Illustration1997 MAZDA 626 LX - TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COMPUTER HAVE ALL BEEN REPAIRED IN A SPAN OF 11 MONTHS. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE 80,000 MILES ON IT!*AK
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 →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
90–25K
1025–50K
3450–75K
5275–100K
49100–150K
7150K+
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
Power Train complaints
233 reportsI OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX, WHICH I BOUGHT USED WITH 36,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, STRANDING MY WIFE AND I. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEIR EXACT WORDS WERE: "WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXP…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX, WHICH I BOUGHT USED WITH 36,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, STRANDING MY WIFE AND I. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEIR EXACT WORDS WERE: "WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION IN STOCK." WE THEN SHOPPED AROUND AND FOUND A LESS EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT GAVE US A ONE YEAR GUARANTEE, AND CAME RECOMMENDED BY A MECHANIC FRIEND OF OURS. ONE YEAR AND TWO WEEKS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING ON LONG DRIVES, SPEWING TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT THE VENT CAP. MECHANICS TELL US WE NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, THEY THINK. IN ANY CASE, WE'LL PROBABLY NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SOON. WE'RE DUMPING THE HEAP AND BUYING A TOYOTA CAMRY. I'M APPALLED TO SEE PAGE AFTER PAGE OF NEARLY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1994 - 1998 626S. MAZDA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. HOW DARE MAZDA/FORD DO THIS TO HARD WORKING FOLKS WHO JUST WANT TO DRIVE A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE? *LA
CD4E TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LA
TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAD TO BE REPLACED, OVERDRIVE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHING, DEALERS STATED WAS OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED BOTH SENSORS, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED, REPLACED TRANSMISSION REPLACED SEVERAL DAYS LATER WITH ANOTHER, FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS DEFECTIVE. *LA
!997 MAZDA 626 AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILING ... WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES! *LA
TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 1997 MAZDA 626 LX WITH 58,000 MILES COST OVER $2500 TO REPAIR. *LA
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE 1997 MAZDA 626. *LA
I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED RIGHT AT 70,000 MILES. IT COST ME $2,600 TO GET IT FIXED. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I CHECKED AROUND AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES UNDER 70,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY GET A TON OF THESE CARS…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED RIGHT AT 70,000 MILES. IT COST ME $2,600 TO GET IT FIXED. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I CHECKED AROUND AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES UNDER 70,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY GET A TON OF THESE CARS WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I FEEL MAZDA SHOULD COMPENSATE US FOR THESE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *LA
1997 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AND THE DEALERS WOULD NOT AGREE TO REPLACE OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH A CAR.
TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON OUT "97 MAZDA 626. LOUD CLICKS AND JUMPS ON ACCELERATIONS. NOT THE CV JOINTS. *JB
Official recalls
315V674000 · 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
2RQ02004 · 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.