1998 Mazda 626

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 434 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 6 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
89,155 milesMedian miles at failure

223 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission274
121
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine36
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission12
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys12
000
Power Train9
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline8
000
Air Bags › Frontal8
503
Electrical System7
010
Vehicle Speed Control6
000
Engine and Engine Cooling6
000

6 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.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine00V134000
Filed May 9, 200031,000 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK.

Risk. 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.

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.98V243000
Filed Oct 2, 199873,000 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A HOT, HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AUDIO UNIT AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE SPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System97V228000
Filed Dec 17, 199720,000 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) INSTALLED CAN, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRIGGER A SHIFT IN AIR-FUEL RATIO TO AN OVERLEAN CONDITION.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM WITH THE CORRECT ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jan 8, 2018FL

SINCE OWNING THE MAZDA 626 I HAVE HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. IT WILL SLIP GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. IF ITS BELOW 60 DEGREES THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE MOTOR GETS HOT ENOUGH. THE CAR IS LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DOES IT EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SOMTIMES ON AND OFF AND THE BACK WINDOWS WONT ROLL DOWN FROM THE DRIVER BUTTON

Engine
Filed May 30, 2017150,000 milesAR

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

Electrical System
Filed Mar 30, 2016173,735 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,735. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Feb 23, 2016200,000 milesOR

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.

Structure › BodyCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 17, 2014MD

I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR

Power Train
Filed Dec 24, 2011160,000 milesNC

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS AT THE MECHANIC HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE DO SOMETHING. RIGHT NOW REPLACING IT FOR A REBUILT ONE IS $1,100, BUT BEING A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM, IT MAY NOT LAST ANOTHER YEAR. I AM THE 3RD OWNER, SO I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY MORE TIMES THIS TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED, BUT WHEN I BOUGHT IT WAS WORKING WELL. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 7, 2011187,000 milesIL

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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 4, 2011105,626 milesFL

105,626 ORIGINAL MILEAGE. COMING FROM A LONG HIGHWAY DRIVE. CAR BEGAN TO REV REALLY HIGH. TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. CRAWLED THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 2, 2011116,000 milesTX

I BOUGHT A MAZDA 626 1998 AND IT HAD 116,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND THEN IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD THEN OIL STARTED TO BURN AND I HAD TO INSTALL A EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER THIS ONLY LASTED FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AND OIL WENT EVERYWHERE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Aug 2, 201079,000 milesTX

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. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Apr 23, 2010182,035 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE VEHICLE'S RESPONSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF FUEL FLOWING TO THE ENGINE WAS MINIMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V228000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF HIS VIN WAS A PART OF THE RECALL OR IF THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,035 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 22, 2010114,000 milesIL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 24, 2009149,000 milesNC

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 98 MAZDA 626 WITH 149K MILES. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 1, 200985,000 milesIN

1998 MAZDA 626, WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WE COASTED TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOW. CAR DIAGNOSTICS PENDING. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 25, 2009163,450 milesOH

1998 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYL CAR WAS FINE TOOK IT TO HAVE TRANSMISSION SERVICE NEXT DAY SLIPPING STARTING OUT IN 2ND GEAR SHIFTING HARD BEFORE SERVICE WAS DONE CAR DROVE LIKE A DREAM. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 2009133,600 milesMD

1. LONG HIGHWAY DRIVE (8-10H) DURING TEMP. STORMY CONDITIONS (1-2H) 2. TRANSMISSION DEFECT, 3800$ REPAIR BILL + ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR RENTALS/MOTELS 3. REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 2009145,700 milesUT

I WAS DRIVING HOME(LOGAN) AFTER DRIVING FROM LOGAN,UT. TO LAYTON,UT. WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, THE RPMS REDLINED AND THE CAR STALLED OUT. I PUSHED THE CAR (1998 MAZDA 626) TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WAS SMOKING SO I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMELLED TRANSMISSION FLUID, I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SEEN TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ON THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAS HAD AN EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION FLUID ADDED AND IT HAS STILL GONE OUT. I AM TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FOR MYSELF AND HAVE NOT COME TO A CONCLUSION YET. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE SERVICE TO BE DON SO I WILL TRY TO CONTACT MAZDA OR FORD TO GET THE ISSUE CORRECTED, LUCKILY I WASN'T ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY OR THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE POSSIBLY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2009180,000 milesIL

THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN MY TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAS BROKEN, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE ON THE MAZDA 626 2.0 LTR ENGINE (4 CYL). *TR

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.Fire
Filed Apr 27, 200920,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE ACCOMPANIED BY A HEATING SENSATION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V243000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.), IN WHICH A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2009145,000 milesUT

THE TRANNY WAS SLIPPING AND THE OD LIGHT KEPT BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING DUE TO FAULTY PARTS, WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRANSMISSION THEY SHOULD EITHER REPLACE THE PART(S) OR BUY THE VEHICLES BACK FROM THE CONSUMER! *TR

20 of 434 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20039010Routine
200287000Routine
2001188140Routine
2000217200Above average
1999318430Above average
1998 — this page434655Fatalities reported
1997358450Above average
1996359320Above average
1995488480Above average
1994282460Above average
1993122240Routine
199219100Routine
199162200Routine
199044220Routine

Compare every 626 year →

Reading this record

5 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.