2000 Mazda 626 Problems
- Complaints
- 217filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 81,100miles, 146 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns 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 / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2000 Mazda 626 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on the 2000 Mazda 626 are dominated by automatic transmission trouble, usually appearing from roughly 60,000 to 100,000 miles and often first signalled by a flashing overdrive (O/D OFF) light. A smaller share of reports cover fuel odor or leaks, cooling and brake wear items, and there are single reports of other systems. The overall volume of reports is steady rather than rising.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Automatic transmission failure and harsh shifting
- 152 complaints (70%)
- median 82,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (117 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 32 quotes)
- filed 2000–2017
Owners describe jerking or hesitation on acceleration, rough or delayed shifts, slipping out of gear, and eventually a loss of forward or reverse movement. Many note the O/D OFF light flashing before or during the problem, sometimes with the check engine light. Several say a dealer or shop diagnosed overheating or internal wear and recommended a replacement or rebuild; others say they were told to keep driving until it failed, or that the failure could not be reproduced. A number of owners report repeat failures after a rebuild or replacement. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 110,000 miles, with several cases in the 60,000-90,000 mile range; some owners link it to sustained highway driving.
What to check: On a test drive, watch for a flashing O/D OFF light, delayed or clunky engagement when shifting into drive or reverse, and any shudder under acceleration. Ask for transmission service records and whether an auxiliary fluid cooler or rebuild was ever installed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I purchased my car in april of 2004 with 45,000 miles on it; around 102,000 miles, my car stated jerking when it changed from 1st to 2nd gear; now, at 106,000, the o/d light, and the engine light both flashes, and I can barely make it up a hill, because of all the jerking and hesitating that it does.”
NHTSA complaint #10166618, filed 2006-08, 100,066 miles“I am complaining about the transmission. I have had 3 transmissions to my car since I bought it. I am needing a 4th transmission. Shifts hard on downshifts to upshifts usually at 2nd gear. Makes a humming noise to the transmission. The dealer put 2 trans. In and the same is occurring again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10062031, filed 2004-03, 31,875 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission overheating on the highway
- 31 complaints (14%)
- median 87,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (27 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 8 quotes)
- filed 2002–2013
Some owners tie the transmission trouble specifically to heat, saying the O/D OFF light starts blinking after extended highway driving and the car then hunts for gears or slips. These complaints describe dealers diagnosing an overheat code and recommending an added transmission cooler along with a fluid service, and some say the repair did not last. Typically noted after sustained highway driving, most often in the 60,000-120,000 mile range.
What to check: Ask whether a transmission cooler kit was added and whether the fluid was serviced on schedule; a long highway test drive is the best way to see whether the warning light comes on.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Transmission overheated on the freeway, blew out temperature gauge and no longer shifted after that. Speed sensor stopped working. Had to get rebuilt transmission and transmission cooler and several other parts replaced. The repair only lasted 6 months before the transmission went out again. It just slipped gears and stopped shifting in the middle of the road.”
NHTSA complaint #10521239, filed 2013-06, 117,000 miles“Od off light on our 2000 Mazda 626 lx started flashing. Took the car to a local dealer (berge Mazda in mesa az) and they diagnosed a code p1718- transmission overheating. They recommend to install a transmission cooler kit and perform a transmission service to correct the problem(estimate given -$1014.00-way too expensive!!!). Went to another dealership (earnhardt's ford/Mazda in chandler az) to get a second opinion and they made the same recommendations. …”
NHTSA complaint #10045982, filed 2003-11, 51,500 miles - Brakes
Brake wear, noise and poor stopping
- 14 complaints (6%)
- median 79,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2009
Complaints describe grinding or squealing brakes, pads needing replacement every few months, and the feeling that the car does not stop as it should. One owner also reported a rear door lock that would not release and was told the actuator motor needed replacement. Reported mostly between about 50,000 and 95,000 miles, sometimes recurring within months of new pads.
What to check: Have the brakes inspected front and rear, check the master cylinder reservoir cap and fluid level, and ask how recently pads and rotors were replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My 2000 Mazda 626 began having problems a week after purchasing april 10, 2008! The car started having electrical problems which resulted in 3 batteries, 2 alternators, no AC or defrost could be run. Then the brakes were replaced twice within a 2 month period! All these problems resulted in me almost being killed from an automobile accident! This happened june 8, 2009 which was a monday approx. 4 pm. The airbags never deployed, and my head hit the steering wheel. Windshield shattered all over my hand resulting in severe lacerations! …”
NHTSA complaint #10274560, filed 2009-06, 90,000 miles“The contact stated the rear passenger door is locked and cannot be unlocked. The dealership determined the motor needed to be replaced. Also, the brake pads must be replaced every 6-8 months, because the brakes do not properly stop the vehicle, there is a loud noise, and the brakes can be felt grinding when applied. There have been no other attempted repairs to the brakes.”
