IllustrationI'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. DT
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
Power Train complaints
313 reportsWHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 34,600 MILES OF NORMAL CITY DRIVING. THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES. (I WAS ABOUT 6.5 MONTHS PAST WARRANTY TIMEWISE) THE MECHANICS WHO REPLACED IT SAID THAT THE FRONT PUMP WAS SCORED, AND THAT METAL BITS FROM IT CAME OUT FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND LODGED IN THE PRESSURE VA…
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I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 34,600 MILES OF NORMAL CITY DRIVING. THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES. (I WAS ABOUT 6.5 MONTHS PAST WARRANTY TIMEWISE) THE MECHANICS WHO REPLACED IT SAID THAT THE FRONT PUMP WAS SCORED, AND THAT METAL BITS FROM IT CAME OUT FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND LODGED IN THE PRESSURE VALVE, WHICH WAS STUCK. ALSO, THE CHAIN WAS STRETCHED. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP GEARS THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THIS IS A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. MR
THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MAY 2002 AT 85000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT (USED) WITH 46000 MILES FAILED 45 DAYS LATER. UPON CONTACT WITH SERVICE REPAIRERS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A HIGH TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATE. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED TO SPILL OUT FROM THE HOSE THAT YOU ADD THE FLUID THROUGH. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTTHING. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WILL BECOME HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE (SLIPPING INTO GEARS) OVERDRIVE LIGHT TURNED ON AND OFF. THE RESULT WAS…
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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WILL BECOME HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE (SLIPPING INTO GEARS) OVERDRIVE LIGHT TURNED ON AND OFF. THE RESULT WAS THE TRANSMISSION BURNED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE WAS LINKED TO THE COMPUTER. *SCC
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AT 15,000 MILES. WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA. FAILED AGAIN AT 53,800 MILES/3 YEARS.*AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING. CHECKED VEHICLE, AND HAD THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL REPLACED. VEHICLE THEN STARTED IDLING AT 2000 RPMS, FLUCTUATING. DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED NEED TO REPLACE POWER-TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V228000 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 37,000 OR 38,000 MILES. WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS TWICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES.1ST AT DEALERSHIP(80.00) 2ND BY MY HUSBAND 3,000 MILES AFTER THE 1ST TIME. 2 MTHS. LATER SAME PROBLEM NOT PLUGS BUT REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS(SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED THAT EARLY) B…
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TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 37,000 OR 38,000 MILES. WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS TWICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES.1ST AT DEALERSHIP(80.00) 2ND BY MY HUSBAND 3,000 MILES AFTER THE 1ST TIME. 2 MTHS. LATER SAME PROBLEM NOT PLUGS BUT REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS(SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED THAT EARLY) BEFORE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS WERE WORN DOWN COMPLETELY. PUT IN SHOP DEC. 01-COMPUTER SAID BAD O2 SENSOR REPLACED BOTH SENSORS(90.00) STILL SAME PROBLEM. CALLED MAZDA, FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA. THEY DID NOTHING. THEY SAID NOT ENOUGH FILES HAD BEEN ISSUED TO WARRANT A RECALL. I THINK THAT IS A LIE. ALL OVER THE INTERNET YOU FIND COMPLAINTS OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THAT. IT IS A SHAME THAT MAZDA MAKES A PRODUCT AS THIS AND DOES NOT STAND BEHIND WHAT IT PRODUCES. THEY ARE JUST LAZY AND DO NOT CARE TO HELP THE PUBLIC. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION. THEY HAVE A VERY BAD REPUTATION WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY DON'T EVEN SEEM TO CARE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND EVERYONE THAT STILL HAS PAPERWORK NEEDS TO BE REIMBURSED BY MAZDA FOR ALL THE MONEY PEOPLE HAVE PAID TO GET THEIR CARS FIXED. THANK GOODNESS WE GOT RID OF OURS A FEW MONTHS AGO. I TELL EVEYONE I KNOW THAT IS LOOKING INTO BUYING A CAR NOT TO GET A MAZDA.
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.