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
What owners actually said
434 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2000
Tires
ALL THE TREAD ON TWO REAR TIRES VANISHED AFTER VACATION TRAVEL AT SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO TREAD LEFT ON LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR TIRES. TIRES ON REAR NORMALLY AT 26 PSI WERE NOT OPERATED BELOW THAT PRESSURE.GARAGE MECHANIC FOUND TWO REAR WHEEL TIE RODS BENT IDENTICALLY . THERE WAS NO SIGN UPON INSPECTION THA…
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ALL THE TREAD ON TWO REAR TIRES VANISHED AFTER VACATION TRAVEL AT SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO TREAD LEFT ON LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR TIRES. TIRES ON REAR NORMALLY AT 26 PSI WERE NOT OPERATED BELOW THAT PRESSURE.GARAGE MECHANIC FOUND TWO REAR WHEEL TIE RODS BENT IDENTICALLY . THERE WAS NO SIGN UPON INSPECTION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RUN OVER ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO SCRATCHES OR MARKS UNDER THE CAR TO INDICATE IMPACT WITH ROAD HAZARD. I BELIEVE THE TIRE WEAR PLUS THE MFG RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 26 PSI REDUCED ROAD CLEARANCE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WOULD BOTTOM OUT AFTER HITTING UNREPAIRED WIDE CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE ROADWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH.I BELIEVE THE TIRE WEAR WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE TIRES MADE BY BRIDGESTONE.I BELIEVE THE TIRE WEAR CAUSED THE TIE RODS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SERVICE CAUSING IDENTICAL BENDS IN EACH TIE ROD, THE BENT TIE RODS THEN WOULD THROW THE WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND ERASE THE TIRE TREADS.( DOT NUMBER: Y7CD CCF TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )
NHTSA ODI #730032
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2000
SteeringCrashInjury
STEERING RACK GEAR BROKE IN TWO WITH NO WARNING, CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CROSSED HIGHWAY, DOWN A SMALL EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE TREES (NARROWLY MISSING AN ONCOMING SMALL TRUCK). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WAS SUFFERED AGGRAVATION TO EXISTING BACK AND LEG PROBLEMS. SHE SAID SHE HEARD A "CLUNK" AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS THE ROAD. …
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STEERING RACK GEAR BROKE IN TWO WITH NO WARNING, CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CROSSED HIGHWAY, DOWN A SMALL EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE TREES (NARROWLY MISSING AN ONCOMING SMALL TRUCK). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WAS SUFFERED AGGRAVATION TO EXISTING BACK AND LEG PROBLEMS. SHE SAID SHE HEARD A "CLUNK" AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS THE ROAD. AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AT THE TOWING COMPANIES LOT THAT NIGHT AND DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE UNDER THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. I ASKED THE DEALER NOW REPAIRING THE CAR TO SAVE ANY STEERING PARTS. THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AS A UNIT AND I NOW HAVE IT. I HAVE NOT DISASSEMBLED IT BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY BROKE UNDER THE BOOT WHERE THE RACK EXITS THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. COMMENT: CARS SHOULDN'T BREAK LIKE THIS WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON THEM. THIS CAR HAS RECEIVED REGULAR LUBRICATION MAINTENANCE AND WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN IT RECENTLY SHOWED NO SIGN OF IMPENDING STEERING PROBLEMS SUCH AS CLUNKS, TIGHT STEERING, ROAD WANDER, ETC. IT WAS JUST FINE UNTIL IT BROKE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #727108
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Power Train
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW CAN A 2YEAR OLD CAR NEED A TRANSMISION. I ONLY HAD THIS CAR 1YEAR I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THERE ANY THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME PLEASE CONTACT ME. I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRANSMISION FOR THIS YEAR. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725766
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF REPEATEDLY DUE TO OIL SPILLING INTO AIR FLOW SENSOR AND DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. YH
NHTSA ODI #552683
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2000
Power TrainStructure
WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND BEGINNING TO RE-ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN TO GEAR. THE INTERIOR HEADLINER OF THE CAR BURNED IN EXTREME HEAT. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO A LOCAL UPHOLSTERY SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON IN THE 1998 MODEL CAR THAT I HAVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #724064
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED OVERDRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHING. THEN, ENGINE WOULD IDLE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #863180
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2000
Power Train
AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR OF OWNING THIS CAR AND A DAY AFTER HAVING A FULL MAINTENANCE JOB DONE IT'S STRANGE TO FIND OUT THAT YOUR TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED AND THE TOTAL COSTS IS $2470.00. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723500
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2000
Power Train
AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND STEPPING ON BRAKE TO SHIFT GEAR, THE SHIFT GEAR REMAINS LOCKED. DOES NOT MOVE. MUST PLAY (SOMETIMES HARD) TO GET FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THEN MOVE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722084
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2000
Seats
DRIVER'S SEAT IS SO LOW THAT IT MUST BE ADJUSTED WITHIN 12 INCHES OF AIRBAG FOR VISIBILITY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719297
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Air BagsInjury
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE, VIOLENT CONDITION OF DEPLOYMENT CAUSED INJURIES TO CONSUMERS FACE AND CHEST AREA. YH
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.
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.
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
1
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
1998 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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