Total Complaints
499 filings
MAZDA 626 · model year
1998 MAZDA 626
499 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998MAZDA626 carries 499 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 6 fires, 18 injuries, and 10 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 1998 626 is power train:automatic transmission with 278 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (42) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (14). 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 1998 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.
499
Complaints
15
Crashes
6
Fires
18
Injuries
10
Deaths
Crashes Reported
15 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 278 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 42 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN | 13 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 11 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 10 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 9 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| TIRES | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
Recent Complaints
20180108ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE OWNING THE MAZDA 626 I HAVE HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. IT WILL SLIP GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. IF ITS BELOW 60 DEGREES THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE MOTOR GETS HOT ENOUGH. THE CAR IS LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DOES IT EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SOMTIMES ON AND OFF AND THE BACK WINDOWS WONT ROLL DOWN FROM THE DRIVER BUTTON
20180108POWER TRAIN
SINCE OWNING THE MAZDA 626 I HAVE HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. IT WILL SLIP GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. IF ITS BELOW 60 DEGREES THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE MOTOR GETS HOT ENOUGH. THE CAR IS LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DOES IT EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SOMTIMES ON AND OFF AND THE BACK WINDOWS WONT ROLL DOWN FROM THE DRIVER BUTTON
20170530ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION CD4E TRANNY DOESN'T HAVE SWITCH GEARS UNLESS YOU USE EXCESSIVE RPM.
Mileage: 150,000
20170530POWER TRAIN
TAKATA RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION CD4E TRANNY DOESN'T HAVE SWITCH GEARS UNLESS YOU USE EXCESSIVE RPM.
Mileage: 150,000
20160330ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,735. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Mileage: 173,735
20160223FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A WARNING SOUND AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE FRONT END. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.
Mileage: 200,000
20160223FireENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A WARNING SOUND AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE FRONT END. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.
Mileage: 200,000
20141217CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR
20141217CrashSTEERING
I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR
20141217CrashWHEELS
I WAS DRIVING 60MPH SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING POPPED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE CAR WENT IN TO THE WALL AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE WINDOWS. *TR
20111224POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS AT THE MECHANIC HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE DO SOMETHING. RIGHT NOW REPLACING IT FOR A REBUILT ONE IS $1,100, BUT BEING A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM, IT MAY NOT LAST ANOTHER YEAR. I AM THE 3RD OWNER, SO I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY MORE TIMES THIS TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED, BUT WHEN I BOUGHT IT WAS WORKING WELL. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
20110207ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS.
Mileage: 187,000
20110204POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
105,626 ORIGINAL MILEAGE. COMING FROM A LONG HIGHWAY DRIVE. CAR BEGAN TO REV REALLY HIGH. TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. CRAWLED THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. *TR
Mileage: 105,626
20110202POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A MAZDA 626 1998 AND IT HAD 116,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND THEN IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD THEN OIL STARTED TO BURN AND I HAD TO INSTALL A EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLER THIS ONLY LASTED FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AND OIL WENT EVERYWHERE. *TR
Mileage: 116,000
20100802ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. PUSH TO THE SIDE AND COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. AFTER TOLL BACK TO HOME, WE CAN START THE CAR NEXT DAY. *TR
Mileage: 79,000
20100423FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE VEHICLE'S RESPONSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF FUEL FLOWING TO THE ENGINE WAS MINIMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V228000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF HIS VIN WAS A PART OF THE RECALL OR IF THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,035 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Mileage: 182,035
20100222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL- THE CONTACT HAS 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 00V134000 THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT A PART OF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER STATED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BREAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRVIE WAY AND TRAVELING 5MPH AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD 114000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND 11400 MILES CURRENTLY. UPDATED 06/25/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/27/10*J
Mileage: 114,000
20091124POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 98 MAZDA 626 WITH 149K MILES. *TR
Mileage: 149,000
20091124ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 98 MAZDA 626 WITH 149K MILES. *TR
Mileage: 149,000
20091101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 MAZDA 626, WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WE COASTED TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOW. CAR DIAGNOSTICS PENDING. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
Compare 1998MAZDA626 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 1998 MAZDA 626 have?▼
The 1998 MAZDA 626 has 499 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 6 fires, 18 injuries, and 10 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MAZDA 626?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 MAZDA 626 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 278 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS.
Is the 1998 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.