I WAS DRIVING ON I-10. I MADE A ROUTINE LANE CHANGE. AT THAT MOMENT I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. MY STEERING FAILED. I WAS REAR-ENDED. I WAS SHOVED INTO ANOTHER CAR ON MY DRIVER SIDE. I CAME TO REST ON A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE MECHANIC AT THE COLLISION CENTER SAID THE RACK AND PINION FELL APART. A PRIVATE MECHANIC EX…
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I WAS DRIVING ON I-10. I MADE A ROUTINE LANE CHANGE. AT THAT MOMENT I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. MY STEERING FAILED. I WAS REAR-ENDED. I WAS SHOVED INTO ANOTHER CAR ON MY DRIVER SIDE. I CAME TO REST ON A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE MECHANIC AT THE COLLISION CENTER SAID THE RACK AND PINION FELL APART. A PRIVATE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE MAZDA AND ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE SHAFT IN THE RACK AND PINION UNIT FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART.
NHTSA ODI #727704
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1999
SteeringInjury
STEERING RACK AND PINION FELL APART CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE COLLISION, INJURY TO CONSUMER. MJS
NHTSA ODI #549253
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
SteeringCrashInjury
AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND STATED:INSPECT CAR AT BODY SHOP AND FOUND A BROKEN SHAFT IN THE RACK AND PINION UNIT. THE CAR HAS NO DIRECT IMPACT TO ANY COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE STEERING FAILURE. THE SHAFT FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART.THE BODY SHOP EMPLOYEE STATED: THE RACK AND PINION FELL APART CAUSING THE AC…
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AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND STATED:INSPECT CAR AT BODY SHOP AND FOUND A BROKEN SHAFT IN THE RACK AND PINION UNIT. THE CAR HAS NO DIRECT IMPACT TO ANY COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE STEERING FAILURE. THE SHAFT FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART.THE BODY SHOP EMPLOYEE STATED: THE RACK AND PINION FELL APART CAUSING THE ACCIDENT TO OCCUR.
NHTSA ODI #713914
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, AirSteeringCrash
BRAKE FAILURE- PURCHASED USED CARE 6/98, REPLACED BRAKE PADS 10/98, BRAKES FAILED 6/8/99 AND HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS (FRONT) AFTER ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- THE CAR BEGAN TO JUMP WHILE ACCELERATING FROM 0-30MPH, SO I PULLED OVER AND PARKED (7/20/99) AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT GO. I HAD THE…
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BRAKE FAILURE- PURCHASED USED CARE 6/98, REPLACED BRAKE PADS 10/98, BRAKES FAILED 6/8/99 AND HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS (FRONT) AFTER ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- THE CAR BEGAN TO JUMP WHILE ACCELERATING FROM 0-30MPH, SO I PULLED OVER AND PARKED (7/20/99) AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT GO. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE CAR W/THE OVERDRIVE OFF AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THE CAR MOVES IN DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEARING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE ADVISE ME, BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS FOR A CAR THAT DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 70K MILES. DOES THE MANAFACTURER HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SERVERAL SIMULAR COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA ODI #710446
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1998
Steering
POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING DUE TO A LOOSE BOLT IN THE POWER STEERING RACK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #825981
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Air BagsSteering
STEERING FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA ODI #534559
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 1997
Steering
STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER WHICH CAUSES A SEVERE VIBRATION AND DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING. *AK
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 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
4
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.
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.
1996 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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