1999 Mazda 626 Problems
- Complaints
- 318filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles, 209 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 22 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Mazda 626 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year report automatic transmission problems far more than anything else: slipping, harsh shifting, a flashing overdrive light, fluid loss and full transmission failure, often requiring a rebuild or replacement. A smaller but consistent group of complaints describes timing belt tensioner failure, and a few describe brake, ignition switch and misc trim issues.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Automatic transmission failure (slip, harsh shift, O/D
- 229 complaints (72%)
- median 85,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (171 state mileage)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 46 quotes)
- filed 1999–2016
Complaints describe slow or harsh shifting, jerking and slipping, a flashing overdrive light, and in some cases fluid escaping and the car losing drive entirely. Many owners say a rebuild or replacement transmission was needed, sometimes more than once, and that dealers attributed the behavior to normal operation or simply quoted a rebuild. Several mention that servicing the fluid did not resolve it. Spread widely from under 5,000 to over 150,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 60,000 and 120,000 miles; some owners describe it beginning around town and worsening on highways or after the transmission warms up.
What to check: Have a shop check transmission fluid condition and shift quality on a test drive, including reverse and a long highway run. Ask for service records and whether the transmission has ever been rebuilt or replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Total transmission failure. My 1999 Mazda 626 4 cyl. Vehicle was heading south on i10 in phoenix when suddenly my speedometer went to 0 and smoke started pouring out from under my hood. Upon arrival at the aamco repair shop, I was told that the transmission needed to either be rebuilt or I needed to buy a brand new one... This cost me 4000 dollars to fix.”
NHTSA complaint #10240965, filed 2008-09, 125,000 miles“My wife was enroute from work to home when the 626 started losing speed. It wouldn't pull-off from stop light. Uneventfully it would move for the distance of a football field and quit in high speed traffic. I took it out for a drive and barely made it back home. The transmission will disengage and engage from time to time.”
NHTSA complaint #10153711, filed 2006-03, 100,005 miles - Engine cooling
Timing belt tensioner spring failure
- 19 complaints (6%)
- median 71,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
- filed 2002–2009
Owners describe sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, sometimes with a loud noise or a rattle from the engine bay, traced by mechanics to a broken spring in the timing belt tensioner. Several note the dealer said the vehicle identification number was not covered by the related recall, so repairs were at the owner's expense. Reported from roughly 37,000 to 70,000 miles in these complaints, typically while driving at speed.
What to check: Ask whether the timing belt, tensioner and spring assembly have been replaced and when. If the history is unknown, budget for a timing belt job and have the tensioner inspected.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle continuously stalled when braking from 40 MPH or more and when coming to a stop position. Vehicle had been to the dealer on two separate occasions. Dealer informed consumer that transmission needed to be replaced the first time, and the timing belt spring needed to be replaced the second time. Consumer had both parts replaced, but problem recurred.”
NHTSA complaint #10111629, filed 2005-02, 80,000 miles“Nhtsa recall campaign 00v134000; Mazda issued a timing belt recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN, but the timing belt made noise like it was going to break. The timing belt kit. 2 serpentine belts, tensioner spring assembly and the idler pulley were replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10113704, filed 2005-03, 52,884 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission fluid overheating and leakage
- 67 complaints (21%)
- median 75,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (56 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $2,600 (median of 15 quotes)
- filed 1999–2012
Complaints describe the overdrive light flashing, smoke or a burning smell, and transmission fluid escaping under the hood or onto the exhaust and road. Owners report dealers suggesting a radiator replacement or an added transmission cooler at the owner's cost, and many link the overheating to later transmission damage. Reported from about 37,000 to around 140,000 miles, often after extended driving or on highway trips.
What to check: Inspect the radiator, transmission cooler lines and underbody for fluid residue, and ask whether any cooler or radiator work was done. Check the fluid level and color after a long drive.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“1) overdrive light flashing 2) transmission over temperature condition, excessive slippage, temperature exceeded 132 degrees centigrade (270 degrees fahrenheit. Fluid is up-burned and clutch material in oil. 3) replaced transmission with rebuilt assembly, replaced engine real main seal, flush transmission cooling lines, add oil, road test, recheck for leaks and cleared codes.”
NHTSA complaint #10173640, filed 2006-11, 140,910 miles“1999 Mazda 626 with 86,512 miles started to smoke from the underneath car. Upon inspection of the problem, transmission fluid was seen dripping from underneath the car at a moderate rate. Transmission problem due to a rear crankshaft seal failure. Total repair bill was $742.89.”
