1991 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 1991 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 belts3238.1%
- Transmission1011.9%
- Brakes89.5%
- Interior & seats67.1%
- Engine56.0%
- Suspension56.0%
- Visibility44.8%
- Driver assistance44.8%
- Steering33.6%
- Body & structure22.4%
- Electrical22.4%
- Powertrain (other)22.4%
- Exterior lighting11.2%
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT . DEALER NOTIFIED REPAIRED AND REPLACE AND 4 MONTHS LATER THEY BOTH BROKE AGAIN. NLM
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN MOTOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA 626. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HE HAD IT REBUILT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 124,000.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE SKIDDED ONE HUNDRED FEET, CAUSING A REAREND COLLISION. CONSUMER ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF KNOCKING NOISE AND TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER ADJUSTED SEAT STUCK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO ADJUST THE SEAT AS NEEDED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH. *AK
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
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY FOUND?. THIS DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THREE COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT IN THE PAST 36 MONTHS FROM THE BBB. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME BUT PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PLACE.....THEY'RE SELLING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT,I HAVE CALLED THE CITY OF ANTIOCH AND EXPLAINED MY POSITION TO THEM....SOME ONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A BUSINESS LIKE THIS BEING IN EXISTENCE,AND SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IF DEATH OR INJURY OCCUR BECAUSE THIS MAN WAS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE UNSAFE CARS.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
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
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FRONT END STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE, THE STRUTS CRACKED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF KNOCKING NOISE AND TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *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
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. HAD TO ENTER VEHICLE THROUGH PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TRANSMISSION 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
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A BUILDING HEAD ON. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY FOUND?. THIS DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THREE COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT IN THE PAST 36 MONTHS FROM THE BBB. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME BUT PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PLACE.....THEY'RE SELLING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT,I HAVE CALLED THE CITY OF ANTIOCH AND EXPLAINED MY POSITION TO THEM....SOME ONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A BUSINESS LIKE THIS BEING IN EXISTENCE,AND SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IF DEATH OR INJURY OCCUR BECAUSE THIS MAN WAS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE UNSAFE CARS.
POWER STEERING RACK LEAKED/FAILED TWICE. FIRST TIME REPLACED BY DEALER UNER WARANTY. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE SECOND TIME. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER'S OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. ALSO, DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER PROBLEMS WITH GETTING IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
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
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
REPLACED BROKEN REARVIEW MIRROR. *AK
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
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY FOUND?. THIS DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THREE COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT IN THE PAST 36 MONTHS FROM THE BBB. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME BUT PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PLACE.....THEY'RE SELLING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT,I HAVE CALLED THE CITY OF ANTIOCH AND EXPLAINED MY POSITION TO THEM....SOME ONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A BUSINESS LIKE THIS BEING IN EXISTENCE,AND SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IF DEATH OR INJURY OCCUR BECAUSE THIS MAN WAS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE UNSAFE CARS.
VEHICLE WAS GOING 70-75MPH IN 5TH GEAR AND SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 1ST GEAR AND LOCKED UP. NO WARNING WAS INDICATED. SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING AT THE TIME. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER PLEASE ADD VIN# AND MILEAGE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, AND HAVING TO PUT THE SEAT BELT AROUND DRIVER'S BODY. THE CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS. THEY COME ON AND OFF WHENEVER THEY WANT TO, AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS ALSO CAUSED PROBLEMS. *AK *ML
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 .