Menu

1996 Mazda 626Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 359 owner complaints about the 1996 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.

33
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.1× the 626 median · #2 of 17 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 1%Owner complaints35967 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage95kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 21, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Mazda 626 has problems

359 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 train2395
Air bags4934
Engine and engine cooling331
Electrical system122
Service brakes, hydraulic111
Vehicle speed control92
Seat belts81
Suspension81
Steering74
11 other systems232

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

2 recalls

1996 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 →

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?

95kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 101 power train complaints. 55% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 32% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
5under 30k miles56under 100k miles45100k 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

35 owners mentioned a cost

$2,300median

Middle half: $1,650 – $2,800

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

1996 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

1996 Mazda 626 safety ratings

1996 Mazda 626 DX 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
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1996 Mazda 626, and the recalls they led to.

  1. OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA97012 · closed Oct 9, 1998
    Led to recall 98V-249
  2. INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE97006 · closed May 23, 1997
    No recall
  3. HEADLIGHT FAILURERQ99022 · closed Aug 30, 2000
    No recall
  4. 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE…
Complaint 10525635 · Jul 18, 2013 · 140,000 miles
HI I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX AND THE O/D LIGHT JUST WENT OFF AT 167,000 MILES. I READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND THEY ALL SAID ITS MOST LIKELY A AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO US DRIVERS AS WELL AS DRIVERS NEXT TO US ON THE ROAD. I ADVICE TO PLEASE HAVE…
Complaint 10298666 · Jan 7, 2010 · 167,000 miles
HI I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX AND THE O/D LIGHT JUST WENT OFF AT 176,000 MILES. I READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND THEY ALL SAID ITS MOST LIKELY A AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAN B VERY DANGEROUS TO US DRIVERS AS WELL AS DRIVERS NEXT TO US ON THE ROAD. I ADVICE TO PLEASE HAVE…
Complaint 10298665 · Jan 7, 2010 · 167,000 miles

Own a 1996 626?

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