Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Apr 1, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 122 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Brakes
Filed Apr 1, 2003
THE 626, MX6 AND FORD PROBE (ALL RELATED DESIGNS) APPEAR TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE REAR CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE TO SEIZE. THE PARKING BRAKE ARM THAT THE CABLE PULLS BACK SEIZES ??ON??. THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO POOR DESIGN WHERE THE SPRING CAN NOT PULL THE ARM BACK DUE TO THE MATERIALS USED AND THE RUST. THE ARM AND PIVOT MATERIAL SHOULD BE CHANGED AND THE SPRING SHOULD BE STRONGER. ONCE THE PARKING BRAKE SEIZES THE ROTOR, CALIPERS AND THE WHOLE WHEEL RIM GETS *EXTREMELY* HOT. DRAG, HEAT AND BURNING SMELLS MAY BE NOTICED. IF NOT NOTICED THE ROTOR AND PADS WEAR AWAY UNTIL THE BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION. THE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT HOWEVER THE ROOT CAUSE APPEARS TO BE THE POOR PARKING BRAKE DESIGN. BEFORE I STARTED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS MYSELF I HAD 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON 3 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE PARKING BRAKE AND JUST REPLACED ALL THE CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS, ETC. THE SERVICE CENTERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSE AND THEY DO NOT FIX IT. I FOUND OUT A BIT FROM INTERNET SEARCHES AND THE REPAIR MANUAL. (THE REPAIR MANUAL IS COMMON TO THE FORD PROBE WITH MANY OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT SEIZED BRAKES.) I TOOK A LOOK AT THE PARKING BRAKE ARM WHEN I NEXT PULLED OVER WITH DRAG, HEAT AND BURNING SMELLS. THE ARM WAS SEIZED AND I FORCED IT FREE WITH MY HAND WHICH TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FROM WORKING THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE IT APPEARS THAT THE CABLE IS FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS FROM THE RUSTED ARM & PIVOT. THE MATERIAL OF THE ARM & PIVOT RUSTS AND SEIZES. THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE SUITABLE MATERIAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY REASONS. OWNERS ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH FLAMING HOT ROTORS, DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND STRANGE DRAG AND VIBRATION ON A REGULAR BASIS. MAZDA AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE PROPERLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PARTS AND TO COMPENSATE THE OWNERS FOR THE REPAIR BILLS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10013757
Incident
Mar 31, 2003
Mileage
43,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2003
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10012340
Incident
Mar 24, 2003
Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2003
ON A VERY SNOWY DAY AFTER A 20 MINUTE RIDE WE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER TOWED CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $2000.00 DOLLARS. THEY SAID BOTH BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. SINCE THIS WAS AN EXTREME EXPENSE. WE PURCHASED A NEW CAR. I FEEL NO BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD EVER EXPERIENCE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, AND FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD AT LEAST REPLACE ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE DOESNT GET KILLED. *JB
NHTSA ID
10008464
Incident
Feb 13, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 29, 2001
REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CALIPERS LOCKING UP. SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ALSO, . AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON & OFF.*AK THE REAR CALIPERS LOCK UP CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO BURN. AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AT 100000 MILES. *YH
NHTSA ID
884571
Incident
Feb 20, 2001
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 2, 1999
1 injury reported
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO SIDE CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER. MJS
I HAVE LEARNED THAT REAR PARKING BRAKE LOCKUP FAILURE ON 1993-94 MAZDA 626 IS COMMON BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FAULT. SEE WWW.ERGONITE.DEMON.CO.UK/PROBEMX/PROBEFAQ.HTM
NHTSA ID
709377
Incident
Mar 11, 1997
BrakesTransmission
Filed Nov 16, 1998
EXCESSIVE GRINDING NOISE OF FRONT BRAKES. REPLACED TWICE. BOTH TIMES ROTORS WERE REPORTED WARPED. ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED FIRST TIME. SAME PROBLEM RECURRED 1 YEAR LATER. TRANSMISSION FAILURE STARTED WITH SUBTLE RUBBING SOUND ON DRIVER FRONT. ESCALATED TO POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVE/REVERSE GEAR ENGAGED. SURGE/STALL WHILE AT STOP. REQUIRED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (NON-WARRANTIED!)
NHTSA ID
700666
Incident
Jan 15, 1998
Brakes
Filed Mar 6, 1998
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
532379
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Feb 16, 1998
DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LOCKED, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE, THEN GRINDING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG ODOR OF SOMETHING OVERHEATING.
NHTSA ID
532426
Incident
Feb 10, 1998
Brakes
Filed Feb 16, 1998
DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE (SEIZED), CAUSING A LOUD THUNK, THEN GRINDSWHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ALSO A STRONG ODOR WAS NOTICED, LIKE A PART WAS SEVERLY OVERHEATING.
NHTSA ID
530890
Incident
Feb 10, 1998
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 1997
DRIVING AT APRROX 20-30MPH ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT TURN SIGANL FAILED ,THIS ALSO CONNECTS TO HEADLIGHT/TAIL LIGHTS. ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS. ALL COMPONENTS TURNED OFF AT ONCE. IN ORDER TO RECOVER FROM THIS DEFECT, HAD TO REPOSITION STEERING WHEEL.THIS PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING AND IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEFECT IS IN STEERING COLUMN COMBINATION SWITCH. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING FAULTY WIRING TO POWER WINDOWS. *SLC
NHTSA ID
819060
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 1997
ABS BRAKE FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED LEFT REAR CALIPER. *AK
NHTSA ID
522865
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 1997
THE REAR CALIPERS DO NOT DISENGAGE WHEN RELEASING THE EMGERENCY BRAKE, THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE HARD TO DRIVE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
810595
BrakesEngineSuspension
Filed Jan 14, 1997
HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ABS PUMP NEEDED REPLACING.
NHTSA ID
513971
Brakes
Filed Jan 6, 1997
Fire reported
DISC HANDBRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE, DESTROYING PADS/CALIPERS; VEHICLE SPUN AS RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED, VEHICLE FIRE ERUPTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
513376
Brakes
Filed Aug 26, 1996
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 35MPH, ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM BLEW UP,CAUSING 75% LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON
NHTSA ID
801267
Incident
Aug 2, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 1996
HYDRAULIC BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
985990
Incident
Jun 17, 1996
Brakes
Filed Sep 5, 1995
LEFT REAR CALIPER FAILED TWICE. *SD
NHTSA ID
483779
Incident
Jul 23, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jul 14, 1995
THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND SHE HAS HAD THEM TURNED BEFORE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
968806
Incident
Apr 20, 1995
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 1995
UPON MAKING A SHARP TURN VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. NO RESPONSE FROM BRAKE AND ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. TT
NHTSA ID
964088
Incident
Mar 30, 1995
Brakes
Filed Mar 28, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WHILE DRIVING AT 20-30 MPH TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT./INJURY. *AK
NHTSA ID
962690
Incident
Feb 10, 1995
BrakesSteering
Filed Jan 12, 1995
Crash reported
ABS, WHEN MAKING TURN BRAKES LOCKUP, FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY CAUSING LOSS CONTROL GOING INTO ENBANKMENT. TT
NHTSA ID
958599
Incident
Jan 6, 1994
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Jan 12, 1995
REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION/NOISE.
NHTSA ID
480971
Incident
Feb 1, 1993
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+11 more
Filed Jan 5, 1995
OIL DIPSTICK REPLACED.
NHTSA ID
489221
Incident
Feb 19, 1993
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own