Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SINCE OWNING THE MAZDA 626 I HAVE HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. IT WILL SLIP GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. IF ITS BELOW 60 DEGREES THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE MOTOR GETS HOT ENOUGH. THE CAR IS LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DOES IT EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SOMTIMES ON AND OFF AND THE BACK WINDOWS WONT ROLL DOWN FROM THE DRIVER BUTTON
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,735. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 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 STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A WARNING SOUND AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE FRONT END. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE ACCOMPANIED BY A HEATING SENSATION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V243000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.), IN WHICH A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
1998 MAZDA 626 LX 2.0L 4CYLINDER ENGINE. RETURNING BACK TO THE GUEST HOUSE AFTER DROPPING A FRIEND OFF AT THE AIRPORT THAT EVENING, AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A CRACK (FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE) FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WITHIN MOMENTS AS I SLOWED THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT, I HEARD A WHIPPING NOISE FROM THE SAME REGION. THAT LATER HAPPENED TO BE THE SERPENTINE AND ALTERNATOR BELTS BOTH BROKE JUST AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE.., AND THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE GUEST HOUSE. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT AND THE DIAGNOSES WERE THE GEARS IN THE WATER PUMP WERE BROKEN WHICH FROZE THE ALTERNATOR BELT, THE ALTERNATOR BELT-NOW STIFFENED- SHREDDED AND MANGLED THE SERPENTINE BELT. THEN THE SERPENTINE BELT TORE ALONG THE GROOVED LINES. PLUS, THE ENGINE IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT. REPAIRS???? I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE TO COME IN. I HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE CHEAP TO FIX. $500-$700 I ASKED? NOPE! HE SAID, AFTER LETTING OUT A CHUCKLE..., MUCH HIGHER HE REPLIED. AT LEAST $1000 OR MORE. *TR
I JUST BOUGHT A 98 626 WITH A LITTLE OVER A 100K ON IT IN MAY BEFORE I BOUGHT IT I TOOK IT TO MAZDA TO HAVE ALL PARTS AND COMPONETS CHECKED OUT THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS HEALTHY AND THE ENGINE WAS GOOD AND ALL PARTS LOOKED GREAT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR THE SAME DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS USING THEN RESET MY CODE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR THE BELTS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE MAY I HAVE PUT OVER 1100 IN PARTS AND LABOR IN THIS CAR NOW THEY SAY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS OVER 2200 ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO. *JB
DT: THE CALLER SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CALLER SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN MOSTLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP. DEALER SAID SHE NEEDED TO GET A DIFFERENT YEAR TRANSMISSION, AND SHE WILL HAVE TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON HER VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO HELP FOR FREE. *AK
I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO GET MY ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. NOTHING WORKS. NOW I AM BEING FINED FOR NOT PASSING INSPECTION. WHAT IS GOING ON? I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. AFTER VARIOUS REPAIRS THE LIGHT WOULD FINALLY GO OFF. NOW IT WILL NOT AND HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD O2 SENSOR AND CAT SENSOR REPLACED, SINCE THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY WHAT THE CODE WAS. STILL NOTHING AND NOONE SEEMS TO CARE.*AK
MY 1998 MAZDA 626 IS UNRELIABLE. IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF A DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO GET THEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION OR WHY IT WILL ONLY CRANK SPORADICALLY. THEY CHECK, SAY THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, CHARGE US FOR A REPAIR (BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT RARELY WORKS MORE THAN A DAY AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND THEN IT IS ON THE BLINK AGAIN. THE REPORTED PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE HAS NOT CHANGED, IT WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY DUE TO FAILURE TO CRANK. WE WANT IT FIXED AND WE EXPECT TRAINED TECHNICIANS TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR TO FIX IT. WE HAVE NOW PAID OUT OVER $1000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR AND STILL WE HAVE A CAR THAT WILL NOT WORK. NORTH PARK MAZDA, JACKSON, MS HAS ALL OF THE RECENT SERVICE RECORDS WHICH BACK UP WHAT I HAVE STATED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO PLACED IT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
MY 1998 MAZDA 626 4CL 2.0 ENGINE HAS APPROX. 71K MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS IN AUGUST 2003, AT WHICH POINT WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED,& THE SPARK PLUGS CHANGED. THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE AND LET THE CONDITIONERS TAKE EFFECT, BUT THE CAR SHOWS NO DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING. THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES NOW ON OCCASION, AND THE RPM GOES UP TO 4 OR 5 BEFORE IT SHIFTS TO A HIGHER GEAR. WE ARE NOT DRIVING IT NOW..ITS BEEN SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR A WEEK & A HALF. I CALLED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND BEFORE SEEING THE CAR THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY THATS GOOD THRU 90K, BUT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HONOR IT, I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THE CHANCE IF THE WARRANTY COMPANY DOSENT REIMBURSE ME. THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR, AND I STILL HAVE 2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS LEFT. AFTER READING 56 PAGES OF COMMENTS ON-LINE WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE NO FAITH THAT A NEW TRANNY WOULD EVEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM...IT LOOKS AS THOUGH EVEN WITH A REBUILT ONE THEY GO OUT RIGHT AFTER THE REBUILT WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT SEEN A CARFAX ON MY CAR, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TRANSMISSION. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR WITHOUT SELLING THIS ONE, BUT HOW CAN I SELL A CAR THAT DOSEN'T RUN, ESPECIALLY WHEN I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT.
