Model year record
2002 Mazda 626 recalls & problems
The 2002 Mazda 626 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 87 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (70 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2002 Mazda 626.
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
2002 Mazda 626 DX 4-DR.
| 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
| City / highway | 23 / 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
626
| City / highway | 19 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
626
| City / highway | 19 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel
626
| 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
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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission | 70 | 72,100 mi |
| SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Front | 4 | — |
| Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery | 4 | 72,200 mi |
| Seat beltsFront | 3 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system | 3 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 2 | — |
| SteeringColumn; Linkages › Tie rod assembly | 2 | — |
| StructureFrame and members › Underbody shields | 2 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 1 | — |
| Visibility | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Power trainCrash2 injuries
WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF FORWARD GEAR WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKES AND GENTLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE DIDNT MOVE. MANUALLY SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR WAS THE CAR ABLE TO MOVE BUT CAUSING A VERY HARSH LURCHING FORWARD CAUSING A LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE CAR 3 MILES TO MY HOME. I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR AND HAVING THE BRAKES APPLIED THE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT IN GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO CONTACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH MYSELF AND THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE I HIT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WELL AS PROPERTY DAMAGE…
- Engine
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOW. EVEN AFTER WE GET IT FIXED IT STILLS JERKS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO FALL OUT. IT HAS A TERRIBLE TIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT JUMPS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OUT. MY DAD IS 94 YEARS OLD AND NEEDS THIS CAR TO WORK. HE DOESN'T NEED TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER ONE OR SPEND ANOTHER $1800 OR SO TO GET THIS ONE FIXED. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
- Power train
TAMARA RECALL
- Power trainCrash
MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN ONE DAY AS I WAS LEAVING WORK MY CAR STARTED ACTING AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO SHUT OFF. I MADE IT ALL THE WAY HOME AND WAS GOING TO GO TO THE STORE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR I TRIED TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUIDS BUT IT SOUNDS NOT MOVE.
- Power train
TRANSMISSION JERKS-HARD KICKING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION/DEFECTIVE TRANSMISION ON THIS MODEL NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.(FLUID FILTER SPEED SENSOR ETC)STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM...THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN ON ALL THE MAZDA VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION
- Electrical system
THE CAR STARTED TO NOT WANT TO CRANK IT WOULD CRANK SOMETIMES THEN ONE DAY WE WENT TO THE STORE THEN WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE THE STORE IT FINALLY JUST STOPPED TRYING TO CRANK ONLY MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND WHILE TRYING TO CRANK IT THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE I BELIEVE IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH
- Power train
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. REPAIR ENDED UP COSTING APPROXIMATELY $3,000 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AT TIME OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAD PUT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT PERSONALLY. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED BUT IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR
- Power train
MY CAR WILL MOVE FINE UNTIL IT WARMS UP BUT THEN SLIPS OUT OF ALL GEARS AND WONT MOVE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.