IllustrationCOMPLETE TRANS FAILURE AT 76,800 MILES. REQUIRED A COMPLETE REBUILD 1950.00. *JB
1999 Mazda 626
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 626 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
100–25K
1325–50K
6150–75K
6475–100K
49100–150K
12150K+
209 reports with mileage · 109 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 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
233 reportsVEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED WHEN BRAKING FROM 40 MPH OR MORE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, AND THE TIMING BELT SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE SECOND TIME. CONSUMER HAD BOTH PART…
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VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED WHEN BRAKING FROM 40 MPH OR MORE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, AND THE TIMING BELT SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE SECOND TIME. CONSUMER HAD BOTH PARTS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. MY CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. TRANSMISSION FAILURE- MAZDA 626- 60,000 MILES. *JB
MAZDA 626ES, 6 CYLINDER. TRANSMISSION SNAPS INTO AND OUT OF GEAR AT IRREGULAR RPM'S. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES. MILEAGE = 86268.*AK
THE OD OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING, THEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, POPPED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A GARAGE, BUT NO LEAKS WERE FOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *JB *SC
THE TRANSMISSION IS HORRIBLE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING OUR 1999 MAZDA 626 ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR, THE O/D DASH LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. AFTER PULLING OVER I DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD SPILLED OUT FROM VENT TUBING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OUT. WE GOT SEVERAL…
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WHILE DRIVING OUR 1999 MAZDA 626 ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR, THE O/D DASH LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. AFTER PULLING OVER I DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD SPILLED OUT FROM VENT TUBING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OUT. WE GOT SEVERAL OTHER OPINIONS WHICH INCLUDED REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION AT $1800. WE WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM OUR DEALERSHIP ON THIS PROBLEM AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME AND WORSE SITUATIONS (VERY COSTLY TRANSMISSION REPAIRS ).*JB
MY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHUOUT WARNING. I HAVE HEARD THERE IS A CLASSACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED THAT IS ESTIMATED AT $2000. THIS CAR IS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK
WE HAVE 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH 77K MILE ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE COMES LOOSE WHERE CABLE ATTACHES TO TRANSMISSION. END OF CABLE HAS A RUBBER BUSHING THAT SLIDE ONTO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS DETERIATED AND WILL NOT SAY ATTACHED. TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN GEAR; ENGINE MUST BE SHUT OFF. ONCE ENGINE IS SHU…
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WE HAVE 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH 77K MILE ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE COMES LOOSE WHERE CABLE ATTACHES TO TRANSMISSION. END OF CABLE HAS A RUBBER BUSHING THAT SLIDE ONTO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS DETERIATED AND WILL NOT SAY ATTACHED. TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN GEAR; ENGINE MUST BE SHUT OFF. ONCE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, IT CAN'T BE RESTARTED UNTIL SHIFT CABLE IS REATTACHED. CABLE COMES OFF WHEN SHIFTER IS MOVED REPEATING CYCLE. BUSHING CAN NOT BE REPLACED, ENTIRE CABLE MUST BE REPLACED. MADZA SERVICE DEPARTMENT QUOTES $655 PLUS TAXES TO MAKE REPAIRS. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. SURELY OTHER MAZDA 626 OWNERS ARE EXPERENCING THE SAME PROBLEM?*AK
CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING..I ALMOST CRASHED. *NM
Official recalls
200V134000 · 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.
00V074000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Mar 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN RESERVOIR TANK CAPS ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WERE PRODUCED WITH A WORN OUT DIE AND LACK VENTILATION HOLES. AS A RESULT, THE PRESSURE IN THE RESERVOIR TANK CAN DROP GRADUALLY AS THE BRAKE PAD OR SHOE WEARS AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DROPS. ALSO, THE PRESSURE COULD REACH A POINT THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER AND DRUM CYLINDER ARE PULLED BACK BY THE VACUUM IN THE RESERVOIR TANK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A LONG TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFICIENCY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RESERVOIR CAP 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.