IllustrationTRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, THE CAR JERKS AND MAKES A SOUND, ENGINE REVS HIGH. *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
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
What owners actually said
318 reportsMASTER CYLINDER GETS STUCK ON DRUMS OF WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN STEERING,ON 19 MAR 2001. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS TOO TIGHT. REPLACED STEERING RACK AND PINION. ON 8 APRIL 2001 WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE, VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING. DEALER SAID THAT MAZDA KNE…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN STEERING,ON 19 MAR 2001. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS TOO TIGHT. REPLACED STEERING RACK AND PINION. ON 8 APRIL 2001 WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE, VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING. DEALER SAID THAT MAZDA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING BUSHINGS, HER'S WERE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK AND PINION AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND WILL BREAK AGAIN. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DRIVER NOTICED A JERKING, NO PRIOR WARNINGS. DEALER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE THREE TIMES. *AK WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION DELAYS INTO GERAS AND TRANSMISSION SLAMED INTO GEAR WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK BACKWARD. *YH
BOTH FRONT TIRES' TREAD PREMATURELY WORE OUT WITH ONLY 16,000 MILES. MODEL SF408, SIZE P18570R14, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *AK *SLC
ON 10/13/2000 WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE RADIO CAME ON FOR A SECOND THEN SHUT DOWN AND DID NOT COME ON AGAIN, THE DOOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STAYED ON & ALL DOORS WERE SHUT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS BEING WORN, KEYLESS ENTRY DID NOT SOUND, POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING, FINALLY ON THAT DAY WHILE COM…
Read full complaint
ON 10/13/2000 WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE RADIO CAME ON FOR A SECOND THEN SHUT DOWN AND DID NOT COME ON AGAIN, THE DOOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STAYED ON & ALL DOORS WERE SHUT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS BEING WORN, KEYLESS ENTRY DID NOT SOUND, POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING, FINALLY ON THAT DAY WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE CAR SHUT DOWN. LATER ON 10/15/2000, WHEN THE FRONT DEFOGGER WAS TURNED ON AND THE CAR WAS JUST IDILING THE CAR BEGAN ACT AS IF WANTED TO TURN OFF AND SHAKE. ON 10/18/2000 MY CAR WENT INTO THE SHOP WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 10/20/2000 AND I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE MY RADIO WOULD START CUTTING OFF AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE SHOP ON 10/25/2000 FOR THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND I HAVEN'T SEEN MY CAR SINCE. SL. *AK
TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 4 X. SAID NOTHING WRONG CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HEAR IT. SHOULD I HIRE A MECHANIC TO GET REPORT OR TAPE RECORD THE NOISE? WON'T DRIVE IT MUCH (CAN'T TAKE IT ON TRIP), CAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG W/WHEELS. DEALERSHIP SAID RE RECALL ON WHEELS, NOTHING WRONG DIDN'T NEED FIXED.
TIRES WORN SMOOTH ON INSIDE AFTER 13000 MILES( DOT NUMBER: Y7CD TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )
A/C COMPRESSOR CYCLING CAUSES ENGINE HESITATION/JERKING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55-65 MPH.I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER 5 OR 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR OR CABIN HEATING /COOLING FAN BEING ON. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO
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.