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2002 Mazda 626

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mazda 626 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 44.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

60 reports with mileage · 27 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 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
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86,000 miles · Jan 13, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FIRESTONE STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AND UNDER THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ICE COLD MOTORS AND THEY CHAN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FIRESTONE STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AND UNDER THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ICE COLD MOTORS AND THEY CHANGED THE VALVE COVER GASKET. ICE COLD MOTORS DISCOVERED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10254913

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2002 626 PISTON RINGS FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PER THE MECHANIC. THERE WAS SCARING FOUND ON THE CYLINDER WALLS ALSO PISTONS LOWER COMPRESSION RING FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS STARTING TO RUN HOT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW OVERFLOW COOLANT BOTTLE BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED ALONG THE SEAM…

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2002 626 PISTON RINGS FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PER THE MECHANIC. THERE WAS SCARING FOUND ON THE CYLINDER WALLS ALSO PISTONS LOWER COMPRESSION RING FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS STARTING TO RUN HOT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW OVERFLOW COOLANT BOTTLE BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED ALONG THE SEAM. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CV BOOT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177476

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

HEARD NOISE AND BAD VIBRATION FROM FRONT LEFT , IT GOT WORSE AND LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. AROUND TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED, HEARD LOUD NOISE ON FRONT RIGHT, GOT LOUDER WHEN TURNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED FRONT RIGHT BEARING…

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HEARD NOISE AND BAD VIBRATION FROM FRONT LEFT , IT GOT WORSE AND LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. AROUND TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED, HEARD LOUD NOISE ON FRONT RIGHT, GOT LOUDER WHEN TURNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED FRONT RIGHT BEARING. CAR ALWAYS SERVICED AT DEALER, TWO WEEKS BEFORE TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR PULLING TO THE RIGHT. DEALER STATED IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING. DID THAT NEXT DAY AND SAME THING HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. I HAD NEW FRONT BRAKES, NEW TIRES, NEW RIGHT AND LEFT BEARINGS, AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO BALANCE AND ROTATE TIRES. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT DEALER INSISTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, HAD TO REPLACE COOLANT BOTTLE THREE TIMES, AND ONCE CAR OVERHEATED. IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10118125

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.