Mazda 626 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 18 safety recalls and 3,130 owner complaints across 25 model years of the Mazda 626 (1979–2003). The most-complained-about year is 1995.

Pick your Mazda 626 model year

• 1979
• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003

What Mazda 626 owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 3,130 complaints with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 488.

• Power train: automatic transmission1,792
• Air bags: frontal142
• Engine and engine cooling: engine126
• Power train68
• Seat belts64
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline59
• Unknown or other55
• Air bags46

All Mazda 626 recalls (18)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Mazda 626, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Switch (electrical system)

   NHTSA 15V674000 Reported October 19, 2015 1,368,500 vehicles potentially affected Mazda North American Operations

   Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

   Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's…

   Model years: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

2. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

   NHTSA 00V134000 Reported May 9, 2000 31,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner could break.

   Remedy: Dealers will check the tensioner installed and replace it if the vehicle is equipped with the affected tensioner.

   Model years: 1998, 1999

3. Master cylinder (service brakes)

   NHTSA 00V074000 Reported March 7, 2000 71,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain reservoir tank caps on the brake master cylinder were produced with a worn out die and lack ventilation holes. As a result, the pressure in the reservoir tank can drop gradually as the brake pad or shoe wears and ambient temperature drops. Also, the pressure could reach a point that the…

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the reservoir cap and replace it, if necessary.

   Model years: 1999, 2000

4. Switch (exterior lighting)

   NHTSA 99V358000 Reported December 17, 1999 40,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlight wire that runs through the turn signal lever can fail at the point where it is soldered to the headlight switch.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlight switch lever.

   Model years: 1994

5. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

   NHTSA 98V249000 Reported October 8, 1998 213,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.

   Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the sas unit to reduce the probability of unnecessary deployments in low speed undercarriage impacts.

   Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997

6. Radio/tape deck/cd etc. (equipment)

   NHTSA 98V243000 Reported October 2, 1998 73,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

   Vehicle description: if the vehicle is operated in a hot, humid environment with the window open and air conditioner running, it is possible for condensation to enter the audio unit and cause a short circuit.

   Remedy: Dealers will affix aluminum tape over the audio unit to prevent water from entering.

   Model years: 1998

7. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

   NHTSA 98V206001 Reported September 8, 1998 40,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner can break and get caught in the timing belt.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tensioner and replace it if necessary.

   Model years: 1997

8. Fuel injection system (fuel system)

   NHTSA 97V228000 Reported December 17, 1997 20,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to a programming error, the powertrain control module (PCM) installed can, under certain driving conditions, trigger a shift in air-fuel ratio to an overlean condition.

   Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the PCM with the correct engine control logic.

   Model years: 1998

9. Door (structure)

   NHTSA 93V174000 Reported October 29, 1993 244,000 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

   Resin molded front handles fail at the door latch actuating rod attachment, freeing the rod to fall inside the door frame. Subsequent lowering of the associated window may force the actuating rod downward and release the door latch.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the door handle/latch assembly.

   Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

10. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 90V118000 Reported June 14, 1990 102,548 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    Ignition switch terminal may malfunction.

    Remedy: Replace ignition switches.

    Model years: 1986, 1987

11. Seat belts

    NHTSA 88V063000 Reported April 14, 1988 42,810 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    The drive spring that drives the automatic belt may break.

    Remedy: Replace automatic shoulder belt.

    Model years: 1988

12. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 88V022000 Reported February 22, 1988 72,883 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    At ambient temperatures below 0 degree f, frost may accumulate within the throttle body under extended constant speed operation.

    Remedy: Install a new type thermostat designed to raise the coolant temperature and warm the throttle body to a level above freezing.

    Model years: 1988

13. Shoes/linings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 87V196000 Reported December 29, 1987 14,807 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    Vehicles equipped with rear brake drums transported by train may experience separation of the brake shoe from the wheel brake cylinder piston.

    Remedy: All vehicles will be inspected and if no separation is found grease will be applied to the component interface to lower friction and avoid subsequent relative motion. If separation is found the wheel brake cylinder…

    Model years: 1988

14. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 87V186000 Reported December 7, 1987 33,868 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    Fuel tank fixing band retention is not sufficient, allowing the band to rub against the fuel tank by vehicle vibrations.

    Remedy: Repair fuel fixing band by installing a rubber sheet.

    Model years: 1988

15. Linkages (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 87V149000 Reported September 17, 1987 400 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    Floor mat could interfere with release of accelerator pedal due to improper shape of mat.

    Remedy: Remove present mat and replace with new improved mat.

    Model years: 1988

16. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 86V042000 Reported March 11, 1986 36,671 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    The throttle angle sensor on the carburetor may contain a nylon rotor which has not been heat treated. Rotors that have not been heat treated contract in the presence of heat causing the throttle mechanism to stick. Consequence of defect: this may cause the throttle to stick in the open position which may result in loss of control…

    Remedy: Replace throttle angle sensor assemblies with new heat treated rotors with larger inside diameters.

    Model years: 1986

17. Steering

    NHTSA 85V108000 Reported September 4, 1985 136,526 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    In certain high salt areas, the idler arm is exposed to road salt which causes the dust seal to deteriorate resulting in idler arm pin corrosion. This causes the pin to freeze and break. Consequence of defect: a broken idler arm pin could result in loss of steering control and may cause an accident.

    Remedy: Replace pin with one of improved corrosion resistant quality.

    Model years: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

18. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 83V052000 Reported May 10, 1983 232,373 vehicles potentially affected MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

    Anchorage bolt may have been improperly reinstalled after vehicle repair. The bolt could loosen during normal vehicle operation.

    Remedy: Upon inspection, all improperly installed bolts will be removed and reinstalled correctly.

    Model years: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

Other Mazda models

• MAZDA32,987 complaints
• CX-52,451 complaints
• MAZDA62,234 complaints
• Tribute2,102 complaints
• CX-91,438 complaints
• CX-71,132 complaints
• Protege1,076 complaints
• Mpv938 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.