ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1994 Mazda 626
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 282 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Mazda 626, most frequently naming the transmission, engine and electrical categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 48 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 166 |
| May 2002 | 4 | 170 |
| Jun 2002 | 5 | 175 |
| Jul 2002 | 3 | 178 |
| Aug 2002 | 3 | 181 |
| Sep 2002 | 2 | 183 |
| Oct 2002 | 2 | 185 |
| Nov 2002 | 2 | 187 |
| Dec 2002 | 3 | 190 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 191 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 192 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 193 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 194 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 195 |
| Jun 2003 | 5 | 200 |
| Jul 2003 | 7 | 207 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 208 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 210 |
| Oct 2003 | 3 | 213 |
| Nov 2003 | 4 | 217 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 218 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 220 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 221 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 223 |
| Apr 2004 | 2 | 225 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 226 |
| Jun 2004 | 2 | 228 |
| Jul 2004 | 3 | 231 |
| Aug 2004 | 4 | 235 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 236 |
| Oct 2004 | 3 | 239 |
| Dec 2004 | 2 | 241 |
| Jan 2005 | 4 | 245 |
| Feb 2005 | 2 | 247 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 249 |
| Apr 2005 | 2 | 251 |
| May 2005 | 4 | 255 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 256 |
| Jul 2005 | 3 | 259 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 260 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 261 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 262 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 263 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 264 |
| Sep 2006 | 3 | 267 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 268 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 269 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 270 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 271 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 272 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 273 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 274 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 275 |
| Jul 2008 | 1 | 276 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 277 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 278 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 279 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 280 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 281 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 282 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Transmission17152.9%
- Engine268.0%
- Electrical226.8%
- Brakes185.6%
- Airbags144.3%
- Exterior lighting123.7%
- Powertrain (other)113.4%
- Suspension103.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT PROPERLY. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT, IT SHIFTS HARD. OD LIGHT FLASHES. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FROM WORK AND TOOK OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR REVVED UP REAL HIGH BUT WOULDN'T SHIFT. MADE IT HOME, AND NOW VEHICLE WON'T MOVE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11157066
- Incident
- Dec 4, 2018
- Mileage
- 187,356 mi
THE 1994 MAZDA 626LX WITH A V-6 2.5L MOTOR HAS REQUIRED 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 8 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AS WELL. THIS LAST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I WAS ON I-5 HEADING NORTH NEAR THE LOS BANOS TURNOFF WHEN IT JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE FREEWAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DESIGN AND LONGEVITY OF MANY PARTS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10361472
- Incident
- Aug 10, 2010
- Mileage
- 138,000 mi
THE HOLD LIGHT IS CONTINUALLY FLASHING. THIS STARTED ON SUNDAY MAY 16, 2010. I CALLED MAZDA MAPLE SHADE MADE AN APPT. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON MAY 19TH AT 7:30 AM. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON MAY 20TH AT 7:30 AM AND AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 3 PM., THE PROBLEM HAS WORSEN. I CALLED MAZDA ON MAY 21TH AT 8 AM AND I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO RETURN MY CALL. IT IS NOW 10:24 AM. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10331533
- Incident
- May 16, 2010
- Mileage
- 68,339 mi
I PUCHASED A 1994 MAZDA 626 2.0L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE DUE TO FALURE. I DO NOT KNOW THE STORY OF HOW THE TRANSMISSION CAME TO FAIL ON THE PREVIOUS OWNER. NOW THAT I OWN IT THE CAR HAS STARTED TO SHIFT VERY HARD, AND RANDOMLY SHIFT DOWN FOR A SPLIT SECCOND AT CRUISING SPEEDS(NO CHANGE IN ACCELARATOR TRAVEL OR GRADE CHANGE). THE TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSES A FLUCTUATION IN RPM'S IN CRUISING CONDITIONS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. *CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10302568
- Incident
- Jan 10, 2010
- Mileage
- 220,000 mi
