IllustrationTHIS IS MY SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION IN 4 YEARS. THE MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. *JB
1995 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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
50–25K
625–50K
1550–75K
3475–100K
47100–150K
26150K+
133 reports with mileage · 355 unknown
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 337 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports8 fire reports33 injury reports
Power Train complaints
337 reportsDT: THIS MAZDA IS ON 3RD TRANSMISSION AND THIS ONE HAS GONE BAD. DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING SINCE ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS STARTED ON AUGUST 19, 2005. WHEN AT A STOP THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR A FEW SECONDS …
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DT: THIS MAZDA IS ON 3RD TRANSMISSION AND THIS ONE HAS GONE BAD. DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING SINCE ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS STARTED ON AUGUST 19, 2005. WHEN AT A STOP THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THEN , WHEN AT A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND THE DRIVER HAD QUIT ALL TOGETHER.*AK
I AM EXPERIENCING THE INFAMOUS MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIOIN FAILURE WHICH IS AN EXTREME HAZARD FOR MYSELT AND MY CHILDREN. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND AS EVIDENCED BY THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND ON THE WEB, THE TRANSMISSION IS EXPERIENCING A MELTDOWN. I WAS DRIVING MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED T…
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I AM EXPERIENCING THE INFAMOUS MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIOIN FAILURE WHICH IS AN EXTREME HAZARD FOR MYSELT AND MY CHILDREN. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND AS EVIDENCED BY THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND ON THE WEB, THE TRANSMISSION IS EXPERIENCING A MELTDOWN. I WAS DRIVING MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE CAR TO JERK UNCONTROLLABLY AND STOP. THIS IN MY VIEW HAS THE POTENTIAL OF A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE DESIGN FLAW IS OBVIOUS AFTER READING SO MANY SIMILAR ACCOUNTS.
TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ABOUT 3 MONTHS BEFORE. *NM
DT: THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. THEY REPAIRED TRANSMISSION, THEY FIXED GASKET, PLATE, RINGS, NPN PLATE, MINI BULB, CLUTCH. THEY FIXED THIS 7-20-05. *AK
I HAVE A 1995 MAZDA 626 LX, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO PAST 2ND GEAR. THESE ARE THE SYMPTONS OF THE RECALL ON THE 1994 MAZDA 626, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE 1995.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE
I OWN A 1995 MAZDA 626 4CYL, 4DR, AUTOMATIC. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THE OTHER DAY AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE CAR IDLES WELL, BUT WHILE ON THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN 10 MINS (WHILE THE ENGINE GETS HEATED UP), THEN THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND JERKS TRYING TO GET INTO A GEAR. AFT…
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I OWN A 1995 MAZDA 626 4CYL, 4DR, AUTOMATIC. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THE OTHER DAY AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE CAR IDLES WELL, BUT WHILE ON THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN 10 MINS (WHILE THE ENGINE GETS HEATED UP), THEN THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND JERKS TRYING TO GET INTO A GEAR. AFTER READING THE ISSUES ONLINE, AM PRETTY SURE THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED OR AT LEAST SOMETHING FIXED IN IT. LOOKING FOR SOME HELP...
THE OD OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING IN MARCH OR APRIL OF THIS YEAR TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM, WAS TOLD THEN THAT IT WAS A BEARING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION THAT JUST WASNT MOVING THEY MOVED ELECTRONICALLY AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT THEN APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN, I TOOK IT…
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THE OD OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING IN MARCH OR APRIL OF THIS YEAR TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM, WAS TOLD THEN THAT IT WAS A BEARING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION THAT JUST WASNT MOVING THEY MOVED ELECTRONICALLY AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT THEN APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN, I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAY IT IS THR TORQUE CONVERTER AND PROBABLY A BUSHING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS CAUSING A MAJOR VIBRATION. MY 1995 MAZDA 626 HAS JUST OVER 77,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS THE 94 WHICH IS KNOWN FOR ITS PROBLEMS AND BY ALL REPORTS MOST OF THOSE PROBLEMS WERE NOT FIXED UNTIL 96 NOW I AM FACING A SECONDARY WARRANTY COMPANY WHO MAY OR MAY NOT APPROVE MY CLAIM, MY CAR OCCASIONALL STALLS WHEN I PUSH THE GAS ETC, MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS YOU CAN READ ON THE WEB WITH THIS SAME CAR. IF THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED JUST FOR THINGS LIKE THIS DOES NOT COVER THIS I AM STUCK WITH A BILL I CANNOT AFFORD, FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS WELL KNOWN AND WELL REPORTED. THIS IS A MAZDA AND FOR ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY THEM...IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT BAY FORD IN PORTORCHARD WASHINGTON. WHY SHOULD A CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WHILE IN "D", THE CAR WITH CUT OFF RIGHT IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING BUT IF YOU DRIVE IT IN THE LOWER GEARS IT WON'T CUT OFF. NOTHING HAVE BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS JUST SITTING. MY AUNT WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. IT'S HAPPENED OFF AND ON BUT IT'S WORST NOW.
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.
98V249000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Oct 8, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
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
4RQ99022 · 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.
EA97012 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened May 23, 1997 · Closed Oct 9, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN 20 OR 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 25 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROADWAY.MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OFALL 1995 AND 1996 MODELS OF THE MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AS WELL AS A SMALL NUMBER OF 1997 MAZDA 626 MODELS, EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME SAS UNIT.THE SAS UNIT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG SYSTEMIT CONTAINS A BUILT-IN CRASH SENSOR TO DETECT VEHICLE DECELERATION DURING A COLLISION.AFFECTED MODELS WERE ASSEMBLED FROM JUNE 1, 1994 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 AND HAVE A VIN WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: MAZDA 626:1YVGE22**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE22**V5599030 MAZDA MX-6: 1YVGE31**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE31**T5589965ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE AN UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPOYMENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS.
PE97006 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jan 30, 1997 · Closed May 23, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN JANUARY OF 1997, ODI OPENED A PE BASED ON 9 ODI COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 51 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS INCLUDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 21 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.IN FOUR OF THESE INCIDENTS THE DRIVER CLAIMS TO HAVE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CURB AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.IN ADDITION THERE ARE FOUR INCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVER ALLEGES THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER A TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING.LESS COMMON INCIDENTS INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY, CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS, WHILE BEING TOWED, WHILE BRAKING, AFTER HITTING A CURB, AND AFTER HITTING A MANHOLE COVER.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORTS GATHERED TO DATE, THE SENSORS USED IN THE VEHICLES, AND TO ASSESS THE IMPACT THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS ON HIGHWAY SAFETY.