MAZDA 626 · model year

1993 MAZDA 626

202 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993MAZDA626 carries 202 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 4 fires, 11 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 1993 626 is power train:automatic transmission with 34 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (8) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (7). 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 1993 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.

202
Complaints
14
Crashes
4
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

202 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION34
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
AIR BAGS7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER6
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
TIRES:TREAD/BELT4
TIRES3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS3

Recent Complaints

20160411FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A DRIVER IN ANOTHER VEHICLE NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND EXITED WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A POLICE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20091001POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 1993 MAZDA 626 LX WITH A 2.0 LITER ENGINE AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED IT IN EARLY 1998. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE CAR FOR THE YEAR, WITH JUST MORE THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAD JUST OVER 40,000 WHEN I PURCHASED IT USED FROM A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AT THE TRANSAXLE AND BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHOM I'VE USED FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW. THE TRANSAXLE SPLINES IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE GALLED AND FRACTURED WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK IT APART. IT WAS BEHAVING FAIRLY WELL UNIT FAILED, BUT IT FAILED VERY QUICKLY, WITHIN A FEW MILES. THIS AUTOMOBILE IS, AND HAS BEEN, VERY WELL CARED FOR AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN OUTSTANDINGLY GOOD CONDITION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND FREQUENTLY CHECKED SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

20090916POWER TRAIN

MY CAR STARTED BLINKING "HOLD" IN RED ON THE DASH ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. IT WOULD CONTINUE BLINKING, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T USING THE 'HOLD BUTTON' ON THE SHIFTER. LAST MONTH, IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND MAKING ODD NOISES. IT NOW DOES NOT ACCELERATE VERY EASILY AT ALL. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT DURING THE DAY (EVERY DAY, WHEN I DRIVE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME) IT WON'T ACCELERATE PAST 25, EVEN WITH MY FOOT FULL ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE AND I FEAR THAT IT WILL CAUSE IN ACCIDENT BY GETTING STUCK ON A TURN OR SOMETHING. ALSO, I'VE NOTICED SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING, THE RPM'S WILL GO UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY AND MY CAR WILL JERK. *TR

20080505ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND I HAVE A "HOLD" LIGHT BLINKING. FROM THE STATEMENTS ON INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY MAZDA. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20070608TIRES:TREAD/BELT

I HAVE A SET OF SIGMA SHADOW TIRES ON MY CAR MADE BY TBC CORPORATION. THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND DAMAGED MY REAR BUMPER. I HAVE ORDERED AN NEW SET OF TIRES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SET OF TIRES THAT ARE NOW ON MY CAR. THE PROPER SIZE FOR MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED IN THE CHOICES SO I AM LISTING THE PROPER SIZE HERE. THE TIRE SIZE 195/65 R14 NOT 215/60 R16.

Mileage: 247,050

20060831POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE PROBLEM JUST OCCURRED ALL OF A SUDDEN. FROM A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED, IT PUSHED THE CAR FORWARD TO WHICH I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, TRIED TO FIX IT BUT STILL THE PROBLEM IS THERE. *JB

Mileage: 118,000

20060227POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MAZDA 626 LX SLIPING GEARS, JURKING, LEAKING TRANSMISSION,TRANSMISSION FAILER HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT STILL NO GOOD. *NM

20051117POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1993 MAZDA 626-2.0 4CYL AUTO TRANS, 89000 MILES. BOUGHT CAR 9/28/05 FOR $2900.00, ON 11/15/05, ON HIGHWAY, CAR STARTS BUCKING AS THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE TRANSMISSION. MAZDA, FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. USED CAR DEALERS, NO DOUBT, KNOW ABOUT THESE CARS TRANNY PROBLEMS, AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO INFORM A POTENTIAL BUYER OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FOR SURE, FUTURE PROBLEMS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE MAZDA 626! THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE! THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUILD A RELIABLE AUTO TRANS AND INSTALL THEM, FREE OF ANY CHARGES TO THE OWNERS OF 626 OWNERS WITH (BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN) AUTO TRANS PROBLEMS! *JB

Mileage: 89,380

20050408POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MAZDA 626 1993 GE 2.0 HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *AK

Mileage: 270,000

20050402POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

(1) NOTHING EXCEPT DRING 2) HOLD LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION ACTING FUNNY; (3) NOTHING YET. *AK