SINCE APPROXIMATELY JUNE, 2002, THE IMMOBILIZER HAS BEEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER I START THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE ALARM IS DEACTIVATED. I USUALLY HAVE TO WAIT 24 HOURS OR SO FOR THE ALARM TO RESET ITSELF. THIS OCCURS EVERY 2 MONTHS OR SO, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED EVEN WHEN THE CAR WASN'T LOCKED. JUNE, 2002, REPLACED BATTERY; DEC. 2002, INSTALLED NEW FUEL PUMP; JAN. 2003, INSTALLED FUEL PUMP AGAIN; APRIL, 2003, BOUGHT NEW KEY AND CLICKER; SEPT. 2003, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE IMMOBILIZER @ NEARLY $800. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS ARE AT DEALER'S REQUEST, AND ARE INTERSPERSED WITH MANY TOWS AND ALARM RESETS.
I PURCHASED A CAR IN APRIL 2001 (A USED CAR) AND HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR IT. CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS IN 2002 SO I DECIDED TO USE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO GET THE CAR FIXED ONCE IT BROKE DOWN ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY; I FOUND OUT THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY NEVER HEARD OF ME AND THAT MY WARRANTY NEVER EXISTED. THE PLACE THAT I BROUGHT THE CAR FROM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE OF FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY DID HAVE ONE OTHER CAR PLACE THAT WAS STILL OPERATING, SO I CALLED THAT PLACE AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME. THEY TRIED TWICE TOO FIX THE PROBLEM AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE CAR IS STILL THE SAME WAY IT WAS WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEM. THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS SUPPOSE TO LAST 60 MONTHS OR 100,000 METERS WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. I USED MY CAR DAILY BECAUSE I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMPANY STILL WONT HONOR THE FAKE WARRANTY THAT I HAVE THAT WAS GIVEN BY THEM. MY TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR IS WORSE THAN BEFORE. THE COMPANY IS DICK GIDRON FORD/CADILLAC. THEY WERE ALL OVER THE NEWS FOR FRAUD. PLEASE HELP. *LA
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 37,000 OR 38,000 MILES. WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS TWICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES.1ST AT DEALERSHIP(80.00) 2ND BY MY HUSBAND 3,000 MILES AFTER THE 1ST TIME. 2 MTHS. LATER SAME PROBLEM NOT PLUGS BUT REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS(SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED THAT EARLY) BEFORE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS WERE WORN DOWN COMPLETELY. PUT IN SHOP DEC. 01-COMPUTER SAID BAD O2 SENSOR REPLACED BOTH SENSORS(90.00) STILL SAME PROBLEM. CALLED MAZDA, FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA. THEY DID NOTHING. THEY SAID NOT ENOUGH FILES HAD BEEN ISSUED TO WARRANT A RECALL. I THINK THAT IS A LIE. ALL OVER THE INTERNET YOU FIND COMPLAINTS OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THAT. IT IS A SHAME THAT MAZDA MAKES A PRODUCT AS THIS AND DOES NOT STAND BEHIND WHAT IT PRODUCES. THEY ARE JUST LAZY AND DO NOT CARE TO HELP THE PUBLIC. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION. THEY HAVE A VERY BAD REPUTATION WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY DON'T EVEN SEEM TO CARE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND EVERYONE THAT STILL HAS PAPERWORK NEEDS TO BE REIMBURSED BY MAZDA FOR ALL THE MONEY PEOPLE HAVE PAID TO GET THEIR CARS FIXED. THANK GOODNESS WE GOT RID OF OURS A FEW MONTHS AGO. I TELL EVEYONE I KNOW THAT IS LOOKING INTO BUYING A CAR NOT TO GET A MAZDA.
I HAVE HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL AND FUEL/TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP RESPONDS WITH THIS IS NORMAL. OTHER MECHANICS QUESTION FREQUENT VISITS HOWEVER AGREE THAT THE SERVICES ARE NEEDED.*AK
RECALL COMPONENT (RADIO- #77810) FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE/SMOKE DAMAGE, NOTICE NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER INCIDENT AND DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL WORK. MJS
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .