Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
358
Latest Dec 8, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
22
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 21, 1997
What this page shows
Our database holds 358 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Mazda 626. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 358 · page 1 of 15
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 8, 2018
THE VEHICLE IS STALLING DURING ACCELERATION AND AFTER. SOMETIMES IT'S STOPS AND CLEAR ITSELF UP AND THEN THROWS ITSELF INTO OVERDRIVE (O/D OFF LIGHTS STARTS FLASHING) ALL WHILE DRIVING IT IN THE STREET(CITY AND INTERSTATE). WHEN YOU LET THE CAR SIT AND NOT RUN IT WILL NOT FLASH BUT AFTER DRIVING AMD NOT GETTING ANY SPEED IT DOES IT AGAIN.
NHTSA ID
11157034
Incident
Dec 1, 2018
Mileage
147,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 5, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FIVE STAR MAZDA AT (478) 841-9275 (LOCATED AT 3068 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WOULD CALL THE CONTACT. THE DEALER DID NOT CONFIRM THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ID
11021570
Incident
Oct 19, 2015
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL RESOLUTION REGARDING REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,105.
NHTSA ID
10948408
Incident
Dec 1, 2016
Mileage
120,105 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2016
SEE UPLOADED PDF DOCUMENT.
NHTSA ID
10917211
Incident
Mar 15, 2016
Electrical
Filed May 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ID
10863025
Incident
Apr 11, 2016
Electrical
Filed Apr 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ID
10855029
Incident
Oct 22, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 7, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MAZDA 626. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ID
10854162
Incident
Aug 22, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 4, 2015
LEFT HOME TO GO TO WORK MADE IT ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY HOME AND MY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HWY. I WAS TURNING ONTO FROM A SIDE STREET. I WAS ABOUT HIT AS MY MAZDA WOULD NOT GO AND QUIT WORKING ON A BLIND CORNER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10714440
Incident
Nov 14, 2014
Mileage
131,212 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2013
WE RECENTLY BOUGHT OR MAZDA 626 FROM A DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE GETTING A QUALITY CAR. WE WERE FOOLED. WITH IN THE FIRST WEEK WE HAD TO BUY PART AFTER PART.CHANGE THE TRANS FLUID, CHANGE THE DISTRIBUTOR , SPARK PLUG WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, ROUTER MOTOR, IGNITION COIL, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS , REPLACE FUEL FILTER, STILL NEED TO GET A TRANS COOLER AS SOON AS I CAN. IT TOOK US A FEW YEARS TO SAVE FOR A CAR. WE TRUSTED A DEALER AND GOT SCREWED! WE HAVE NO MONEY LEFT AND A CAR WE CAN ONLY USE ON A LIMITED BASIS. WE THOUGHT AFTER LOOSING OUR INCOME THEN OUR FORMER CAR TO REPOSSESSION WITH ONLY $50.00 LEFT ON IT, THEN OUR HOME GETS FORECLOSED ON, AND THE LOSS OF A FATHER, AND SISTER IN A TWO YEAR TIME FRAME WAS ENOUGH. NOPE WE BUY A CAR WITH SO MANY DEFECTS IT CRAZY, I CAN BELIEVE THESE CARS A EVEN ALOUD TO BE SOLD TO ANYONE. FACE IT THEY ARE DEATH TRAPS AND ANYONE WHO OWNS ONE SHOULD GET THEM REPLACED AT MANUFACTURE COST. *TR
NHTSA ID
10535068
Incident
May 10, 2013
Mileage
11,678 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 13, 2012
CPSC#I1190531A. 1997 MAZDA 626. CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE BROUGHT THE CAR IT HAD SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, AND BEGAN SMOKING SEVERELY ONCE TAKEN THE SPEED LIMIT. SHE ALSO STATED IT RESULTED IN BEING TOWED ON THE 6TH DAY OF HAVING THE VEHICLE PURCHASED. *LN
NHTSA ID
10461608
Incident
Sep 22, 2011
Airbags
Filed Jun 20, 2011
1 injury reported
WE HAD JUST BOUGHT MY 1997 MAZDA 626 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND HAD ONLY HAD IT ABOUT 3 WEEKS. MY MOTHER IN LAW HAD USED MY CAR AND WAS COMING DOWN THE DRIVE AND HIT A POT HOLE WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HITTING HER IN THE FACE AND BUSTING THE WINDSHIELD. SHE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED DUE TO THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. I THEN WENT ONLINE WHERE I SAW THAT MAZDA HAD A RECALL ON MY CAR MODEL. I CALLED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. DUE TO THIS BEING AN OLDER VEHICLE I HAVE ONLY LIABILTY INSURANCE. THE CAR CONTINUES TO SET IN THE SAME STATE AS THE DAY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN.
