IllustrationEXPERIENCED, JERKING AT HIGH SPEEDS PERIODICALLY
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 reportsWHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALSO, VEHICLE LEAKS OIL WHICH REQUIRES A VALVE COVER GASKET TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALERR IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD JERK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, NOTICED A HOLD LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE PANEL, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANT. DEALER/MFR WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
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
THE DRIVER SEATBELT ANCHOR ,CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO HAVE TOO MUCH SLACK WHICH MAY NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT PROPERLY IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CLAIMS THAT IS WAY SEATBELT IS MADE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION TOTALLY WENT OUT, CAUSING IT TO JERK AND PULL.
THE BACKRESTS ON THE DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAVE BOTH COLLASPED, WHEN LEANING BACK WITH EXTRA PRESSURE. THE SEAT COMES BACK UP NORMALLY WHEN HITTING THE HANDLE ON THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. *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
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE HOLD LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING AND STARTS FLASHING. DEALER STATES THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, VEHICLE HAS NO WARRANTY, TSB- F004/94. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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.