Mazda 626 / 1996
1996 Mazda 626 problems
Owners have filed 426 complaints about the 1996 Mazda 626 with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 58% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of air bags at 11.5%.
Complaints426
Crashes43
Fires3
Injuries141
Deaths99
What owners report breaking
Power train 58.0% · 247
Air bags 11.5% · 49
Engine and engine cooling 8.2% · 35
Electrical system 3.3% · 14
Unknown or other 3.3% · 14
Service brakes, hydraulic 2.8% · 12
Vehicle speed control 2.1% · 9
Suspension 1.9% · 8
Severity
Of those complaints, 43 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire, 141 report an injury and 99 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 9 model years of the Mazda 626 in this data, 1996 sits 4th by complaint volume. 1995 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 12 in the last three years against 16 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 96,647 miles.
In owners' own words
The o/d light starts blinking after a short time. The transmission then ceases using the converter lockup on the trans as evidenced by the rpms going up. When you stop and kill the engine it will "reset". The transmission will also shudder at times like it si in two gears at once. The transmission also is erratic in shifting--it shifts slow and weak and then hard and quick--like the line pressure is varying. Power train
Problems with the automatic transmission. Original transmission started to fail at 45,000. Finally was unable to drive the car at 84,000. Mazda dealer replaced transmission with rebuilt transmission which failed at 86,000 (only two months in service). Next transmission has 11,000 miles on it and it is beginning to fail. I will be bringing it back to Mazda in june 2005 (still in warranty 12k/12 months). Power train · reported at 84,000 miles
This model year 626 have bad transmission I never seen so many trans. Being replace on one model car do we have to wait for people to die before something is done. Is that what when it came to firestone and ford I hope you will look in to this before then all you have to do is get the information from Mazda and you will see. People saving people let's try and do it befor they die. Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…