NHTSA complaint #10086332, filed 2004-08, 86,512 miles
Buying note. The transmission dominates owner reports for this model year, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on shift quality, fluid condition and cooling components is worthwhile. If service records are missing, assume a transmission or timing belt repair may be needed and factor that into the price.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 318 consumer complaints for the 1999 Mazda 626. 209 of the complaints include a mileage, and 11% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 65 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Transmission and drivetrain233 73%
- Engine cooling48 15%
- Brakes16 5.0%
- Electrical system11 3.5%
- Equipment8 2.5%
- Air bags5 1.6%
- Fuel system4 1.3%
- Seat belts4 1.3%
- Seats4 1.3%
- Suspension4 1.3%
Also reported: Vehicle speed control (4), Other or unknown (3), Steering (3), Tires (3), Engine (2), Exterior lighting (2), Interior lighting (2), Body and structure (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “I had the transmission replaced at about 65,000 miles. The replacement transmission is very jerky and shifts very hard, and I would not be surprised if it failed again at some point in the future. Apparently, the automatic transmission for this model has a high rate of failure. Transmission problems can be potentially dangerous and very costly to repair; Mazda should issue a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10398081, filed 2011-04, 65,000 milesEngine cooling: “Sluggish performance and check engine light illuminated which resulted in my bringing the automobile into my mechanic for servcing - diagnostic code (2nd time for this code) resulted in a replacement of 2 oxygen sensors and the catalytic converter at a cost of > $750. The first time this code appeared, the mechanic tuned up the engine, which cost $300.”
NHTSA complaint #10120197, filed 2005-05, 69,000 milesBrakes: “Someone hit me from behind due to my break cause the car would not stop & the transmittion went out on the car & I also had other problems to with the car”
NHTSA complaint #10788692, filed 2015-11, 10,000 milesElectrical system: “When engaging the ignition switch to start the vehicle, smoke comes from the steering column, I must immediately turn off the contact position. This problem occurs seconds after the ignition switch is engaged.”
NHTSA complaint #11005084, filed 2017-07, 100,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
11% of the 209 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,200 and 102,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Mazda 626. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 626 · sedan | not rated | 4 / 5 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1999 Mazda 626 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 626 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
| 626 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| 626 FWD | 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,900 |
| 626 FWD | 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 00V134000May 9, 2000Engine and engine cooling › EngineCovers: Mazda 626 1998–1999
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner could break.
- 00V074000Mar 7, 2000Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinderCovers: Mazda 626 1999–2000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain reservoir tank caps on the brake master cylinder were produced with a worn out die and lack ventilation holes. As a result, the pressure in the reservoir tank can drop gradually as the brake pad or shoe wears…
Recall details for the 1999 Mazda 626 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 65 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10232299Feb 28, 2023Electrical system. Speedometer replacement procedure
- 10226814Nov 18, 2022Suspension. Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal…
- 10222564Sep 26, 2022Transmission and drivetrain. Some customers may experience a squeaking noise may be heard from the exhaust manifold when the idle speed drops from fast idle to normal idle speed during cold start. This is caused by a variable…
- 10217209Jul 18, 2022Electrical system. In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer.
- 10215274Jun 22, 2022Electrical system. This 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 unnecessary battery…
- 10213185May 24, 2022Suspension. Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal…
- 10209761Mar 29, 2022Equipment. Accessory instructions can be found on OneMazda under Dealer Resources - Parts & Accessories.
- 10209778Mar 17, 2022Equipment, Electrical system. The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000 is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test…
- 10205994Dec 21, 2021Electrical system. Battery Maintenance: This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to…
- 10206002Dec 8, 2021Transmission and drivetrain. Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Cooler and Lines Flushing Procedure: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission (A/T) oil cooler and lines must be power flushed completely before an overhauled or replacement…
Other model years of the Mazda 626
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 | 18,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 87 | 72,600 | 0 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 188 | 78,346 | 0 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 217 | 81,100 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 318 | 80,000 | 2 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 434 | 89,155 | 4 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 358 | 90,000 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 359 | 95,000 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 488 | 102,262 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 282 | 112,000 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 122 | 106,000 | 1 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 19 | 155,506 | 0 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 62 | 131,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 44 | 121,416 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 42 | 60,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 45 | 50,000 | 6 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 29 | 38,423 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 16 | 235,000 | 2 | — | 23 | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 6 | — | 0 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
All Mazda 626 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mazda 626?
Owners of this model year report automatic transmission problems far more than anything else: slipping, harsh shifting, a flashing overdrive light, fluid loss and full transmission failure, often requiring a rebuild or replacement. The issues reported most often: Automatic transmission failure (slip, harsh shift, O/D; Timing belt tensioner spring failure; Transmission fluid overheating and leakage.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Mazda 626 have?
NHTSA recorded 318 consumer complaints for the 1999 Mazda 626 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1999 Mazda 626 is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 233 complaints (73% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 48.
Has the 1999 Mazda 626 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1999 Mazda 626 get?
The EPA rates the 1999 Mazda 626 (626, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Mazda 626 reported?
Among the 209 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 65,200 and 102,000 miles; 11% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.