Total Complaints
20 filings
MAZDA 626 · model year
1986 MAZDA 626
20 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986MAZDA626 carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 626 is electrical system:ignition with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (3) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1986 626, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040213POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION FAILED. FIRST FAILED IN JULY AND TRANSMISION REPLACED AND NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN O/D LIGHT FLASHING, HARD SHIFT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO O/D.*AK
Mileage: 235,000
20020702ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 90V118000 IGNITION SWITCH PROGRAM. DEALER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM STATING THAT THE REPAIR ORDER DOES NOT SUPPORT THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TT
20020702STEERING
CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE RACK BOOTS REPLACED. *TT
19991110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE KEY DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO START AFTER CAR IS STARTED
19991110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO START AFTER CAR IS STARTED
19990430FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
19990222VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE BROKE, CAUSING THE HOT WATER TO SPILL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19981219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ANTI FREEZE SMOKE IS COMING THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS, ALSO EXHAUST IS LEAKING
19981219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ANTI FREEZE SMOKE IS COMING THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS, ALSO EXHAUST IS LEAKING
19980715SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE.
19980424ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO START ENGINE COOLING FAN, CAUSING RADIATOR TO EXPLODE AND FUEL PUMP TO FAIL.
19980220SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CABLE BROKE.
19980205WHEELS
WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS.
19971016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED.
19971016VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED.
19950619ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR SOMETIMES STALL/STARTING PROBLEMS. *AK
19950502SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULDN'T LATCH . TT
19950404SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELT WON'T RETRACT ALL THE WAY. TT
19950227SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEATBELTS FAILS TO STAY FASTEN WHEN USING, UNFASTENING WHILE RIDING IN VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19950106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
GAS TANK RUSTED FROM OUTSIDE IN, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. TT
Compare 1986MAZDA626 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
RQ26002Recall QueryOpen
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
PE19006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
PE18006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front Subframe Corrosion
PE15022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Lower ball joint separation
PE14005Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Brake Booster Failure
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 MAZDA 626 have?▼
The 1986 MAZDA 626 has 20 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 MAZDA 626?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 MAZDA 626 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1986 MAZDA 626 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.