Model year record

1994 Mazda 626 recalls & problems

The 1994 Mazda 626 has 3 safety recalls and 282 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (191 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints282filed by owners

Crashes · fires18 · 6reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths16 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemOct 19, 2015

Ignition › Switch

Recall 15V6740001,368,500 vehicles

Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

Fuel system, gasolineOct 5, 2005

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 05E06500042,962 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Fix: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.

Exterior lightingDec 17, 1999

Headlights › Switch

Recall 99V35800040,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Risk: THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LEVER.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1994 Mazda 626 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

626

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

626

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

626

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

626

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	191	2	1	2	109,999 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	30	1	2	1	103,696 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; 12v/24v/48v battery	27	2	1	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Caliper	16	2	0	2	—
Air bagsFrontal	15	12	1	9	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights › Switch; Headlights	13	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront; Front › Springs › Coil springs	10	1	0	1	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control	9	0	1	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core; Sun/moon roof assembly	8	0	3	0	—
Unknown or other	8	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front	6	1	0	2	—
SteeringRack and pinion; Gear box (other than rack and pinion)	4	1	0	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT PROPERLY. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT, IT SHIFTS HARD. OD LIGHT FLASHES. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FROM WORK AND TOOK OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR REVVED UP REAL HIGH BUT WOULDN'T SHIFT. MADE IT HOME, AND NOW VEHICLE WON'T MOVE.
Dec 4, 2018 · 187,356 miles
Engine and engine cooling
THE 1994 MAZDA 626LX WITH A V-6 2.5L MOTOR HAS REQUIRED 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 8 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AS WELL. THIS LAST TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I WAS ON I-5 HEADING NORTH NEAR THE LOS BANOS TURNOFF WHEN IT JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE FREEWAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DESIGN AND LONGEVITY OF MANY PARTS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Aug 10, 2010 · 138,000 miles
Power train
THE HOLD LIGHT IS CONTINUALLY FLASHING. THIS STARTED ON SUNDAY MAY 16, 2010. I CALLED MAZDA MAPLE SHADE MADE AN APPT. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON MAY 19TH AT 7:30 AM. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON MAY 20TH AT 7:30 AM AND AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 3 PM., THE PROBLEM HAS WORSEN. I CALLED MAZDA ON MAY 21TH AT 8 AM AND I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO RETURN MY CALL. IT IS NOW 10:24 AM. *TR
May 16, 2010 · 68,339 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
I PUCHASED A 1994 MAZDA 626 2.0L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE DUE TO FALURE. I DO NOT KNOW THE STORY OF HOW THE TRANSMISSION CAME TO FAIL ON THE PREVIOUS OWNER. NOW THAT I OWN IT THE CAR HAS STARTED TO SHIFT VERY HARD, AND RANDOMLY SHIFT DOWN FOR A SPLIT SECCOND AT CRUISING SPEEDS(NO CHANGE IN ACCELARATOR TRAVEL OR GRADE CHANGE). THE TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSES A FLUCTUATION IN RPM'S IN CRUISING CONDITIONS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. *CN
Jan 10, 2010 · 220,000 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
I PURCHASE A 1994 MAZDA 626LX AUTOMATIC SEDAN APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO, FROM AN INDIVIDUAL HERE IN AUSTIN, TX. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER OBTAINING, AND PUTTING NEW TIRES, NEW BRAKES AND A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AFTER DOING SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE CAR, I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION(CDF4E) FOR THAT YEAR MODEL HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. APPARENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS TO SMALL FOR THE 2.0 LITER ENGINE, AND BURNS UP AFTER SO MANY MILES OR LENGTH OF DRIVING. I CHECKED IT OUT ONLINE, AND THE SITE THAT I CHECKED GAVE A FAIRLY DECENT APPROVAL RATING OF THE VEHICLE. ANYHOW, THE VEHICLE, AS OF NOW, IS DISABLED AND RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX…
Jan 2, 2009 · 149,500 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
I BOUGHT A 1994 USED MAZDA 626 LX A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO FOR $1600.00. AND I PUT ANOTHER $500.00 IN IT GETTING 2 NEW FRONT TIRES A COMPLETE TUNE UP, AND A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. I TEST DROVE IT AND IT RAN FINE. I FOUND OUT LATER AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN A FEW DAYS WHILE GOING UP A STEEP HILL HERE IN AUSTIN, AND PUT IT IN D2 A LOWER GEAR, AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. SO, AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, I PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE, AND IT WORKED OK. BUT SOMETIMES IS WOULD TAKE OFF VERY SLUGGISHLY AFTER WARMING UP. THE HOLD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ALSO. I FIXED THE HOLD LIGHT PROBLEM, BUT 2 WEEKS LATER, GOING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUR, RIGHT AT A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, WITH…
Jan 10, 2009 · 146,545 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
ROUGH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING THAT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WITH O/D LIGHT FLASHING. NO REPAIR SHOP IS ABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. LAST REPAIR SHOP CHARGED ME $800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNTS BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ISSUE IS STILL ON GOING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 94 MAZDA 626 MODEL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. SEE THIS LINK FOR MORE INFO HTTP://WWW.DUSTBURY.COM/626/94SPEEDO.HTML. *TR
Jul 15, 2008 · 90,000 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
TRANSMISSION ON 1994 MAZDA HOLD LIGHT FLASHING. *TR
May 13, 2008 · 102,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

HEADLIGHT FAILUREClosed
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
RQ99022 · opened Dec 20, 1999 · closed Aug 30, 2000
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVEClosedLed to recall 99I005000
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
SQ98024 · opened Oct 29, 1998 · closed Sep 10, 1999