20050326POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE HAD A MAZDA 626 MODEL 1993 FOR 1.5 YEARS NOW. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 83000 MILES AND WAS VERY WELL AKEN CARE OF BY ONE PREVOIOUS OWNER. I SERVICE THE CAR EVERY 3000 MILES REGULARLY. # WEEKS AGO THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON ME A LL OF A SUDDEN. I WAS LEFT TO COAST ON A MAIN STREET, ALMOST CAUSING A 3 CAR ACCIDENT TILL I COULD ENTER A PARKING SPOT ON THE RIGHT. CONSEQUENTLY I FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION BUT GOT STUCK AGAIN IN A HEAVY JUNCTION PUSHING MY CAR TO SAFETY AND AGAIN TWICE AFTER FIXING (1837$!) IT COASTING TO SAFETY LUCKILY ON THE HIGHWAY! IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT A CARS TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL AFTER 83000 MILES AND THERE WERE MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB. IS THERE ANY WAY THE MANUFACTURER CAN BE MADE TO PAY THE TAB.*AK

20050317POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON O/D. IT HAS PROGRESSED TO THIRD GEAR NOW. A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL IS NEEDED BUT WILL COST ABOUT $3,000.00. *AK

Mileage: 183,000

20040818POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 120,000

20040629POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 19"93 MAZDA BOUGHT IN '95. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY IN 19'96 AND AGAIN IN 19'97. NOW IT'S LEAKING AGAIN SINCE2003.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

20040629EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 19"93 MAZDA BOUGHT IN '95. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY IN 19'96 AND AGAIN IN 19'97. NOW IT'S LEAKING AGAIN SINCE2003.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

20040609EQUIPMENT

MY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE ALREADY AND ABOUT TO REPLACE ONE AGAIN. THE CONVERTER IS GOING OUT AND JUST PURCHASES ONE ABOUT 6MONTHS AGO IT IS GOING SO FAST. THE OLD PARTS WAS REPLACED BUT THIS STRAGEDY IS OCCURING ONCE MORE. *AK

Mileage: 139,056

20040609POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE ALREADY AND ABOUT TO REPLACE ONE AGAIN. THE CONVERTER IS GOING OUT AND JUST PURCHASES ONE ABOUT 6MONTHS AGO IT IS GOING SO FAST. THE OLD PARTS WAS REPLACED BUT THIS STRAGEDY IS OCCURING ONCE MORE. *AK

Mileage: 139,056

20030622POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

626 MAZDA TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONCE AGAIN A CAR COMPANY IS COMPLETELY IGNORING MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EARLY AND PREMATURE PROBLEMS WITH A PRODUCT. AND NHTSA DOES NOTHING. 30 MINUTES SPENT ON THE NET WOULD CLEARLY SHOW ANY ONE RELATED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY THAT MAZDA HAS BEEN GIVEN A FREE PASS ON ITS RESPONSIBILITY. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED? *NLM

Mileage: 100,000

20030617POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER OWNING MY 1993 MAZDA 626 LX FOR OVER TWO YEARS I FIND OUT THAT THE CAR IS DESTINED TO BAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING THE CAR TO GET WORSE. I STARTED HAVING THE NOTORIOUS FLASHING HOLD LIGHT THUS CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. BEING SOMEONE OF AVERAGE INCOME IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP REPAIRING MAZDA'S INEVITABLE PROBLEMS. I NOW FEEL INSECURE OF MY LIFE, THE LIFE OF MY WIFE AND OUR NEWBORN BABY. AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION THE PROBLEM AROUSED A FEW MONTHS LATER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR IS OVER. I WISH AND HOPE TO REPLACE THE MAZDA 626 UNFORTUNATELY I BUDGETED TO HAVE THE MAZDA 626 FOR YEARS TO COME. IT WAS STUPENDOUS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE MAZDA 626. HOWEVER, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THE MAZDA 626 LX HAS I WOULD HAVE PASSED ON PURCHASING THE CAR. OWNING THIS CAR HAS EVEN PUT ME IN A FINANCIAL DOWN SPIRAL. I PUT MONEY I

Mileage: 130,050

20030502UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1993 MAZDA 626. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768119

Mileage: 56,000

Compare 1993MAZDA626 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 MAZDA 626 have?
The 1993 MAZDA 626 has 202 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 4 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 MAZDA 626?
The most-complained component for the 1993 MAZDA 626 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 34 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1993 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.