FaultScore

Mazda 626 engine problems

392 of the 3,877 complaints filed about the Mazda 626 are about the engine — 10% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

392

Complaints

10%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

9

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1986 626 3 0.8%
1987 626 2 0.5%
1988 626 3 0.8%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

1989 626 6 1.5%
1990 626 11 2.8%
1991 626 9 2.3%
1993 626 17 4.3%

Median failure at 92,000 miles

1994 626 30 7.7%

Median failure at 103,696 miles

1995 626 34 8.7%

Median failure at 113,000 miles

1996 626 36 9.2%

Median failure at 131,659 miles

1997 626 45 11.5%

Median failure at 85,500 miles

1998 626 92 23.5%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

1999 626 52 13.3%

Median failure at 78,000 miles

2000 626 23 5.9%

Median failure at 68,975 miles

2001 626 24 6.1%

Median failure at 64,600 miles

2002 626 4 1.0%

Median failure at 86,000 miles

2003 626 1 0.3%

What owners said

2001 Mazda 626 Greensboro, NC

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD OPERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TAPPED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLOW MAZDA OF GREENSBORO (1205 BRIDFORD PKWY, GREENSBORO, NC 27407, 336-299-1500), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11230445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mazda 626 at 147,400 miles Hampton, VA

ENGINE

THE VEHICLE IS STALLING DURING ACCELERATION AND AFTER. SOMETIMES IT'S STOPS AND CLEAR ITSELF UP AND THEN THROWS ITSELF INTO OVERDRIVE (O/D OFF LIGHTS STARTS FLASHING) ALL WHILE DRIVING IT IN THE STREET(CITY AND INTERSTATE). WHEN YOU LET THE CAR SIT AND NOT RUN IT WILL NOT FLASH BUT AFTER DRIVING AMD NOT GETTING ANY SPEED IT DOES IT AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11157034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda 626 at 44,825 miles Goleta, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA 626. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (PERRY FORD, 440 HITCHCOCK WAY, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105 (805) 682-2411), BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,825. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11092359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mazda 626 Lancaster, TX

ENGINE

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOW. EVEN AFTER WE GET IT FIXED IT STILLS JERKS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO FALL OUT. IT HAS A TERRIBLE TIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT JUMPS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OUT. MY DAD IS 94 YEARS OLD AND NEEDS THIS CAR TO WORK. HE DOESN'T NEED TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER ONE OR SPEND ANOTHER $1800 OR SO TO GET THIS ONE FIXED. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10993720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda 626 at 150,000 miles Little Rock, AR

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION CD4E TRANNY DOESN'T HAVE SWITCH GEARS UNLESS YOU USE EXCESSIVE RPM.

NHTSA complaint #10992285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Mazda 626 at 165,000 miles King, NC

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRE HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA complaint #10875499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda 626 at 200,000 miles Clackmas, OR Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A WARNING SOUND AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE FRONT END. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10837700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mazda 626 at 10,000 miles Quitman, MS Crash

ENGINE

SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND DUE TO MY BREAK CAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP & THE TRANSMITTION WENT OUT ON THE CAR & I ALSO HAD OTHER PROBLEMS TO WITH THE CAR

NHTSA complaint #10788692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mazda 626 Franklin, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS CAR. ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, TIRES AND BALL JOINTS. NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS REPLACED, WIPER MOTOR AND QUARTER PANELS ARE ALL RUSTED OUT. I AM DISABLED AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. SHOULD ALL OF THIS SHOULD OF GONE WRONG? IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR EIGHT YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10670033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda 626 at 150,000 miles Bedford, TX

ENGINE

WHILE COMMUTING, THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC--THEY FIXED A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID-- CAR WAS THEN SHIFTING HARD, TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP--THEY DIAGNOSED TWO PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE LEAK. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EFFECTIVELY PUSHING THE FLUID THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD WHEN IT STOPPED SHIFTING.

NHTSA complaint #10654622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda 626 at 107,000 miles Riegelsville, PA

ENGINE

PURCHASED USED MAZDA 262, YEAR 2000, THAT HAPPENED TO HAVE ORIGINAL KNOWN-FAULTY CD4E. CAR NOW INOPERABLE AFTER LESS THAN A THOUSAND MILES AFTER LEAVING THE LOT. OCCASIONAL ACCEPTABLE OPERATION, INTERSPERSED WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/LOSING GEAR/NO POWER, NEARLY CAUSED A REAR-END ACCIDENT GOING UPHILL ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10525521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mazda 626 Quitman, MS

ENGINE

MY GAS PEDAL GET STUCK, CAR JERKS WHEN DRIVEN & MAKE NOISY, CAR SAKES BRAKES PROBLEMS & MORE.

NHTSA complaint #10478705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mazda 626 Cincinnati, OH

ENGINE

CPSC#I1190531A. 1997 MAZDA 626. CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE BROUGHT THE CAR IT HAD SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, AND BEGAN SMOKING SEVERELY ONCE TAKEN THE SPEED LIMIT. SHE ALSO STATED IT RESULTED IN BEING TOWED ON THE 6TH DAY OF HAVING THE VEHICLE PURCHASED.

NHTSA complaint #10461608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda 626 at 187,000 miles Chicago, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10381062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Mazda 626 at 138,000 miles Napa, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE 1994 MAZDA 626LX WITH A V-6 2.5L MOTOR HAS REQUIRED 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 8 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AS WELL. THIS LAST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I WAS ON I-5 HEADING NORTH NEAR THE LOS BANOS TURNOFF WHEN IT JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE FREEWAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DESIGN AND LONGEVITY OF MANY PARTS OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10361472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mazda 626 at 150,000 miles Richmond, VI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE SLIPPING AND VIBRATION. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PRODUCT BEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WHY IS MAZDA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE.......

NHTSA complaint #10352506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda 626 at 79,000 miles Houston, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. PUSH TO THE SIDE AND COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. AFTER TOLL BACK TO HOME, WE CAN START THE CAR NEXT DAY.

NHTSA complaint #10346764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda 626 at 114,000 miles Oswego, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL- THE CONTACT HAS 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 00V134000 THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT A PART OF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER STATED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BREAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRVIE WAY AND TRAVELING 5MPH AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD 114000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND 11400 MILES CURRENTLY. UPDATED 06/25/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/27/10*J

NHTSA complaint #10312643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mazda 626 at 128,000 miles Waconia, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MAZDA 1996 626 AND A MAZDA 2000 626. BOTH 4 CYL AND BOTH AUTOMATICS, AND BOTH HAVING TO HAVE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. LEAVES YOU STRANDED ON THE ROAD, AND CAUSES BAD SHIFTS IN SPEED BEFORE YOU STOP GOING FORWARD COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint #10312532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mazda 626 at 149,000 miles Winston Salem, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 98 MAZDA 626 WITH 149K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10293358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mazda 626 problems