Total Complaints
99 filings
MAZDA 626 · model year
1991 MAZDA 626
99 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991MAZDA626 carries 99 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 12 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 1991 626 is seat belts with 21 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (10) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (5). 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 1991 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.
99
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 21 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 10 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20070803POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA 626. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HE HAD IT REBUILT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 124,000.
Mileage: 112,000
20040927SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
POWER ADJUSTED SEAT STUCK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO ADJUST THE SEAT AS NEEDED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 110,000
20040512CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A BUILDING HEAD ON. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
20040422STEERING
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT
20040422POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT
20040415POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *AK
Mileage: 145,000
20040225LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH. *AK
Mileage: 117,000
20031118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LOST REVERSE. *LA
Mileage: 195,222
20030724POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE CAR WAS GOING PRETTY SLOWLY. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS MORE, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP. IT SLOWED TO A CRAWL THEN STOPPED. THE TRANSMISSION JUST DECIDED TO STOP. THIS IS ON A MAZDA 626. THERE WERE NO OTHER INDICATIONS OF THE FAILURE AND NOW I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION!*AK
Mileage: 162,000
20030616POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON TE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A FLASHING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON/OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK.*AK
20021002SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT . DEALER NOTIFIED REPAIRED AND REPLACE AND 4 MONTHS LATER THEY BOTH BROKE AGAIN. NLM
20020312POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 112000 MILES. *AK
20010907VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. HAD TO ENTER VEHICLE THROUGH PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20010626POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS GOING 70-75MPH IN 5TH GEAR AND SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 1ST GEAR AND LOCKED UP. NO WARNING WAS INDICATED. SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING AT THE TIME. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER PLEASE ADD VIN# AND MILEAGE.*AK
20010626POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE WAS GOING 70-75MPH IN 5TH GEAR AND SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 1ST GEAR AND LOCKED UP. NO WARNING WAS INDICATED. SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING AT THE TIME. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER PLEASE ADD VIN# AND MILEAGE.*AK
20010405SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN MOTOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20010402SEAT BELTS
RIGHT SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION MOTOR. *AK
20010312SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE SKIDDED ONE HUNDRED FEET, CAUSING A REAREND COLLISION. CONSUMER ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Compare 1991MAZDA626 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 1991 MAZDA 626 have?▼
The 1991 MAZDA 626 has 99 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 MAZDA 626?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 MAZDA 626 is SEAT BELTS with 21 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1991 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.