1988 Mazda 626 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Mazda 626, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts2545.5%
- Body & structure59.1%
- Interior & seats59.1%
- Electrical47.3%
- Engine47.3%
- Fuel system35.5%
- Transmission35.5%
- Visibility23.6%
- Driver assistance11.8%
- Powertrain (other)11.8%
- Brakes11.8%
- Suspension11.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL 88 V 063 000/PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT: BOTH DRIVER'SAND PASSENGER'S MOTOR BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THERECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
AUTOMATIC MOTORIZED SHOULDER RESTRAINTS FAIL TO COMPLETE CYCLE UPON ENGINE START-UP CHOKING PASSENGER. UPON OPENING DOOR AT STOP, RESTRAINTS FAIL TO DISENGAGE TRAPPING OCCUPANT UNTIL MANUALLY DISCONNECTED . RECALL AT DEALER FAILED TO YIELD VIN MATCH. ALSO TOLD VEHICLE TOO OLD TO REPAIR. PROBLEM EXISTS ANYWAY, DUE TO SAME MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS IN CAMPAIGN 88V06300. CAN CAUSE INJURY TO OCUCPANTS. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUNK LID WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK *JB
VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL WORK SUB-FRAME BODY MOUNTS, HOWEVER INCOMPLETE REMEDY, MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUNK LID WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK *JB
PASSENGER DOOR NOT ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. BOUGHT A 1998 MAZDA 626 LX. 2. AT 56000 MILES, ENGINE NEEDED A NEW HEADER. 3. AT 57000 MILES, STARTER MOTOR FAILED. 3. AT 60000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. 4. CURRENTLY AT 70000 MILES, NEED NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM
JUST PARKED VEHICLE & LEFT. NEIGHBORS KNOCKED ON DOOR TO INFORM OWNER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. WAS INFORMED THE BATTERY WAS CAUSE OF FIRE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. BOUGHT A 1998 MAZDA 626 LX. 2. AT 56000 MILES, ENGINE NEEDED A NEW HEADER. 3. AT 57000 MILES, STARTER MOTOR FAILED. 3. AT 60000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. 4. CURRENTLY AT 70000 MILES, NEED NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM
DEFECTIVE TAILPIPE CAUSED CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER VEHICLE'S INTERIOR CABIN RESULTING IN CONSUMER CONTRACTING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. DEALER DIAGNOSED SEVERAL HOLES ALONG TOP OF TAILPIPE BETWEEN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE MUFFLER. PH TOP SEAM OF EXHAUST PIPE HAD ROTTEN OUT BETWEEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MUFFLER. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO FUEL LINES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE PROGRESSED TO THE REAR UNDERSIDE FROM CENTER THIRD OF UNDERSIDE, THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED WHEN BEING ESCORTED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC
FUEL TANK SPLIT AT WELD, CAUSING GASOLINE LEAK. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. BOUGHT A 1998 MAZDA 626 LX. 2. AT 56000 MILES, ENGINE NEEDED A NEW HEADER. 3. AT 57000 MILES, STARTER MOTOR FAILED. 3. AT 60000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. 4. CURRENTLY AT 70000 MILES, NEED NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, AND THERE IS SOME NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. AFTER BEING REPAIRED, THE NOISE CAME BACK.DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUNK LID WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK *JB
REAR WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. BOUGHT A 1998 MAZDA 626 LX. 2. AT 56000 MILES, ENGINE NEEDED A NEW HEADER. 3. AT 57000 MILES, STARTER MOTOR FAILED. 3. AT 60000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. 4. CURRENTLY AT 70000 MILES, NEED NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT AXLE OF CAR RUSTED COMPLETEL,Y AND BROKE APART WHILE DRIVING. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR BELT FAILS TO RELEASE/MOVE FORWARD WHEN VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, AND THERE IS SOME NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. AFTER BEING REPAIRED, THE NOISE CAME BACK.DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .