IllustrationI AM THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE OWNER. THE CAR HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, OXGEN SENSOR AND THE TRANSMISSION THIS SUMMER. IT SEEMS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR THIS YOUNG TO HAVE SUCH EXTENSIVE, EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS.
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 reportsI HAVE A 99 MAZDA 626 AND HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AT FIRST MY CAR WOULD SOMETIMES HESITATE UPON ACCELERATING. RECENTLY, AS I WAS DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. THE CAR WOULD IDLE; HOWEVER, WOULD NEVER KICK INTO GEAR AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON/OFF. I PUT THE CAR INTO D2 TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE…
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I HAVE A 99 MAZDA 626 AND HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AT FIRST MY CAR WOULD SOMETIMES HESITATE UPON ACCELERATING. RECENTLY, AS I WAS DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. THE CAR WOULD IDLE; HOWEVER, WOULD NEVER KICK INTO GEAR AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON/OFF. I PUT THE CAR INTO D2 TO MAKE IT TO A SAFER ENVIROMENT AND AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT CUT OFF. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 1994-2002 MAZDA'S DUE TO A FORD TRANSMISSION BEING INSTALLED. I ALSO READ THAT MAZDA AND FORD ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NEVER TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. WHILE I RECEIVE LITERATURE TO PURCHASE NEW MAZDA'S, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. NOW BEING QUOTED PRICES OF $1800-$2100 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED, I MUST FOOT THIS BILL ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME OCCURANCE IN A MATTER OF MONTHS. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT MAZDA CEASED MAKING THE 626 MODEL DUE TO TRANSMISSION/DESIGN PROBLEMS. HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THEY OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES?*AK
WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUT FAMILY'S 1999 MAZDA 626 WHEN SHE CALLED ME FRIGHTENED AS THE CAR TRANSMISSION WAS SURGING. WITH 68000 MILES ONE WOULD THINK THAT A CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE A TRNASMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP (REPRTABLE) IS NOW REPLACING SAME FOR $2700.*AK
STALLED OUT IT FIRST HAD TO GET THE RPMS UP TO GET IT TO SHIFT, OD LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. NOW THE CAR WONT PULL AT ALL. HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR TWO AND HALF YEARS. HAD IT TOWED TO COLEMAN-TAYLOR TRANSMISSION. THET WANT $3,000.00 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF TWO DAYS. I DON'T HAVE $3,000.00 TO CO…
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STALLED OUT IT FIRST HAD TO GET THE RPMS UP TO GET IT TO SHIFT, OD LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. NOW THE CAR WONT PULL AT ALL. HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR TWO AND HALF YEARS. HAD IT TOWED TO COLEMAN-TAYLOR TRANSMISSION. THET WANT $3,000.00 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF TWO DAYS. I DON'T HAVE $3,000.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SINGLE PARENT TRYING TO PUT MY ONLY CHILD THROUGH COLLEGE. I HONESTLY CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN SOME KIND OF RECALL WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!*AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
I PURCHASED MY 1999 MAZDA 626 IN DECEMBER 2000. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE EXISTS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH DOWNSHIFTS ROUGHLY AND HAS THREATENED TO FAIL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. RECENTLY, A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME MODEL TOLD ME THAT MAZDA INSTALLED FORD TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR 626 MODELS AND THAT THESE PARTICUL…
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I PURCHASED MY 1999 MAZDA 626 IN DECEMBER 2000. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE EXISTS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH DOWNSHIFTS ROUGHLY AND HAS THREATENED TO FAIL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. RECENTLY, A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME MODEL TOLD ME THAT MAZDA INSTALLED FORD TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR 626 MODELS AND THAT THESE PARTICULAR TRANSMISSIONS WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO OPERATE IN A 626. HER TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY AND SHE HAD TO REPLACE IT. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A HUNDRED-DOLLAR "FIX" THAT CAN STOP THE TRANSMISSION FROM FAILING. I LOOKED THROUGH YOUR DATABASE ONLINE. THE PROBLEM WITH MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS IS WELL-KNOWN AND WELL-DOCUMENTED AND YET: 1. THERE IS NO RECALL. 2. MAZDA HAS NEVER INFORMED ME OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM OR POTENTIAL "FIX." I SUPPOSE I WILL EITHER HAVE TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE "FIX" AND SPEND MORE MONEY ON A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED OR PAY APPROXIMATELY $2,000 WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILS. IF THIS IS A DOCUMENTED CONDITION WHICH EVERYONE SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT, WHAT IS NHTSA'S POSITION AND WHY ISN'T MAZDA BEING CALLED TO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. *AK
TRANSMISSION ON MY 99 MAZDA 626 LX IS GIVING ME PLENTY OF PROBLEMS. CAR WARRANTY IS ALMOST GONE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME CAR AND ALL HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS AS THEY ARE FAULTY! *JB
TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. AS A RESULT THE PART FAILED.*AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, REVEALED TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. O/D LIGHT FLASHES AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. *JB
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.