1998 Mazda 626 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 81about this part
- Share
- 19%of 434 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,362miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 81 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Mazda 626, 19% of the 434 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,362 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I am complaining about my 1998 Mazda 626. This car has been trouble ever since day one. I have had to replace the timing belt, the drive axles twice, and put in 4 transmissions. I have had the car since 2002 and had to replace the transmission every year. I could hardy make my car payments for having to spend extra money to repair my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10133479, filed 2005-08, 63,081 miles“I brought my Mazda 626 lx on 6/1/01 with about 33,000 miles, since then I had to replace my timing belt at 44,000 due to the tension pin.meanwhile, I have made numberous amounts of repairs to this car. At about around 70,000 miles my transmission started having problems. Sounded like it was making a popping noise and the car began jerking when under 30 MPH. Now the o/d light flashes on and off and my car starts smoking.”
NHTSA complaint #10062581, filed 2004-03, 33,000 miles“I have spent over $2000 trying to get my engine light to turn off. Nothing works. Now I am being fined for not passing inspection. What is going on? I have been having this problem for 2 years. After various repairs the light would finally go off. Now it will not and has been on for over 6 months. I have had o2 sensor and cat sensor replaced, since that is supposedly what the code was. Still nothing and noone seems to care.”
NHTSA complaint #10102252, filed 2004-12, 80,000 miles“The external spring in my timing belt tensioner has broken, and there is no recall on my specific vehicle. However, there is one on the Mazda 626 2.0 ltr engine (4 cyl).”
NHTSA complaint #10267242, filed 2009-04, 180,000 miles“1998 Mazda 626 lx 2.0l 4cylinder engine. Returning back to the guest house after dropping a friend off at the airport that evening, after getting off the interstate, I heard a crack (followed by a grinding noise) from the passenger's side of the engine. Within moments as I slowed the car to a safe spot, I heard a whipping noise from the same region. That later happened to be the serpentine and alternator belts both broke just after exiting the interstate, the engine and battery lights came on at once.., and then, immediately after that, the engine stopped working. …”
NHTSA complaint #10216999, filed 2008-02, 138,645 milesRelated recalls
- 00V134000May 9, 2000Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner could break.Covers: Mazda 626 1998–1999
Related service bulletins
- 10200933Aug 24, 2021This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce…
- 10154879Mar 20, 2019In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS…
- 10153311Jan 9, 2019On some vehicles, a sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor may be noticed coming from the exhaust system. The odor is usually noticed after a cold start, fast idle, extended periods…
- 10145242Sep 6, 2018On some vehicles, a sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor may be noticed coming from the exhaust system. The odor is usually noticed after a cold start, fast idle, extended periods…
- 10213331Feb 15, 2016Sulfur smell from exhaust system.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 | 11% |
| 2002 | 3 | 3% |
| 2001 | 20 | 11% |
| 2000 | 18 | 8% |
| 1999 | 48 | 15% |
| 1998 | 81 | 19% |
| 1997 | 39 | 11% |
| 1996 | 33 | 9% |
| 1995 | 28 | 6% |
| 1994 | 26 | 9% |
| 1993 | 12 | 10% |
| 1991 | 5 | 8% |
| 1990 | 8 | 18% |
| 1989 | 6 | 14% |
| 1988 | 3 | 7% |
| 1987 | 2 | 7% |
| 1986 | 2 | 13% |
Other parts of the 1998 Mazda 626
313 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsTires
7 complaintsEquipment
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Mazda 626
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology