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
What owners actually said
282 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2000
Power Train
WEDNESDAY JUNE 15TH I PICKED UP MY MAZDA AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE EXAXT SYMPTOMS OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS JERKING AND SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 70MPH TO 35MPH. THE CAR IN BACK OF ME SCREECHED ALMOST REAR ENDING ME. I DROVE BACK TO MY MECHANIC WITH MY FLASHERS ON ALL TH…
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WEDNESDAY JUNE 15TH I PICKED UP MY MAZDA AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE EXAXT SYMPTOMS OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS JERKING AND SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 70MPH TO 35MPH. THE CAR IN BACK OF ME SCREECHED ALMOST REAR ENDING ME. I DROVE BACK TO MY MECHANIC WITH MY FLASHERS ON ALL THE WAY. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS MAY POSSIBLY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND COULD AGAIN DESTROY THE NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS BESIDE MYSELF. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I FIRST HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THEM AND THEY ALSO SAID NOTHING OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ONLY THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY REVIEWED MY CASE, AS NOW I AM SURE I WAS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINING OF THIS VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE,BECAUSE AFTER CONTACTING YOU AND VIEWING OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN YOUR CONSUMER COMPLAINT SECTION, I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. I AM HOPING THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. SALLY JOHNSTON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #724123
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723082
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP & NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO GEARS. WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO JERK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING WITH NEW TRANSMISSION, IT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WOULD DIE OUT WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS OUT…
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TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP & NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO GEARS. WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO JERK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING WITH NEW TRANSMISSION, IT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WOULD DIE OUT WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS OUT OF WARRANTY & WOULD NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862137
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2000
Electrical System
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH, VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862074
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE AFTER A COLD START UP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES. *AK DEALER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE AND THAT A DEFECT MAY BE IN CRUISE CONTROL. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL AND PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #862048
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK, AND WOULD NOT BE UP TO SPEED. THE LIGHT FOR TRANSMISSION WOULD FLASH ON/OFF PERIODICALLY, INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HAD NO POWER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861997
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
WHILE DRIVING WHEELS MAKE A SCREACHING SOUND. ALSO, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY BEGIN TO SQUEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861945
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2000
Power Train
THE HOLD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO WHAT THE DEALER SAID WAS A PRESSURE LEAK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1994 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER CARS. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A FORD PRODUCT WHICH AS A TYPICAL FORD PRODUCT FAILS PREMATURELY. I TOOK IT…
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THE HOLD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO WHAT THE DEALER SAID WAS A PRESSURE LEAK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1994 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER CARS. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A FORD PRODUCT WHICH AS A TYPICAL FORD PRODUCT FAILS PREMATURELY. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 1994 MODEL TRANSMISSION HAD A DESIGN DEFECT CORRECTED WITH THE 1995 MODEL YEAR. I'D LIKE NHTSA TO FORCE MAZDA TO INSTITUTE A RECALL, AND REIMBURSE THE OWNERS THE $2000+ CHARGE IT COSTS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I HAD MINE REPLACED, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT WILL FAIL AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722753
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2000
Power Train
THE "HOLD" LIGHT COMES ON WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO STAY IN ONE GEAR SHIFTING TO SECOND OR THIRD AND STAYING IN THAT GEAR, NOT SHIFTING OVER TO OVERDRIVE. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722647
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Power Train
OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT FLASHES ON, AND TRANSMISSION STAYED IN 3RD GEAR . THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. ALSO, RECALL 99I005000/ SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER WAS ISSUED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *ML
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.
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.
1994 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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