IllustrationTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE TIMING BELT TRENCHER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NLM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE REPAIR. *SCC
1998 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
30–25K
825–50K
5350–75K
7875–100K
66100–150K
16150K+
224 reports with mileage · 210 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 313 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
81 reportsTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE STALLING AS STATED IN RECALL 97 V 228 000. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP.*JB
STALLS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE FROM COMPLETE STOP, CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING IN INTERSECTIONS WHILE MAKING TURNS. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT FLASHES BUT DOES NOT REMAIN ON, THEN CAR SUDDENLY JOLTS FORWARD. ALSO SHIFTS HARD AND JOLTS DURING DRIVING. MAZDA SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SINCE THERE IS NO COMPUTER CODE…
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STALLS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE FROM COMPLETE STOP, CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING IN INTERSECTIONS WHILE MAKING TURNS. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT FLASHES BUT DOES NOT REMAIN ON, THEN CAR SUDDENLY JOLTS FORWARD. ALSO SHIFTS HARD AND JOLTS DURING DRIVING. MAZDA SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SINCE THERE IS NO COMPUTER CODE TO INDICATE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. ALL REQUIRED MAINTANENCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED, GAS TANK IS FULL. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AS REQUIRED BY MANUFACTURER. HELP! MR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TENSIONER BELT FELL OFF FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*JB
AT 30MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
MY 1998 MAZDA 626 DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL #92007, ENGINE TIMING BELT TENSIONER, DUE TO "VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PROVIDED DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL 92007. DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE CLOSING THE FILE (FILE #764436)." THE SPRING ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING THE CAR TO KEEP STALLING. THIS IS EXACTL…
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MY 1998 MAZDA 626 DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL #92007, ENGINE TIMING BELT TENSIONER, DUE TO "VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PROVIDED DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL 92007. DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE CLOSING THE FILE (FILE #764436)." THE SPRING ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING THE CAR TO KEEP STALLING. THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM STATED ON RECALL #92007. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO COMPENSATE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR.*AK
MAZDA CORP STATES THAT MY VIN IS NOT 'ON THE LIST' BUT DEALER STATED THAT IT IS UNUSUAL FOR SPRING TO FAIL. MY VEHICLE FALLS IN THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE SIZE IN RECALL, BUT MANUFACTURER DENIES REPAIR ON RECALL BASIS EVEN IF TENSIONER SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT IS NOT ON THE LIST OF VIN'S CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE. I AM ORI…
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MAZDA CORP STATES THAT MY VIN IS NOT 'ON THE LIST' BUT DEALER STATED THAT IT IS UNUSUAL FOR SPRING TO FAIL. MY VEHICLE FALLS IN THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE SIZE IN RECALL, BUT MANUFACTURER DENIES REPAIR ON RECALL BASIS EVEN IF TENSIONER SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT IS NOT ON THE LIST OF VIN'S CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER, AGE 50, CONSERVATIVE DRIVER. I WOULD LIKE AN EXCEPTION CASE TO BE FILED. I HAVE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER THAT DIAGNOSED AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR IS TOM NASO MAZDA, 11185 ALPHARETTA HIGHWAY, ROSWELL, GA 30076 770-993-6999.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED AT 5 MPH. DEALER REPLACED A BROKEN TIMING BELT TENSIONER.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON ONE OCCASION ,AND THE PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
415V674000 · 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.
00V134000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
May 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BROKEN SPRING MAY GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, RESULTING POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TENSIONER INSTALLED AND REPLACE IT IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AFFECTED TENSIONER.
98V243000 · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
Oct 2, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A HOT, HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AUDIO UNIT AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE SPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.
97V228000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Dec 17, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) INSTALLED CAN, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRIGGER A SHIFT IN AIR-FUEL RATIO TO AN OVERLEAN CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM WITH THE CORRECT ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC.
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
1SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.