMIZE ANOTHER INNOCENT BUYER WITH THIS LEMON). SO, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE RISK CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS, UNLESS MAZDA CAN EITHER PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE REPLACEMENTS, OR ATLEAST OFFER TO FIX IT FOR A FAIR PRICE WITH A REASONABLE GUARANTEE PERIOD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766429

Official recalls

2

15V674000 · 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

2

RQ99022 · 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.