RoadVitals

1999 Mazda 626 Owner Complaints

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.
318
Latest Sep 22, 2017
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.
14
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 Nov 13, 1998

What this page shows

Our database holds 318 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 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 318 · page 1 of 13

Filed Sep 22, 2017

IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTED. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS, SMOKE BEGIN TO FLOW FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND I MUST IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE THE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION POSITION.

NHTSA ID
11025005
Incident
May 9, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 13, 2017

WHEN ENGAGING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, I MUST IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE CONTACT POSITION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS SECONDS AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ENGAGED.

NHTSA ID
11005084
Incident
Nov 15, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSING TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ID
10861546
Incident
Jan 20, 2016
Mileage
12,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2016

WHEN ENGAGING IGNITION SWITCH TO START VEHICLE, SMOKE COMES UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF SWITCH. THIS PROBLEM STARTED 2011. VEHICLE IS IN STORAGE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
10825063
Incident
Jun 13, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 30, 2016
Crash reported

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP WHICH IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. THIS BS WITH IT COST MY WIFE HER JOB

NHTSA ID
10823272
Incident
Nov 20, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WIRES TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FIRE INITIATED DUE TO A IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10806774
Incident
Nov 12, 2015
Mileage
156,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 5, 2015
Crash reported

SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND DUE TO MY BREAK CAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP & THE TRANSMITTION WENT OUT ON THE CAR & I ALSO HAD OTHER PROBLEMS TO WITH THE CAR

NHTSA ID
10788692
Incident
Sep 23, 2011
Mileage
10,000 mi
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Oct 5, 2012

CAR TIRES SLIPPERY & ALWAYS ON FLAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478711
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
BrakesEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Oct 5, 2012

MY GAS PEDAL GET STUCK, CAR JERKS WHEN DRIVEN & MAKE NOISY, CAR SAKES BRAKES PROBLEMS & MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478705
Incident
Sep 23, 2012
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 18, 2012

CATASTROPHIC JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING EXTREMELY SLOW ACCELERATION AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471401
Incident
Jun 29, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 13, 2012

PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 WITH 28,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UNTIL RECENTLY IN 2009 THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO DEVELOP PROBLEMS. IT NOW SLIPS IN SECOND GEAR, I CANNOT DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR FEAR THAT THE INFAMOUS O/D OFF LIGHT WILL START TO FLASH AND LEAVE ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THIS OCCURS SOMETIMES AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF MAYBE 30 MINUTES OR MORE DRIVING 70 MPH, AND SOMETIMES AT 65MPH. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, THE CAR LOOSES POWER, AND BURNS UP THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU RISK THE CHANCE OF NEARLY BLOWING THE TRANSMISSION, BEING RUN OFF THE ROAD, BEING FORCED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND BEING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BECAUSE THE CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STOPS MOVING!THIS IS SO SAD THAT I CANNOT REALLY ENJOY MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS HERE! MAZDA HAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE OTHER RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. MAZDA IS A POOR INVESTMENT, AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THEY KNOW ARE A PIECE OF CRAP! I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ID
10447715
Incident
Jul 1, 2009
Mileage
150,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 12, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED HAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT FROM FOURTH TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE OVERDRIVE FAILURE RUINED THE MOTOR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. UPDATED 10/28/11*LJ

NHTSA ID
10429634
Incident
Sep 14, 2011
Mileage
105,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 22, 2011

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS *TT

NHTSA ID
10414771
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 2011

I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND SHIFTS VERY HARD, AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. APPARENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THIS MODEL HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR; MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10398081
Incident
May 3, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE GEARS BECAME STUCK, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASE GREATLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID
10398061
Incident
Apr 22, 2011
Mileage
113,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2010
Crash reported

THIS IS MY CONCERN I WAS RIDING WITH SOMEONE AND WE HAD A CRASH GOING 80 MPH. THE CAR HYDRO PLAIN OFF THE HIGHWAY HITTING THE GUARD RAIL. I BELIEVE AT THAT SPEED THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE CAME OUT BUT THEY DID NOT, I MYSELF HAD MAJOR NECK AND BACK PAINS MY HEAD HITTING THE SIDE WINDOW. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS AIRBAG DID NOT COME OUT AND IT'S BOTHERING ME BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HURT OR KILLED THANK GOD I WALK OUT. THE CAR WAS 99 MAZDA 626. THIS CAR IMPACT WITH THE GUARD RAIL 3 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS OR SHOULD I REPORT THIS TO CONSUMERS. THANKS... *TR

NHTSA ID
10352550
Incident
Jul 29, 2010
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 28, 2010

THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE SLIPPING AND VIBRATION. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PRODUCT BEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WHY IS MAZDA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE....... *TR

NHTSA ID
10352506
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
150,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2010

ROUGH SHIFTING, SLIPPING ,ROUGH IDLE, OVERHEATING TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325739
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 13, 2010

I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AND THE TACHOMETER GETS VERY ERRATIC AS IS THE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE NOW USES EXCESSIVE GAS AND THE JERKING MOTION HAS CONTINUED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING (AFTER GOING ONLINE TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM) THAT MAZDA IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325397
Incident
Apr 5, 2010
Mileage
164,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 20, 2010

GEAR SLIPPING & RPM "REVING" TRANSMISSION FALIURE, NEED TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312355
Incident
Feb 19, 2010
Mileage
170,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 21, 2009

99 MAZDA 626ES HAS BEEN GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SLIPS ON 1 AND 2 GEAR. I HAVE TO DRIVE 5-10 MPH UNTIL IT KICKS-IN BUT IF I REDUCE SPEED I HAVE TO GO TROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. A MECHANIC CHANGED THE RANGE-SENSOR, I THINK IT'S CALL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE DIAGNOSE THE SAID YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, FOR ABOUT 3,000 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284753
Incident
Oct 10, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 11, 2009

1999 MAZDA 626: THE DRIVE CHAIN INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, AND TRIED TO GO, YOU COULD HERE IT JUMPING OVER THE TEETH ON THE SPROCKET. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280070
Incident
Aug 15, 2008
Engine
Filed May 22, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V134000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10269722
Incident
May 14, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Apr 27, 2009

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER OF REPOSSESSED VEHICLES AND SHORTLY AFTER NOTICED THAT ALL 3 OF THE REAR SEATBELTS WOULD NOT BUCKLE. IF YOU SHAKE THE BUCKLE AROUND VIGOROUSLY ON ONE OF THEM, IT WILL BUCKLE, BUT NOT THE OTHER 2. I AM WORRIED FOR OTHERS SAFETY AND KNOW THAT SEATBELTS ARE IMPORTANT, SO I CHOOSE TO NOT CARRY MORE THAN ONE PASSENGER, AND THEY SIT IN FRONT. I AM PLANNING ON GETTING THEM REPLACED SOON, BUT FIGURED IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE, CONSIDERING IT AFFECTS ALL 3 REAR RESTRAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266851
Incident
Nov 20, 2007
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2009

THIS IS THE 3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF 1999 MAZDA 626. CAR ONLY HAS 136K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261764
Incident
Mar 10, 2009
Mileage
136,000 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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