IllustrationTRANSMISSION HAD BIG PROBLEMS, EVEN AFTER USING THE CAR EXTREMELY CAREFULLY. JUST HAD 57000 MILES AND HAD TO GET MAJOR REPAIRS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
1996 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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
40–25K
425–50K
1750–75K
3775–100K
38100–150K
15150K+
115 reports with mileage · 244 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 239 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
35 crash reports2 fire reports30 injury reports
What owners actually said
359 reportsAFTER BUYING THE CAR (USED) A YEAR AGO I FIRST HAD TO REPLACE THE 02 SENSOR, THEN WHILE DRIVING THE O/D LIGHT WOULD START FLASHING AND THE RPMS WENT CRAZY BETWEEN GEARS, AFTER A RESTART IT WOULD GO AWAY ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS ONLY LASTED 2 DAYS, SO I THOUGHT IT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN A BIG DEAL. THEN THIS PAST WEEKEND UP IN THE M…
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AFTER BUYING THE CAR (USED) A YEAR AGO I FIRST HAD TO REPLACE THE 02 SENSOR, THEN WHILE DRIVING THE O/D LIGHT WOULD START FLASHING AND THE RPMS WENT CRAZY BETWEEN GEARS, AFTER A RESTART IT WOULD GO AWAY ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS ONLY LASTED 2 DAYS, SO I THOUGHT IT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN A BIG DEAL. THEN THIS PAST WEEKEND UP IN THE MOUNTAINS, IT WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, I PUT IT IN THE AUTO 1ST GEAR THEN 2ND AND IT LURCHED FORWARD ONLY TO GO A MILE BEFORE NEVER MOVING AGAIN. IT WILL COST $3,000 TO REPLACE.*AK
JUNE 28, 2002 -- WELLINGS MAZDA, RICHMOND, IN "PERFORMED RECALL SSP-34 AIR BAG CAMPAIGN. MARCH 2004, MATT CASTRUCCI'S AUTO MALL, "BODY ELECTRICAL: CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON PLEASE CHECK OUT AND ADV," AND "CUSTORMER STATES CAR IS RUNNING ROUGH, WAS TOLD VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING AND ON THE SPARK PLUGS PLEASE CHECK…
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JUNE 28, 2002 -- WELLINGS MAZDA, RICHMOND, IN "PERFORMED RECALL SSP-34 AIR BAG CAMPAIGN. MARCH 2004, MATT CASTRUCCI'S AUTO MALL, "BODY ELECTRICAL: CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON PLEASE CHECK OUT AND ADV," AND "CUSTORMER STATES CAR IS RUNNING ROUGH, WAS TOLD VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING AND ON THE SPARK PLUGS PLEASE CHECK OUT." RESULTS WERE: "CHECKED OUT LIGHT IS NOT ON, NO CORRECTION AT THIS TIME." AND "CHECKED OUT REPLACED VALAVE {SIC} COVER GASKETS AND INTAKE GASKETS CLEANED SPARK PLUG WIRES AND PLUGS. RECHECKED OK" SEPT. 19, 2004 -- WHILE MOTIONLESS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WE DO HAVE RELIABLE WITNESSES. THE DRIVER (ME) IS A PHYSICS PROFESSOR, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER IS A PH.D. CANDIDATE, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER IS A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR, AND THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER JUST FINISHED LAW SCHOOL. THERE WAS ALSO A PEDESTRIAN STANDING 3 FEET AWAY AND A HELPFUL DRIVER IN THE ADJACENT (ALSO MOTIONLESS) CAR.*AK
EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND WHILE DRIVING IT HESITSTE ON FREEYWAY I CHECK TO THE MECHENIC HE SAY ITS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND IT IS THE PROBLEM WITH MAZADA 626 AND NEVER BEEN CORRECTED AND THEY DIDNT BUIL T IT CORRECTLY SO I THINK MAZADA SHOULD BRING THEM BACK
O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON VEHICLE; INDICATIVE OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON PRE-98 626S. HARD SHIFTING INTO DRIVE/REVERSE DURING COLD ENGINE; SLIPPAGE OF ENGINE. *AK
JUST BOUGHT A USED 96 MAZDA 626LX. VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC THROUGHLY. A DAY LATER IT STARTED TO VIBRATE SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOTORMOUNT. WE WERE WRONG. SO WE JUST IGNORED THE VIBRATION. A FEW DAYS THE LATER IT WOULD'T START UP AND WE HAD TO GO AND GET THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT. NO PROBLEM…
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JUST BOUGHT A USED 96 MAZDA 626LX. VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC THROUGHLY. A DAY LATER IT STARTED TO VIBRATE SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOTORMOUNT. WE WERE WRONG. SO WE JUST IGNORED THE VIBRATION. A FEW DAYS THE LATER IT WOULD'T START UP AND WE HAD TO GO AND GET THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT. NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FIX IT B/C THE FLUIDS WERE BLACK. WHICH THEY WEREN'T WHEN PURCHASED. SO AFTER ALL THIS WE ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION. THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. I THINK MAZDA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS DAMAGING THEIR REPUTATION. AND HAVE MADE ME DECIED TO NEVER BUY ANY KIND OF MAZDA AGAIN. *AK
WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE ON ITS OWN. A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SHAFT SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
1996 MAZDA 2.0 626 LX. OVERDRIVE FLASHES FROM 4TH TO 3RD. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX/FIND PROBLEM TO NO SATISFACTION. MAZDA DEALER ADVISED NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED-SIGHT UNSEEN. SEEMS TO BE A MORE THAN PREVELANT SITUATION. *AK
THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON INDICATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEREFORE, THE CONSUMERTOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. *AK THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THREE TIMES. *SC
I BOUGHT A 1996 MAZDA 626 WITH 85,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD A TRANSMISSION TUNE-UP DONE WITHIN A MONTH OF THE PURCHASE. NOW, AT 94,000M THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT COSTS EXCEEDING $1500! THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, THE O/D LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH AFTER 15-20 OF DRIVING AROUND.*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.
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.