1998 MAZDA 626

499 complaints filed with NHTSA.

499
Complaints
15
Crashes
6
Fires
18
Injuries
10
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION278
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE42
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS14
POWER TRAIN13
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
TIRES5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)4
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY3

Recent Complaints

20160223FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 WA

Mileage: 200,000

20160223FireENGINE

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 WA

Mileage: 200,000

20141217CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR

20141217CrashSTEERING

I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR

20141217CrashWHEELS

I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR

20090427FireEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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,

Mileage: 20,000

20081201FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE YEAR OF 98'S TRANSMISSIONS MADE BY FORD. TRANSMISSIONS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES STARTING FROM SHIFTING ISSUES, TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATING REQUIRING MORE AND MORE MAZDA 626'S TO HAVE AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION COOLERS INSTALLED, TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. THIS YEAR THAT FORD MADE THIS TRANSMISSION HAS CAUSED MANY PEOPLE TO OFTEN REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE. YOU WILL SEE MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THEIR TRANSMISSIONS 2 OR 3 TIMES WITHIN PUTTING 150K ON THE

Mileage: 120,215

20040825FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, OD LIGHT BLINKING, TRANSMISSION FLUID BOILING OUT OF DIP STICK AREA, COVERING MOTOR WHICH THEN STARTED BURNING WITH LOTS OF SMOKE. TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP THEY CHANGED THE FILTER AND FLUID, NOW IT DOING THE SAME THING. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT! *AK

Mileage: 87,000

20040422CrashAIR BAGS

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 1998 MAZDA 626. SHE HIT A TREE HEAD ON AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AND SHE IS DRIVING IT NOW. IT REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR IF SHE HAS A WRECK THAT IS WORST THAT THE ONE SHE ALREADY HAS.

20040401CrashAIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHICH CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND TWO OTHER PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

20031017FatalELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 A

Mileage: 55,000

20031017FatalPOWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR

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 A

Mileage: 55,000

20030708CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT HER FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

20030708POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN READING ALL TYPES OF POSTS FROM WEBSITES SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT THE POOR TRANSMISSIONS IN THE MAZDA 626. HOW COULD YOU DISREGARD THE QUALITY OF A PART THATS SO VITAL TO A NEWLY MANUFACTURED CAR? MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITING POSTS ABOUT THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SAY THAT THEY WILL NEVER BUY MAZDA AGAIN, AND I FEEL THE SAME WAY. EVERY POST THAT I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN ABOUT THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. PEOPLE HAVING THEIR TRANSMISSIONS DIE AT 37K, 55K, 48

20020211CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON STATED DATE, I WAS REARENDED ON HIGHWAY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER BACK PART OF DRIVERS SEAT BROKE. IT WAS FOUND COMPLETELY HORIZONTAL AT END OF IMPACT. MAZDA SAID IT WAS BUILT TO DO THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS! TOW TRUCK OPERATOR, AUTO BODY EMPLOYEES HAVE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN SUCH A "SAFETY FEATURE." DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN SEAT MECHANISM,I SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. I HAVE KEPT THE BROKEN SEAT TRACK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. IF MAZDA DESIGNED THE SEAT BA

20020211CrashSEATS

ON STATED DATE, I WAS REARENDED ON HIGHWAY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER BACK PART OF DRIVERS SEAT BROKE. IT WAS FOUND COMPLETELY HORIZONTAL AT END OF IMPACT. MAZDA SAID IT WAS BUILT TO DO THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS! TOW TRUCK OPERATOR, AUTO BODY EMPLOYEES HAVE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN SUCH A "SAFETY FEATURE." DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN SEAT MECHANISM,I SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. I HAVE KEPT THE BROKEN SEAT TRACK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. IF MAZDA DESIGNED THE SEAT BA

20010531CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

REAR END COLLISION WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT. UNCERTAIN OF STRIKING VEHICLE SPEED. MAZDA REAR CRUMPLED SUFFICIENT TO DISTORT REAR DOOR FRAMES. BOTH FRONT SEAT MECHANISMS RELEASED AND OCCUPANTS WERE LAYED OUT FLAT. ONLY TWO OCCUPANTS IN CAR, APPROXIMATELY 225 LBS. EACH. MINOR NECK INJURIES (MUSCLE PULL?) RESULTED.

20010328CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONT IMPACT CRASH AT 30 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DAMAGE $ 2200. *AK

20001219TIRES

TIRE (NO MAKE/MODEL PROVIDED) EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL, THE DRIVER INJURED HER WRIST AND ARM. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC

20000822CrashSTEERING:RACK AND PINION

STEERING RACK GEAR BROKE IN TWO WITH NO WARNING, CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CROSSED HIGHWAY, DOWN A SMALL EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE TREES (NARROWLY MISSING AN ONCOMING SMALL TRUCK). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WAS SUFFERED AGGRAVATION TO EXISTING BACK AND LEG PROBLEMS. SHE SAID SHE HEARD A "CLUNK" AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS THE ROAD. AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AT THE TOWING COMPANIES LOT THAT NIGHT AND DETERMINED THAT