Mazda 626 / 1997
1997 Mazda 626 problems
Owners have filed 451 complaints about the 1997 Mazda 626 with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 54.1% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 9.5%.
Complaints451
Crashes22
Fires8
Injuries35
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 54.1% · 244
Engine and engine cooling 9.5% · 43
Air bags 8.6% · 39
Electrical system 7.1% · 32
Service brakes, hydraulic 4.0% · 18
Unknown or other 3.5% · 16
Vehicle speed control 2.0% · 9
Steering 1.8% · 8
Severity
Of those complaints, 22 describe a crash, 8 describe a fire and 35 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 9 model years of the Mazda 626 in this data, 1997 ranks 3rd by complaint volume — 1995 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 9 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 91,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I own a 1997 Mazda 626, at 57,000 miles my 2nd transmission has failed. My first transmission failed over a year ago at under 50,000. Mazda dealers do little more than laugh about this problem and of course give me a bid for a new transmission. It is my understanding that Mazda knew of this problem and did nothing to correct it and allowed the warrenties to expire without informing owners of the defect. Power train · reported at 49,000 miles
Transmission fluid is leaking all the time. Had the transmission seal replaced, but it is still leaking. Leak is due to defective design of transmission (loose bearing), I was told. It sounds like I will have to get another transmission. This is unacceptable at 75k miles. This car is a lemon and is dangerous to drive when the transmission is likely to go out. The transmission needs to be recalled. Power train · reported at 75,000 miles
Defective 1997 Mazda 626 transmission. Failure after only 65,000 miles. Overdrive off light starts blinking and transmission starts acting up. I've been surfing the internet and found that many people have encountered this problem. Many of them with even less miles. This transmission is clearly defective and something needs to be done, especially since the cost of fixing this problem is over $2000. *Nlm Power train · reported at 65,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…