NHTSA ID
10407636
Incident
May 26, 2011
Mileage
157,821 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 2009
1997 MAZDA 626 TRANNY WENT OUT AT 95K MILES IN 2005 AND AT 146795 MILES THE TRANNY HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. IT'S NOT WORTH FIXING AT THIS POINT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10283473
Incident
Aug 8, 2009
Mileage
95,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 18, 2009
MAZDA 626 1997 4 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ONCE THE O/D OFF LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I SHIFT INTO REVERSE, SOMETIME IT DOES NOT MOVE. AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES THE CAR JERKS AND STRUGGLES WITH ERRATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPM AND NOISE. CAR STILL DRIVES BUT MAY NOT BE SAFE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWS FAULT WITH TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH. *TR
NHTSA ID
10274216
Incident
Jan 10, 2009
Mileage
100,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 17, 2009
TRANSMISSION LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING ONCE RPM REACHES OF 3. *TR
NHTSA ID
10268997
Incident
May 4, 2009
Mileage
177,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported
BLACK ICE CAR EXITED THE ROAD, HIT A TREE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10266768
Incident
Dec 18, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 11, 2009
1 injury reported
I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 WITH A FORD CD4E TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS STORIES OF EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM EXPERIENCING IT MYSELF. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IT PUT WEAR AND TEAR ON MY KEYBOARD. I ALSO HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT HAS 124,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE IN NUMEROUS CASES. WHAT IS GOING ON? I WOULD VOTE TO FIRE ALL THE FORD AND GENERAL MOTOR ENGINEERS. I AM A DISABLED MAN STUCK WITH TWO PIECES OF ENGINEERING STUPIDITY. ALL I CAN DO IS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IS TO BEAT ON THIS KEYBOARD AND FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. IS THERE? THE INJURY IS TO MY TRUST AS WELL AS MY WALLET. *TR
NHTSA ID
10258410
Incident
Feb 11, 2009
Mileage
94,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 16, 2008
MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10252017
Incident
Apr 2, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 2, 2008
I DROVE MY 1997 MAZDA 626 FOR A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT FROM A USED CAR SALESMAN AS IS. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE O/D OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND ON, THEN PARKED IT, AND JUST 20 MINS LATER I COULD NOT REVERSE IT. WHEN I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IT ACTS AS IF ITS IN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL IN REVERSE AND DRIVE IS DRIVE. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. PLEASE BRING MAZDA TO JUSTICE ON THEIR 626 TRANNYS!! *TR
NHTSA ID
10250565
Incident
Dec 2, 2008
Mileage
205,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 18, 2008
THE MAZDA I OWN IS A 1997 MAZDA 625 WITH A CD-4E FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. I HAVE READ WHERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THIS TRANSMISSION MULTIPLE TIMES ONLY TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN AND AGAIN. I HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFERED A SOLUTION OR EVEN A RESPONSE. NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AND DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR SOME RECOURSE. I REALLY WONDER IF ANYONE OUT THERE REALLY CARES THAT WE ARE BEING FORCED TO DEAL WITH A TOTALLY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. THIS IS TOTAL HIGHWAY ROBBERY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10249068
Incident
Oct 27, 2008
Mileage
96,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 12, 2008
1997 MAZDA 626, TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY MAZDA DUE TO EXTENDED WARRANTY AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS 183,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR GARAGED FOR 2 YEARS AS THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN IS PROHIBITIVE. REPLACED TRANS FLUID WITH SYNTHETIC AND IT RUNS BETTER HOWEVER IF I HAD KNOW THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR I WOULD HAVE SOLD IT A LONG TIME AGO AND WOULD HAVE INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. THE STATE SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OR YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A GROUP OF ATTORNEY'S WHO WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST MAZDA!!! *TR
