1997 Mazda 626

Above average

Owners filed 358 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
90,000 milesMedian miles at failure

161 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission194
105
Air Bags › Frontal19
5011
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine13
110
Electrical System11
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline10
000
Air Bags9
415
Power Train › Manual Transmission7
000
Unknown or Other6
000
Power Train6
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter5
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch15V674000
Filed Oct 19, 20151,368,500 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Risk. If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

Fuel System, Gasoline05E065000
Filed Oct 5, 200542,962 vehiclesSpx Filtran

Defect. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.

Risk. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-inactive98V249000
Filed Oct 8, 1998213,000 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

Risk. UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine98V206001
Filed Sep 8, 199840,000 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TENSIONER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Dec 8, 2018147,400 milesVA

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.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 5, 2017GA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 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 CALLED FIVE STAR MAZDA AT (478) 841-9275 (LOCATED AT 3068 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WOULD CALL THE CONTACT. THE DEALER DID NOT CONFIRM THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jan 30, 2017120,105 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL RESOLUTION REGARDING REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,105.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 18, 2016CA

SEE UPLOADED PDF DOCUMENT.

Electrical System
Filed May 4, 2016PA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 12, 2016NY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 7, 201680,000 milesCT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MAZDA 626. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Power Train
Filed May 4, 2015131,212 milesWA

LEFT HOME TO GO TO WORK MADE IT ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOME AND MY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HWY. I WAS TURNING ONTO FROM A SIDE STREET. I WAS ABOUT HIT AS MY MAZDA WOULD NOT GO AND QUIT WORKING ON A BLIND CORNER. *TR

Power Train
Filed Aug 13, 201311,678 milesTX

WE RECENTLY BOUGHT OR MAZDA 626 FROM A DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE GETTING A QUALITY CAR. WE WERE FOOLED. WITH IN THE FIRST WEEK WE HAD TO BUY PART AFTER PART.CHANGE THE TRANS FLUID, CHANGE THE DISTRIBUTOR , SPARK PLUG WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, ROUTER MOTOR, IGNITION COIL, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS , REPLACE FUEL FILTER, STILL NEED TO GET A TRANS COOLER AS SOON AS I CAN. IT TOOK US A FEW YEARS TO SAVE FOR A CAR. WE TRUSTED A DEALER AND GOT SCREWED! WE HAVE NO MONEY LEFT AND A CAR WE CAN ONLY USE ON A LIMITED BASIS. WE THOUGHT AFTER LOOSING OUR INCOME THEN OUR FORMER CAR TO REPOSSESSION WITH ONLY $50.00 LEFT ON IT, THEN OUR HOME GETS FORECLOSED ON, AND THE LOSS OF A FATHER, AND SISTER IN A TWO YEAR TIME FRAME WAS ENOUGH. NOPE WE BUY A CAR WITH SO MANY DEFECTS IT CRAZY, I CAN BELIEVE THESE CARS A EVEN ALOUD TO BE SOLD TO ANYONE. FACE IT THEY ARE DEATH TRAPS AND ANYONE WHO OWNS ONE SHOULD GET THEM REPLACED AT MANUFACTURE COST. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jun 13, 2012OH

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. *LN

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Jun 20, 2011157,821 milesNC

WE HAD JUST BOUGHT MY 1997 MAZDA 626 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND HAD ONLY HAD IT ABOUT 3 WEEKS. MY MOTHER IN LAW HAD USED MY CAR AND WAS COMING DOWN THE DRIVE AND HIT A POT HOLE WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HITTING HER IN THE FACE AND BUSTING THE WINDSHIELD. SHE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED DUE TO THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. I THEN WENT ONLINE WHERE I SAW THAT MAZDA HAD A RECALL ON MY CAR MODEL. I CALLED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. DUE TO THIS BEING AN OLDER VEHICLE I HAVE ONLY LIABILTY INSURANCE. THE CAR CONTINUES TO SET IN THE SAME STATE AS THE DAY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN.

Power Train
Filed Sep 9, 200995,000 milesWA

1997 MAZDA 626 TRANNY WENT OUT AT 95K MILES IN 2005 AND AT 146795 MILES THE TRANNY HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. IT'S NOT WORTH FIXING AT THIS POINT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 18, 2009100,000 milesNJ

MAZDA 626 1997 4 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ONCE THE O/D OFF LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I SHIFT INTO REVERSE, SOMETIME IT DOES NOT MOVE. AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES THE CAR JERKS AND STRUGGLES WITH ERRATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPM AND NOISE. CAR STILL DRIVES BUT MAY NOT BE SAFE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWS FAULT WITH TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 17, 2009177,000 milesGA

TRANSMISSION LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING ONCE RPM REACHES OF 3. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 26, 200975,000 milesCA

BLACK ICE CAR EXITED THE ROAD, HIT A TREE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission1 injured
Filed Feb 11, 200994,000 milesUT

I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 WITH A FORD CD4E TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS STORIES OF EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM EXPERIENCING IT MYSELF. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IT PUT WEAR AND TEAR ON MY KEYBOARD. I ALSO HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT HAS 124,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE IN NUMEROUS CASES. WHAT IS GOING ON? I WOULD VOTE TO FIRE ALL THE FORD AND GENERAL MOTOR ENGINEERS. I AM A DISABLED MAN STUCK WITH TWO PIECES OF ENGINEERING STUPIDITY. ALL I CAN DO IS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IS TO BEAT ON THIS KEYBOARD AND FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. IS THERE? THE INJURY IS TO MY TRUST AS WELL AS MY WALLET. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 16, 200860,000 milesPA

MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 2, 2008205,000 milesIL

I DROVE MY 1997 MAZDA 626 FOR A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT FROM A USED CAR SALESMAN AS IS. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE O/D OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND ON, THEN PARKED IT, AND JUST 20 MINS LATER I COULD NOT REVERSE IT. WHEN I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IT ACTS AS IF ITS IN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL IN REVERSE AND DRIVE IS DRIVE. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. PLEASE BRING MAZDA TO JUSTICE ON THEIR 626 TRANNYS!! *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 18, 200896,000 milesUT

THE MAZDA I OWN IS A 1997 MAZDA 625 WITH A CD-4E FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. I HAVE READ WHERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THIS TRANSMISSION MULTIPLE TIMES ONLY TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFERED A SOLUTION OR EVEN A RESPONSE. NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AND DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR SOME RECOURSE. I REALLY WONDER IF ANYONE OUT THERE REALLY CARES THAT WE ARE BEING FORCED TO DEAL WITH A TOTALLY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. THIS IS TOTAL HIGHWAY ROBBERY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 12, 2008180,000 milesCA

1997 MAZDA 626, TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY MAZDA DUE TO EXTENDED WARRANTY AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS 183,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR GARAGED FOR 2 YEARS AS THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN IS PROHIBITIVE. REPLACED TRANS FLUID WITH SYNTHETIC AND IT RUNS BETTER HOWEVER IF I HAD KNOW THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR I WOULD HAVE SOLD IT A LONG TIME AGO AND WOULD HAVE INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. THE STATE SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OR YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A GROUP OF ATTORNEY'S WHO WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST MAZDA!!! *TR

20 of 358 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20039010Routine
200287000Routine
2001188140Routine
2000217200Above average
1999318430Above average
1998434655Fatalities reported
1997 — this page358450Above average
1996359320Above average
1995488480Above average
1994282460Above average
1993122240Routine
199219100Routine
199162200Routine
199044220Routine

Compare every 626 year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 19, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.