Car Problem DataNHTSA records

Mazda 626

Owners filed 2,987 complaints across 14 model years of the Mazda 626. The 1995 drew the most (488).

Model years14
Complaints2,987
Recalls35
Fires40
Deaths5

Which Mazda 626 years should you avoid?

Going by 2,987 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Mazda 626 years to avoid are 1998.

  • 19982.8× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (5 fires, 12 crashes, 5 deaths).

How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →

Every Mazda 626 model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
20039
01—Air BagsRoutine
200287
0—6Power Train › Automatic TransmissionRoutine
2001188
1410Power Train › Automatic TransmissionRoutine
2000217
2—6Power Train › Automatic TransmissionAbove average
1999318
4311Power Train › Automatic TransmissionAbove average
1998Avoid434
6512Power Train › Automatic TransmissionFatalities reported
1997358
4517Power Train › Automatic TransmissionAbove average
1996359
3235Power Train › Automatic TransmissionAbove average
1995488
4843Power Train › Automatic TransmissionAbove average
1994282
4618Power Train › Automatic TransmissionAbove average
1993122
2411Power Train › Automatic TransmissionRoutine
199219
1—3Seat BeltsRoutine
199162
2—4Seat BeltsRoutine
199044
222Seat BeltsRoutine

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.