Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1987 Mazda 626: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1987 Mazda 626, most recently filed June 1990. Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1987 Mazda 626. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1987 Mazda 626. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 90V118000 Filed Jun 14, 1990

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Electrical system · ignition
Official NHTSA text
Summary
IGNITION SWITCH TERMINAL MAY MALFUNCTION.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS,WINDSHIELD WASHER, ENGINE COOLING FAN, HEATER BLOWER, AND AIR CONDITIONINGCOMPRESSOR. FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD CLEARING DEVICES COULD CAUSE REDUCEDVISIBILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE IGNITION SWITCHES.
Repair progress not yet reported102,548 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 90V118000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (29)

29 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.

5involved a crash
1involved a fire
3injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1987 Mazda 626, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 29.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1987 compares with other 626 years

Best and worst 626 years →
1983198419851986198719881989199019911992
This year (1987)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined

25
mpg combined
23
city
29
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,700
CO₂ tailpipe
356 g/mi
EPA class
Compact Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,612per year
$218per month
600gallons a year

Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

1987 Mazda 626 configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive23 / 29 / 25$2,700356
2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive20 / 26 / 22$3,050404
2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive19 / 26 / 22$3,050404

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1987 626 for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All 626 years

Where to next

1987 Mazda 626 FAQ

How many recalls does the 1987 Mazda 626 have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 90V118000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1987 Mazda 626 problems?

Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (13), Seat belts (8), Vehicle speed control (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1987 Mazda 626 get?

EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 23 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1987 626 compare with other years?

Among the 1983–1992 Mazda 626 model years at least five years old, the 1983 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 1991 the most (62). The 1987 drew 29. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
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