Mazda 626Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 3,130 NHTSA owner complaints across 25 model years, the Mazda 626 years to avoid are 1995, and the strongest years are 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990. The 626 has 18 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'95Use caution: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Best years'87 '88 '89 '90Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints3,130Top: Power train Safety recalls181979–2003 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Best & worst years

Mazda 626 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 626 median. Tap a year for its full report.

0 0 0 0 2 3 6 16 29 45 42 44 62 19 12228248835935843431821718887 9

'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

Complaints by system

Most common Mazda 626 problems

All model years combined: 3,130 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

1,983Power train33 crash/fire/injury

335Engine and engine cooling12 crash/fire/injury

224Air bags154 crash/fire/injury

175Electrical system

145Seat belts

127Service brakes, hydraulic

81Vehicle speed control

68Suspension

58Steering

39020 other systems46 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Power train	1983	33
Engine and engine cooling	335	12
Air bags	224	154
Electrical system	175	30
Seat belts	145	22
Service brakes, hydraulic	127	18
Vehicle speed control	81	14
Suspension	68	6
Steering	58	16
20 other systems	390	46

18 recalls

Mazda 626 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Ignition: switch15V-674 · 1993–1998 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles Engine and engine cooling: engine00V-134 · 1998–1999 · May 9, 2000 · 31,000 vehicles Foundation components: master cylinder00V-074 · 1999–2000 · Mar 7, 2000 · 71,000 vehicles Headlights: switch99V-358 · 1994 · Dec 17, 1999 · 40,000 vehicles Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive98V-249 · 1995–1997 · Oct 8, 1998 · 213,000 vehicles Electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc.98V-243 · 1998 · Oct 2, 1998 · 73,000 vehicles Engine and engine cooling: engine98V-206 · 1997 · Sep 8, 1998 · 40,000 vehicles Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system97V-228 · 1998 · Dec 17, 1997 · 20,000 vehicles Body: door93V-174 · 1988–1991 · Oct 29, 1993 · 244,000 vehicles Electrical system: ignition90V-118 · 1986–1987 · Jun 14, 1990 · 102,548 vehicles Seat belts88V-063 · 1988 · Apr 14, 1988 · 42,810 vehicles Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal88V-022 · 1988 · Feb 22, 1988 · 72,883 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 18 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

8 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 626

Feb 8, 2002
OVERSENSITIVE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTRQ02004 · 1997 · closed Aug 19, 2002
Led to recall 98V-249
Dec 20, 1999
HEADLIGHT FAILURERQ99022 · 1993–1996 · closed Aug 30, 2000
No recall
Oct 29, 1998
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVESQ98024 · 1994–1998 · closed Sep 10, 1999
Led to recall 99I005000
May 23, 1997
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA97012 · 1995–1996 · closed Oct 9, 1998
Led to recall 98V-249
Jan 30, 1997
INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE97006 · 1995–1996 · closed May 23, 1997
No recall
Sep 25, 1992
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENINGEA92031 · 1988–1991 · closed Nov 30, 1993
Led to recall 93V-174
Jun 2, 1992
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENINGPE92050 · 1988 · closed Sep 25, 1992
No recall
Jun 18, 1991
THROTTLE STICKINGPE91088 · 1986–1991 · closed Oct 21, 1991
No recall