IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
282 reportsTHE HOLD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE CAR ALSO STARTED JERKING. I WAS MILES FROM A RESIDENCE ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN, AND A NEW AIR FLOW METER INSTALLED. COST A COUPLE OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN NOW THEY TELL M…
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THE HOLD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE CAR ALSO STARTED JERKING. I WAS MILES FROM A RESIDENCE ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN, AND A NEW AIR FLOW METER INSTALLED. COST A COUPLE OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN NOW THEY TELL ME THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND MY CAR HAS LESS THATN 50000 MILES ON IT.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. HE DOESN'T KNOW THE REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THE FIRST TIME TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 70,000 MILES, AND SECOND TIME AT 100,000 MILES. *AK
TRANSMISSION LEAK CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. ALSO, THE REVERSE GEAR FADES OUT ALONG WITH DRIVE, NOT WORKING AT TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHOLE EMISSION SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DOES NOT WORK. ALSO, DISTRIBUTOR/ WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED*AK.
TRANSMISSION HOLD LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, AND TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND REENGAGED REPEATEDLY AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT NO COST AFTER TWO WEEKS OF BARGAINING. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAL…
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TRANSMISSION HOLD LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, AND TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND REENGAGED REPEATEDLY AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT NO COST AFTER TWO WEEKS OF BARGAINING. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. ON REPEATED VISISTS TO DEALER (TOWN NORTH MAZDA, RICHARDSON, TX), THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS 70,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS HAVING SAME PROBLEM, WITH MUCH GREATER SEVERITY AND REGULARITY. DEALER STILL STATES THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER DRIVING OVER 100 MILES. NEW TRANSMISSION IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. AFTER SEARCHING YOUR DATABASE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS MODEL CAR. *AK
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT. ON 3/24/99 EAST COAST AUTO MALL REPAIRED THE FAULTY SWITCH AT A COST OF $316.39, OF WHICH $197.64 WAS FOR THE COMBO SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH AT THE WRONG TIME COULD HAVE CAUSED A SER…
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THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT. ON 3/24/99 EAST COAST AUTO MALL REPAIRED THE FAULTY SWITCH AT A COST OF $316.39, OF WHICH $197.64 WAS FOR THE COMBO SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH AT THE WRONG TIME COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
THE VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND HESITATE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE.
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.