Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 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 ↗Ignition Switch may Overheat
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
MAZDA/TIMING BELT TENSIONER
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK.
- Consequence
- 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.
MAZDA/AUDIO UNITS
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
MAZDA/ENGINE STALL
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
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 (434)
434 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 434 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 313 | 72.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 81 | 18.7% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 2.8% |
| Air bags | 11 | 2.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 2.3% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 2.1% |
| Tires | 7 | 1.6% |
| Equipment | 6 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 1.2% |
| Seats | 5 | 1.2% |
How 1998 compares with other 626 years
Best and worst 626 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 282 | 2 |
| 1995 | 488 | 2 |
| 1996 | 359 | 2 |
| 1997 | 358 | 3 |
| 1998 | 434 | 4 |
| 1999 | 318 | 2 |
| 2000 | 217 | 1 |
| 2001 | 188 | 0 |
| 2002 | 87 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
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 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 342 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 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
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 2.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1998 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.
Where to next
1998 Mazda 626 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Mazda 626 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 15V674000 (electrical), 00V134000 (engine), 98V243000 (electrical), 97V228000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Mazda 626 problems?
Owners filed 434 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (313), Engine and engine cooling (81), Electrical system (12) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Mazda 626 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 23 city, 30 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 626 compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Mazda 626 model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (9) and the 1995 the most (488). The 1998 drew 434. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.