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1997 Mazda 626

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 626 years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mazda 626 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.

About this comparison →
358Owner complaints

Model-year median: 44

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
282
1994488
1995359
1996358
1997434
1998318
1999217
2000
Compare all 626 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
233Engine And Engine Cooling
39Air Bags
36Electrical System
32Unknown Or Other
16
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Vehicle Speed Control
9Equipment
8Steering
8Tires
5Exterior Lighting
4Seats
4Suspension
4Visibility
4Seat Belts
3Engine
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Structure
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

161 reports with mileage · 197 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 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports5 fire reports22 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

39 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, 2 TIMES DUE TO SPILLAGE FROM A CUP THAT'S IN THE CUP HOLDER, DEALER INSTALLED A COVER TO PROTECT PCM, VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED 3 OTHER TIMES WITH NO EXPLANATION, POSSIBLY AN ELECTICAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED, STALLING COULD ALSO BE RELATED TO EN…

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CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, 2 TIMES DUE TO SPILLAGE FROM A CUP THAT'S IN THE CUP HOLDER, DEALER INSTALLED A COVER TO PROTECT PCM, VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED 3 OTHER TIMES WITH NO EXPLANATION, POSSIBLY AN ELECTICAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED, STALLING COULD ALSO BE RELATED TO ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #877561

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

RECALL 98V206001 DONE IN JUNE 1999, PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE EVER SINCE, TIMING CHAIN REPLACED A SECOND TIME IN OCTOBER 2000. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IS SHAKING, CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, DEALER THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877381

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR OVERHEATED. CAR BROKEDOWN ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE SHOP. HAD TO PUSH CAR THREE BLOCKS THE REST OF THE WAY. WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO ENGINE. ENGINE IS DAMAGED MUST BE REPLACED. HAVE TO BUY NEW ENGINE AND NEW RADIATOR. NO OTHER WARNINGS BEFORE THAT.

NHTSA ODI #738148

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING A JERK FEELING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #784729

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING WATER PUMP BUSTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856702

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN DRIVE, AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND SO MUCH THAT IT ACTUALLY CREATES A HUMMING NOISE. THE VIBRATION IS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSE EARS TO CLOG UP. TOOK CAR TO BROWNS MAZAD DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A TOTAL …

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WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN DRIVE, AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND SO MUCH THAT IT ACTUALLY CREATES A HUMMING NOISE. THE VIBRATION IS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSE EARS TO CLOG UP. TOOK CAR TO BROWNS MAZAD DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF TWO WEEKS, WAITING ON A "PART" WHICH HAPPEND TO BE A BOLT AND WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR, IT WAS IN WORSE CONDITION THAN WHEN I BROUGH IT IN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOME VIBRATION IS NORMAL, BUT I AM LITERALLY SHAKING WHEN THE CAR IDLES IN THE DRIVE GEAR. NASTY ATTITUDE. I AM STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I ASKED TO HAVE THE MOUNTS REPLACED, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS WITHIN 'SPECS' THEREFORE, LIVE WITH IT. THIS COULD BECOME A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO STOP THE SHAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718341

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN OCTOBER CONCERNING ENGINE TIMING BELT. DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V20600. FAILURE OCCURRED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER TO GET CAR REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #832702

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS NOTIFIED FROM MAZDA ON A RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR A DEFECTIVE TENSION SPRING FOR THE TIMING BELT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE PART. NOW I HAVE STRANGE NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT I STILL…

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WAS NOTIFIED FROM MAZDA ON A RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR A DEFECTIVE TENSION SPRING FOR THE TIMING BELT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE PART. NOW I HAVE STRANGE NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT I STILL HAVE AN ENGINE NOISE THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR THE RECALL. I AM LOOKING FOR THE FACTORY REP. TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #701629

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #542912

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

COLLISION WAS CAUSE BY LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO ENGINE STALLING. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MFR. CONCERNING MAZDA/TIMING BELT # 98V-206.001. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF VEHICLE STALLING AND THEN BEING OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831369

Official recalls

3

15V674000 · 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.

98V206001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Sep 8, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TENSIONER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.

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

2

RQ02004 · Oversensitive Airbag Deployment

Opened Feb 8, 2002 · Closed Aug 19, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

There is no summary currently available

SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative

Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.