Mazda 626 complaints by model year
3,130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 87 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 188 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000 | 217 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 318 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 1998 | 434 | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| 1997 | 358 | 17 | 6 | 3 |
| 1996 | 359 | 35 | 2 | 2 |
| 1995 | 488 | 43 | 8 | 2 |
| 1994 | 282 | 18 | 6 | 2 |
| 1993 | 122 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 42 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | 45 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 1987 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1994–2003. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 177 | 337 | 239 | 233 | 313 | 233 | 160 | 139 | 70 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 26 | 28 | 33 | 39 | 81 | 48 | 18 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| Air bags | 14 | 67 | 49 | 36 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 24 | 19 | 12 | 32 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Suspension | 10 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mazda 626 recalls (18)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one 626 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15V674000 | Oct 19, 2015 | Ignition Switch may Overheat | 1993–1998 | 0.6% |
| 00V134000 | May 9, 2000 | MAZDA/TIMING BELT TENSIONER | 1998, 1999 | — |
| 00V074000 | Mar 7, 2000 | MAZDA/BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR | 1999, 2000 | — |
| 99V358000 | Dec 17, 1999 | MAZDA/HEADLIGHT WIRE | 1994 | — |
| 98V249000 | Oct 8, 1998 | MAZDA/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT | 1995, 1996, 1997 | — |
| 98V243000 | Oct 2, 1998 | MAZDA/AUDIO UNITS | 1998 | — |
| 98V206001 | Sep 8, 1998 | MAZDA/TIMING BELT | 1997 | — |
| 97V228000 | Dec 17, 1997 | MAZDA/ENGINE STALL | 1998 | — |
| 93V174000 | Oct 29, 1993 | MAZDA/STRUCTURE:DOOR ASSEMBLY:HANDLE:OUTSIDE | 1988–1991 | — |
| 90V118000 | Jun 14, 1990 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1986, 1987 | — |
| 88V063000 | Apr 14, 1988 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:BELTS | 1988 | — |
| 88V022000 | Feb 22, 1988 | FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL:PEDAL | 1988 | — |
| 87V196000 | Dec 29, 1987 | BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:SHOE AND DRUM SYSTEM:SHOES | 1988 | — |
| 87V186000 | Dec 7, 1987 | FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:TANK | 1988 | — |
| 87V149000 | Sep 17, 1987 | FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES:ACCELERATOR:RIGID | 1988 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mazda 626 FAQ
How many recalls has the Mazda 626 had?
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mazda 626 model year from 1983 to 2003. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mazda 626 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 1995 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (488) and the 2003 the fewest (9). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mazda 626 problems?
Across the 1994–2003 model years, owners most often name the power train, engine and engine cooling, air bags in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mazda 626 get?
EPA rates the 2002 Mazda 626 at 20 to 25 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.