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1994 Mazda 626Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 282 owner complaints about the 1994 Mazda 626, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-674 the manufacturer reports only 1% of affected cars repaired.

40
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.5× the 626 median · #5 of 17 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 1%Owner complaints28238 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage110kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 8, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1994 Mazda 626 has problems

282 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train1773
Engine and engine cooling263
Electrical system243
Service brakes, hydraulic162
Air bags1412
Exterior lighting120
Suspension101
Vehicle speed control91
Visibility62
10 other systems2411

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1994 Mazda 626 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

1%repaired · 2017 Q1

Ignition: switch

Recall 15V-674 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles · 8,332 repaired

Risk. If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Headlights: switch

Recall 99V-358 · Dec 17, 1999 · 40,000 vehicles

Risk. THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

110kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 61 power train complaints. 38% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 23% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles23under 100k miles38100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Power train

16 owners mentioned a cost

$2,250median

Middle half: $1,253 – $2,850

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1994 vs. every other 626 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 626 median. How we score

'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
NHTSA crash tests

1994 Mazda 626 safety ratings

1994 Mazda 626 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1994 Mazda 626, and the recalls they led to.

  1. HEADLIGHT FAILURERQ99022 · closed Aug 30, 2000
    No recall
  2. SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVESQ98024 · closed Sep 10, 1999
    Led to recall 99I005000
In owners' words

What 626 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT PROPERLY. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT, IT SHIFTS HARD. OD LIGHT FLASHES. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FROM WORK AND TOOK OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR REVVED UP REAL HIGH BUT WOULDN'T SHIFT. MADE IT HOME, AND NOW VEHICLE WON'T MOVE.
Complaint 11157066 · Dec 8, 2018 · 187,356 miles
THE 1994 MAZDA 626LX WITH A V-6 2.5L MOTOR HAS REQUIRED 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 8 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AS WELL. THIS LAST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I WAS ON I-5 HEADING NORTH NEAR THE LOS BANOS TURNOFF WHEN IT JUST STARTED SLIPPING…
Complaint 10361472 · Oct 20, 2010 · 138,000 miles
THE HOLD LIGHT IS CONTINUALLY FLASHING. THIS STARTED ON SUNDAY MAY 16, 2010. I CALLED MAZDA MAPLE SHADE MADE AN APPT. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON MAY 19TH AT 7:30 AM. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON MAY 20TH AT 7:30 AM AND AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 3 PM., THE PROBLEM HAS WORSEN. I CALLED MAZDA ON MAY 21TH…
Complaint 10331533 · May 21, 2010 · 68,339 miles

Own a 1994 626?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.