NHTSA ID
10248646
Incident
Jan 10, 2006
Mileage
180,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 24, 2008
I OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX AND IT HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. I TAKE GREAT PRE-MAINTENANCE AND ONLY HAVE 69,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTED AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10246658
Incident
Apr 20, 2006
Transmission
Filed Oct 10, 2008
1. SOME EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: BLINKING OVER DRIVE LIGHT THEN STARTED TO CLICK (ALMOST AS IF IT WERE CV JOINTS) 2. TRANSMISSION, STARTED QUIETLY AND SELDOMLY, THEN TO A MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER CLICKING, TO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN ALL. 3.NONE YET HAPPENED TODAY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10245096
Incident
Oct 10, 1997
Mileage
135,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 10, 2008
1. SOME EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: BLINKING OVER DRIVE LIGHT THEN STARTED TO CLICK (ALMOST AS IF IT WERE CV JOINTS) 2. TRANSMISSION, STARTED QUIETLY AND SELDOMLY, THEN TO A MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER CLICKING, TO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN ALL. 3.NONE YET HAPPENED TODAY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10245095
Incident
Oct 10, 1997
Mileage
135 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 2008
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
NHTSA ID
10241164
Incident
Sep 5, 2008
Mileage
137,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 16, 2008
I HAD A COUPON FOR $14.99-OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION FROM FIRESTONE.COM. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE SHOP...DID NOT ROTATE TIRES AND SAID THEY HAD NO COUPON. I WAS CHARGED MORE THAN THE COUPON. I RELUCTANTLY PAID THE BILL. I THEN DROVE TO LAKEVILLE, MN...ON MY WAY TO VISIT FATHER IN BATESVILLE, AR. I NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL AND ALMOST THE SAME TIME MY CAR POPPED OUT OF GEAR. SO I PULLED OFF I-35 AND CHECKED THE OIL. THE CAP WAS NOT ON CORRECTLY, (1 1/2 TURNS THEN IT WAS TIGHTENED) I CALLED FIRESTONE IMMEDIATELY TO REPORT THE CAP AND SMELL. MY DIPSTICK READ FULL...I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHECK THE TRANNY FLUID SINCE IT IS BELOW (MANUAL TRANSMISSION), BUT WAS ASSURED BY FIRESTONE THEY CHECK THE LEVEL WITH AN OIL CHANGE. LONG STORY SHORT...I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY OILPAN AND TRANSMISSION. NOW TODAY THERE IS NO FLUID IN MY RADIATOR...AND I HAVE DRAINED ALL OF MY RESOURCES AND HAVE BECOME DELINQUENT WILL MY REGULAR BUDGET. THERE WAS ONLY 1/2 QT OIL IN MY MOTOR AND 1/2 QT TRANNY FLUID IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FROM REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND HAVE SPOKEN TO MECHANICS. THEY HAVE REPEATED TO ME THAT I NEED TO FIND LEGAL COUNSEL OR GET HELP SINCE THE CAR WAS FINE BEFORE I WENT TO FIRESTONE. THEY HAVE IGNORED MY LAST 2 CALLS ( ON HOLD)THERE WAS ONLY 1/2 QT OIL IN MY MOTOR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY FATHERS IN ARKANSAS. MY CAR HAS NEVER BURNED OIL OR THE LIKE. THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY OILPAN BETWEEN THE SIZE OF A GOLFBALL AND A TENNIS BALL...THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS. AT THE SAME TIME MY OIL WAS DRAINED THE DIPSTICK CONTINUED TO READ FULL, THE MECHANIC WAS CONCERNED. I COULD NO LONGER USE 5TH GEAR AND 3RD GAVE OUT AS WELL. FIRESTONE ASSURED ME ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED...BUT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT CONVINCED. MY FATHERS NEW DRIVEWAY WAS STAINED FROM THE OIL. I CANNOT REMEMBER WHICH DAY I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY JULY 18TH OR 19TH. I NEED TO FIND THE RECEIPT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10238467
Incident
Jul 18, 2008
Mileage
148,000 mi
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.
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