MY1999 MAZDA 626 DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AND THE GARAGES ALL TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. THEY TELL ME THIS STARTS AS THE CAR GETS OLDER AND IT IS NOT AN EASY FIX AS MAZDA IS HAVING A PROBLEM FIXING THIS.*AK
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
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.
What owners actually said
318 reports3 MAZDA 626'S ONE 1999 AND TWO 2001. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AND JUMPING ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE ALL THREE TRANSMISSION HAVE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED MAZDA SUPPLIED THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1999 AT 81,229 MILES I HAD TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION AND A COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE NEW TRANNY. I T…
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3 MAZDA 626'S ONE 1999 AND TWO 2001. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AND JUMPING ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE ALL THREE TRANSMISSION HAVE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED MAZDA SUPPLIED THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1999 AT 81,229 MILES I HAD TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION AND A COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE NEW TRANNY. I TOOK THE SECOND ONE TO THE PLACE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE( A WRECK REBUILDING SERVICES) AND THEY INSTALLED A USED TRANNY FOR $1500. THE THIRD IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO HELP. INCIDENT DATES: 1ST 1999 MODEL NOV 11, 2003 2ND 2001 MODEL SEPT 20, 2004 3RD 2001 MODEL IN THE SHOP NOW THIS IS NOV. 8, 2004. *AK
I OWN A 1999 MAZDA 626 ES WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANS AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, AND HAS 78,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. LAST WEEK THE TRANSAXLE FAILED AS IT DROPPED DOWN A GEAR, TO GO UP A SLIGHT HILL, AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSAXLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE …
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I OWN A 1999 MAZDA 626 ES WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANS AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, AND HAS 78,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. LAST WEEK THE TRANSAXLE FAILED AS IT DROPPED DOWN A GEAR, TO GO UP A SLIGHT HILL, AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSAXLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE RESULTING REBUILD OF THE TRANSAXLE WILL COST $2100, HALF THE CURRENT TRADE-IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERNS ARE TWO-FOLD. FIRST, THE TRANSAXLE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 78,000 MILES; THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SITUATION FOR A WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. SECOND, AFTER A SEARCH THROUGH INTERNET DISCUSSION SITES, AND DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH A CO-WORKER WHO HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH A 1995 MAZDA 626, IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT TO ME THAT MAZDA 626 TRANSAXLE FAILURES ARE A FAIRLY COMMON, SEEMINGLY SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. *AK
MAZDA 626 1999. O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING MAKING CAR CHUG AND SLOW DOWN NOT SHIFTING GEARS CORRECTLY AND TUGGING WHEN AT A STOP WITH ENGINE GOING LIKE IT WANTS TO KEEP GOING OR AS IF SOMEONE IS TAPPING YOU IN THE BACK OF CAR. HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS OF THIS YEA…
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MAZDA 626 1999. O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING MAKING CAR CHUG AND SLOW DOWN NOT SHIFTING GEARS CORRECTLY AND TUGGING WHEN AT A STOP WITH ENGINE GOING LIKE IT WANTS TO KEEP GOING OR AS IF SOMEONE IS TAPPING YOU IN THE BACK OF CAR. HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS OF THIS YEAR AND OLDER AND NEWER MAZDAS , IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON? ANY ADVICE ON THIS CAR? PLEASE INVESTIGATE NOT FAIR TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULDNT BE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *AK
AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND DRIVING, WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF WILL NOT RESTART, FOR 15 MINUTES TO 2 HRS. *NM
DEALER DIAGNOSED WITH BAD TRANSMISSION 96,000 MILES. THIS IS HIGH MILEAGE, BUT NOT HIGH ENOUGH FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
I BOUGHT MY CAR USED, AND AT 72,000 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I BROUGHT IT INTO LANCASTER TOYOTA MAZDA, LANCASTER, PA AND THEY SAID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THERE IS SOME EXTERNAL COOLING UNIT THAT HAS TO BE ADDED TO IT TO MAKE IT WORK WITHOUT OVERHEATING AGAIN. MAZDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOGN…
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I BOUGHT MY CAR USED, AND AT 72,000 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I BROUGHT IT INTO LANCASTER TOYOTA MAZDA, LANCASTER, PA AND THEY SAID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THERE IS SOME EXTERNAL COOLING UNIT THAT HAS TO BE ADDED TO IT TO MAKE IT WORK WITHOUT OVERHEATING AGAIN. MAZDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOGNIZING THIS ERROR AND NOT REPLACING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE IN THEIR CONSUMERS VEHICLES. I AM REQUESTING A COMPLETE REFUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $280.00 FOR THIS UNIT TO BE INSTALLED ALONG WITH THE DEDUCTIBLE ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK
I PURCHASED MY 1999 MAZDA 626 IN 2001. THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING IN FEB. 2002. I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLIANTS ABOUT THE MAZDA PRODUCT THAT I AM APPALLED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED AND DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES FO THE REPAIR. IRONICALLY, WHILE INVESTIGATING THIS CAR ON THE WEB I FOUND THAT FORD MADE THE TRANSMISSION…
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I PURCHASED MY 1999 MAZDA 626 IN 2001. THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING IN FEB. 2002. I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLIANTS ABOUT THE MAZDA PRODUCT THAT I AM APPALLED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED AND DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES FO THE REPAIR. IRONICALLY, WHILE INVESTIGATING THIS CAR ON THE WEB I FOUND THAT FORD MADE THE TRANSMISSION FOR MY CAR, AND THE FUNNY THING IS ALL OF MY FAMILY OWNS FORD SUV'S ( BRAND NEW). SHOULD I FOR WARN THEM THAT THEY ARE LOOKIG AT COSTLY REPAIR WHICH MAY AMOUNT TO PAYING DOUBLE THE PRICE OF THE CAR? IN THE END I BELIEVE I HAVE BE RIPPED OFF BY THE CAR DEALERSHIP. I WILL NEVER BUY MAZDA AGAIN, AND TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE....." BUYER BEWARE"""...... *AK
I 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.
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 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
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.
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