Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Mazda 626 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 50 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.
The 25 most recent of 50, in the owner's own words
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
MY GAS PEDAL GET STUCK, CAR JERKS WHEN DRIVEN & MAKE NOISY, CAR SAKES BRAKES PROBLEMS & MORE. *TR
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
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.
1. & 2.TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BROKE, MAKING VEHICLE INOPERABLE & DAMAGING TIMING BELT. 3. WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF SPRING AND BELT AS WELL AS RELATED LABOR. OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. NOTE: MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THIS PART ON SOME VEHICLES (CAMPAIGN 00V134000) , ONE GROUP OF VIN # WERE PROVIDED NHTSB AND THEN A CORRECTION WAS PROVIDED, BUT IT STOPPED SHORT OF THE # ON MY VEHICLE. SINCE THE VERY PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE, I BELIEVE MAZDA UNDERSTATED ITS RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE INTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V134000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE), HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL # 00V134000 FOR THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING WAS DENIED, THEN, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TIMING BELT AND A BOLT THAT HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE SUMMARY OF THE RECALL WAS SIMILAR TO THE STALLING OF THE VEHICLE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DETERMINED THE SPRING FOR THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED AND A NEW TIMING KIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V134000, FOR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
RECALL 00V134000 ON 1999 MAZDA 626 TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING DID NOT COVER SAME PART FAILURE ON SAME CAR(BY VIN #). *JB
O/D LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS. CAR STARTS SMOKING AND TRANSMISSION FLUID FLOWS OUT OF A TUBE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION LOSSES SPEED AND BEGINS SLIPPING. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY CAR LOCALLY FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED, AS I HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WAS LOSING SPEED EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN HOPING TO REGAIN SPEED. I DID NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED, AND IT CONTINUED TO DROP. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BREAK IN TRAFFIC WHERE I COULD TURN INTO A SMALL PARKING LOT TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM TRAFFIC. AS I BEGAN TO MAKE THE TURN I NOTICED THAT I HAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR MANUALLY. WHEN I GOT INTO THE PARKING LOT, I HAD HELP ATTEMPTING TO JUMP THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING WORKED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. AS THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD "JUMPED". THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE TENSIONER SPRING BREAKING. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000, THIS PART (TENSIONER SPRING) WAS RECALLED FOR DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT DID ON MY CAR. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 00V134000. I SPOKE WITH THE MAZDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR MY CAR, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. MY VIN IS:[XXX]. I WAS APPALLED THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR MY CAR, FOR DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE BULLETIN SAID IT WOULD DO, BUT THAT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. HOW CAN THIS BE SO? *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012*JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1999 626 STALLED DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. *TS THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR SHE HAS. *JB
1999 MAZDA 626 -COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MARCH,2003. REPLACED WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR $2048.00 - JAN-2006 - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE, WITHIN ONE YEARS TIME. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V134000, REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE ARE THREE NHTSA RECALLS, CAMPAIGNS 00V074000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES: MASTER CYLINDER, 00V134000 REGARDING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT: ENGINE, AND 05E065000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CHATTERING NOISE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR IT WORKED CORRECTLY. A LOCAL MECHANIC CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE WIRES. ALSO, CHECKED THE CV JOINTS AND THEY WERE FINE. THE MECHANIC HAD NOT LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION. HE ELIMINATED ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS FIRST. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. *AK (11/17/05) THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM. *SC
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE PROBLEMS ON FEBRUARY 27, 2001, WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT. THE CONTACT STATED ON MARCH 15, 2005 THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING HOT, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO NOISE.*AK THE HEAD GASKET AND ALTERNATOR FAILED. UPDATED 11/16/05. *JB
DT: THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE ON AUGUST 7, 2005. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS APPEARED, AND NO NOISES WERE HEARD. OWNER FELT THE ENGINE DIED AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. THE OWNER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE TWICE, BUT IT DID NOT RESTART. THEN HE CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO, IN TURN, CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WAS BURNED AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $3000-$4000. BUT OWNER WILL TALK WITH MAZDA BEFORE PAYING FOR REPAIRS. *AK *JB
I BOUGHT A 1999 MAZDA 626 LX IN NOVEMBER OF 1998. VIN [XXX] THE TIME THE WARRANTY RAN OUT I HAD TAKEN MY CAR INTO AN OIL CHANGE FRANCHISE. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I FLUSH AND RENEW THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. SO I DID. THAT'S WHEN ALL THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. I THEN DROVE THE CAR FROM NJ TO FL WHERE I LIVED. IT STARTED BURNING UP A LOT OF OIL SO I TOOK IT INTO TO MAZDA. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS WELL KNOWN THAT MY MAKE AND MODEL CAR RUNS HOT. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH WHAT THE OIL CHANGE FRANCHISE DID. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I PUT A RADIATOR ON THE TRANSMISSION TO KEEP IT FROM BOILING...WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS DOING. I BELIEVE IT IS THE BOILING TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS CAUSE MY ENGINE TO HEAT UP SO MUCH THAT THE OIL HAS GUNKED MY ENGINE. ANYWAY, I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY PUT IN A RADIATOR WHICH SEEMS TO HELP SOME BUT NOW I'M CONTINUALLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL BURNING UP WITHOUT THERE BEING ANY LEAKS. I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE EVERY SINCE. IN AND OUT OF THE SHOPS. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR RIGHT. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER MAZDA OWNERS HAVING PROBLEMS OF THIS SIMILAR NATURE ON THE NET. MAZDA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND ADMIT PUBLICLY THAT THEY'VE GOT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1999 MAZDA 626 ES V6-PURCHASED USED IN 2003 AND HAVE HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 85,819 MILES ON IT AND CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT AND NOW THE A/C BLOWS WARM AIR EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE COMPRESSOR AND SWITCH. WE HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RELAYS, FANS, WATER PUMP, FLUSHED OUT THE RADIATOR, FRONT AND REAR GASKETS, NEW AIR COMPRESSOR AND HAVE SPENT ABOUT $2500 IN REPAIRS ONLY TO BE TOLD BY THE MECHANIC HE IS OUT OF OPTIONS AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I AM READING ON THE INTERNET VARIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALL OF THEIR PRODUCTS AND SEE A PATTERN WITH THE PROBLEMS AND THESE VEHICLES. WHEN YOU PURCHASE A VEHICLE AND EXPECT IT TO BE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND IT IS YOUR ONLY TRANSPORTATION IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE SINCE THEIR IS A CONTIUING PROBLEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE VEHICLES AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS.
SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH RESULTED IN MY BRINGING THE AUTOMOBILE INTO MY MECHANIC FOR SERVCING - DIAGNOSTIC CODE (2ND TIME FOR THIS CODE) RESULTED IN A REPLACEMENT OF 2 OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT A COST OF > $750. THE FIRST TIME THIS CODE APPEARED, THE MECHANIC TUNED UP THE ENGINE, WHICH COST $300.
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V134000; MAZDA ISSUED A TIMING BELT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, BUT THE TIMING BELT MADE NOISE LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BREAK. *AK THE TIMING BELT KIT. 2 SERPENTINE BELTS, TENSIONER SPRING ASSEMBLY AND THE IDLER PULLEY WERE REPLACED. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE.*AK DEALER REPLACED TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. *TT
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BOTH FAULTY. ENGINE DID NOT REVERSE, SOON AFTER ENGINE EXPLODED.*AK
VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED WHEN BRAKING FROM 40 MPH OR MORE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, AND THE TIMING BELT SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE SECOND TIME. CONSUMER HAD BOTH PARTS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
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
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