1999 Mazda 626 problems
Owners have filed 372 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mazda 626. Transmission is the most reported problem area, at 61% of complaints. Next are engine (13%) and brakes (5%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 372 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 61% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 17 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 225 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 26 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 63 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 55 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 30 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 20 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 225 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 80,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (166 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 17 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Mazda 626 with enough data (197 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While slowing to make a right-hand turn, vehicle was rear-ended totalling the car. In the process, the drivers side seat collapsed thus causing the major portion of the neck and back injuries.
Front collision at 35 MPH, neither airbag deployed. Consumer suffered head and chest injuries. Damage to vehicle unknown.
August 26, 2003 the mazda was in an auto accident. Approximately 2 weeks before the accident the mazda started stuttering. We had the mazda put on computer and was told it needed new sensor. The check engine light continue to go on and off. Immediately before the accident the mazda started stuttering and lost speed and that LED to not being able to keep speed up and when we entered the traffice light it turned yellow then while we were under it it turned red and we were hit on the passenger side.
While driving, the consumer heard the engine making a rattling noise and then the vehicle stalled. The consumer managed to pull over, but was unable to restart the vehicle and subsequently had the vehicle towed. Recall#00v134000. The dealership did not repair the vehicle because the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.
I purchased my 1999 mazda 626 in 2001. The transmission stopped working in feb. 2002. I have read so many compliants about the mazda product that I am appalled. I purchased this car used and did not have the finances fo the repair. Ironically, while investigating this car on the web I found that ford made the transmission for my car, and the funny thing is all of my family owns ford suv's ( brand new).