Mazda 626 Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 271 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Mazda 626 across 9 model years. The 1998 model year has the most (81). The words owners use most often: “timing belt” (22% of reports).
- 271engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing belt: mentioned in 60 of 271 complaints (22%)
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 19 of 271 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Mazda 626 at $2,800, and half of them between $1,300 and $4,600.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2008), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 108 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 271 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 1 an injury.
Mazda 626 engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 1998, 1999
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will check the tensioner installed and replace it if the vehicle is equipped with the affected tensioner.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 1997
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tensioner and replace it if necessary.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mazda 626s have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 271 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Mazda 626. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mazda 626 engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Mazda 626?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,800 (half paid between $1,300 and $4,600), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Mazda 626?
The most frequent phrase is “timing belt”, in 60 of 271 complaints, followed by “catalytic converter” (19).
Other Mazda 626 problems
- Power Train problems (1,725)
- Air Bags problems (193)
- Electrical System problems (104)
See all Mazda 626 problems.