Mazda 626 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,458 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file for the Mazda 626, across 9 model years (1995–2003). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (488). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Mazda 626 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 626 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 626: 488 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1998 626: 434 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1996 626: 359 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2003 626: 9 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 626: 87 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 626: 188 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mazda 626 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 1,725 | 9 | 16 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 271 | 9 | 3 |
| Air Bags problems | 193 | 9 | 100 |
| Electrical System problems | 104 | 9 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 74 | 9 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 53 | 8 | 6 |
| Equipment | 46 | 8 | 1 |
| Steering | 41 | 8 | 7 |
| Suspension | 40 | 9 | 3 |
| Tires | 35 | 8 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 33 | 8 | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 27 | 7 | 1 |
| Seats | 25 | 6 | 5 |
| Visibility | 22 | 8 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 19 | 8 | 3 |
| Engine | 12 | 7 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mazda 626 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2002: power train (70)
- 2001: power train (139)
- 2000: power train (160)
- 1999: power train (233)
- 1998: power train (313) · engine and engine cooling (81)
- 1997: power train (233)
- 1996: power train (239)
- 1995: power train (337) · air bags (67)
All Mazda 626 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 626 | 9 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2002 626 | 87 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 626 | 188 | 0 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 626 | 217 | 1 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 626 | 318 | 2 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 626 | 434 | 4 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 626 | 358 | 3 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 626 | 359 | 2 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 626 | 488 | 2 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
More from Mazda: all Mazda models · Mazda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda 626 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1995 (488), 1998 (434), 1996 (359). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda 626?
Power Train, with 1,725 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Mazda 626 have?
7 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.