I PURCHASE A 1994 MAZDA 626LX AUTOMATIC SEDAN APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO, FROM AN INDIVIDUAL HERE IN AUSTIN, TX. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER OBTAINING, AND PUTTING NEW TIRES, NEW BRAKES AND A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AFTER DOING SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE CAR, I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION(CDF4E) FOR THAT YEAR MODEL HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. APPARENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS TO SMALL FOR THE 2.0 LITER ENGINE, AND BURNS UP AFTER SO MANY MILES OR LENGTH OF DRIVING. I CHECKED IT OUT ONLINE, AND THE SITE THAT I CHECKED GAVE A FAIRLY DECENT APPROVAL RATING OF THE VEHICLE. ANYHOW, THE VEHICLE, AS OF NOW, IS DISABLED AND RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-35 AT 65MPH, IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. LUCKILY, I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH TO COAST TO THE END OF THE CONSTRUCTION AREA, TO PARK ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, SAFELY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10257797
- Incident
- Jan 2, 2009
- Mileage
- 149,500 mi
I BOUGHT A 1994 USED MAZDA 626 LX A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO FOR $1600.00. AND I PUT ANOTHER $500.00 IN IT GETTING 2 NEW FRONT TIRES A COMPLETE TUNE UP, AND A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. I TEST DROVE IT AND IT RAN FINE. I FOUND OUT LATER AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN A FEW DAYS WHILE GOING UP A STEEP HILL HERE IN AUSTIN, AND PUT IT IN D2 A LOWER GEAR, AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. SO, AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, I PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE, AND IT WORKED OK. BUT SOMETIMES IS WOULD TAKE OFF VERY SLUGGISHLY AFTER WARMING UP. THE HOLD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ALSO. I FIXED THE HOLD LIGHT PROBLEM, BUT 2 WEEKS LATER, GOING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUR, RIGHT AT A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, WITH THE CONCRETE BARRIER WALLS ON BOTH SIDES. SO FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO COAST ABOUT ANOTHER MILE TO THE END OF THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND OFF THE HIGHWAY, ONTO THE SHOULDER SAFELY. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT HERE ONLINE ON THESE AUTO FORUMS, THAT THE 1994 MAZDA 626 LX AUTOMATIC IS A LEMON. LOT'S OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CD4E FORD TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR. I HONESTLY CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RE-CALL ON THEM. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, AND IM OUT OF AROUND $2100.00 DOLLARS ON IT. I HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING ANYONE AROUND HERE THAT WILL WORK ON IT, AT A FAIR PRICE. I COULD REPAIR IT MYSELF, WITH SOME HELP, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THE WHOLE CAR WAS A DESIGN FLAW, IN THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTUALLY TO SMALL FOR THE 626 BODY, AND CAUSES THE TRANSAXLE TO OVERHEAT AFTER A WHILE. AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD TO BUY A EXTRA COOLING KIT FOR THE TRANSAXLE TO KEEP IT FROM OVERHEATING. I LIKED THE CAR WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT, BUT,MAN, I DIDN'T EXPECT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. THAT IS ABOUT ALL I HAVE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10255119
- Incident
- Jan 10, 2009
- Mileage
- 146,545 mi
ROUGH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING THAT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WITH O/D LIGHT FLASHING. NO REPAIR SHOP IS ABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. LAST REPAIR SHOP CHARGED ME $800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNTS BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ISSUE IS STILL ON GOING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 94 MAZDA 626 MODEL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. SEE THIS LINK FOR MORE INFO HTTP://WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/94SPEEDO.HTML. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10234406
- Incident
- Jul 15, 2008
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
TRANSMISSION ON 1994 MAZDA HOLD LIGHT FLASHING. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10228288
- Incident
- May 13, 2008
- Mileage
- 102,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Radio Unlocking Codes.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be revised gradually.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometerand related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the ?SpeedometerReplacement Label?.Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda?s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service.With the use of SPECMO?s services, a Mazda dealer can get the odometer setting updated to reflect the correct mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs, therefore resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 37.2 |
| 2001 | 188 | 1 | 0 | 44.0 |
| 2000 | 217 | 2 | 0 | 46.6 |
| 1999 | 318 | 4 | 0 | 50.3 |
| 1998 | 434 | 6 | 1 | 56.8 |
| 1997 | 358 | 4 | 2 | 60.8 |
| 1996 | 359 | 3 | 4 | 64.6 |
| 1995 | 488 | 4 | 4 | 65.9 |
| 1994Viewing | 282 | 4 | 2 | 60.1 |
| 1993 | 122 | 2 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 1992 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 43.6 |
| 1991 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 58.2 |
| 1990 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 54.8 |
| 1989 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 57.9 |
| 1988 | 45 | 6 | 3 | 61.1 |
| 1987 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 52.6 |
| 1986 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 51.1 |
| 1985 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.