NHTSA complaint #10155769, filed 2006-04, 94,700 miles - Engine cooling
Engine stalling, pinging or loss of power
- 26 complaints (12%)
- median 77,900 mi at 6.7 yrs old (21 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2001–2010
A few owners describe pinging under acceleration that progressed to a sudden loss of engine power with noise and smoke from under the hood, and others report the engine quitting alongside other problems. In these cases the car was towed and diagnosed at a shop or dealer. Scattered reports from about 60,000 to 128,000 miles, with one case near 64,000 miles after pinging began under heavy acceleration.
What to check: Listen for pinging or knock under acceleration, check for exhaust smoke or a sulfur smell, and ask about the timing belt, cooling system and engine-mount service history.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Transmission went out without warning on my 2000 Mazda 626 and also a few month later the motor went out too, I had to buy a new transmission and motor.”
NHTSA complaint #10181418, filed 2007-02, 60,000 miles“Mazda 1996 626 and a Mazda 2000 626. Both 4 cyl and both automatics, and both having to have transmissions replaced. Leaves you stranded on the road, and causes bad shifts in speed before you stop going forward completely.”
NHTSA complaint #10312532, filed 2010-02, 128,000 miles
Buying note. The automatic transmission is the main thing to evaluate on this model year: budget for a thorough test drive and a pre-purchase inspection that includes checking for a flashing O/D light and shift quality. Also check for fuel odor and brake condition, and ask for service records covering transmission and cooling maintenance.
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 217 consumer complaints for the 2000 Mazda 626. 146 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 81,100 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 80 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 drivetrain160 74%
- Engine cooling18 8.3%
- Brakes14 6.5%
- Fuel system10 4.6%
- Suspension10 4.6%
- Air bags9 4.2%
- Equipment9 4.2%
- Electrical system7 3.2%
- Steering5 2.3%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Vehicle speed control (4), Engine (3), Tires (3), Seat belts (2), Body and structure (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Interior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “Transmission is failing in my 2000 Mazda 626. Everything I read about the issue tells me that the ford transmission in the Mazda was not made to handle a vehicle that size. The gears are slipping hard enough to make the car jump. I cannot safely drive this car anywhere since there are also changes in velocity due to the slipping.”
NHTSA complaint #10275117, filed 2009-06, 128,522 milesEngine cooling: “My 2000 Mazda 626 ls overheated on june 16, 2006. The o/d off light has been flashing when on the road for more than an hour since the fall of 2005. The transmission has not yet failed but has begun to. The car strains whenever I drive it & its lack of stability has LED to close calls with accidents whenever there's rain or snow. Every time I am on the road for more than 45 minutes, the engine heats up to the point that it boils the transmission fluid, which overflows onto the rest of the engine. After approx. …”
NHTSA complaint #10162877, filed 2006-07, 73,700 milesBrakes: “I have had my Mazda 626 for 6 months, since then I have replaced the front brakes, rotors and suspension, fuel pump and now the transmission. I need to also fix the rear breaks, rotors and suspension and haven't had the money. This car is the biggest flop I have ever owned and it only has 57,000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #10160707, filed 2006-06, 57,000 milesFuel system: “While driving vehicle started leaking gas. This could have resulted in a fire if it went unnoticed. Dealership indicated that this was caused by gas line breaking. Incident was preceded by gas odor. It leaked from under the vehicle and made a large puddle when stopped. Vehicle was never in a accident and was routinely maintained by the dealer. The dealer replaced the gas line as a goodwill gesture.”
NHTSA complaint #10042415, filed 2003-12, 43,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
13% of the 146 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 62,000 and 104,000 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 2000 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 2000 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 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| 626 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 25 | 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
- 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 2000 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. 80 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11006987Aug 8, 2024Electrical system, Other or unknown. In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State…
- 11005671Jul 29, 2024Other or unknown. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the…
- 11003398Jun 7, 2024Other or unknown. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the…
- 10251387Feb 12, 2024Transmission and drivetrain, Steering, Wheels, Engine…. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the…
- 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…
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 2000 Mazda 626?
Complaints on the 2000 Mazda 626 are dominated by automatic transmission trouble, usually appearing from roughly 60,000 to 100,000 miles and often first signalled by a flashing overdrive (O/D OFF) light. The issues reported most often: Automatic transmission failure and harsh shifting; Transmission overheating on the highway; Brake wear, noise and poor stopping.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000 Mazda 626 have?
NHTSA recorded 217 consumer complaints for the 2000 Mazda 626 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2000 Mazda 626 is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 160 complaints (74% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 18.
Has the 2000 Mazda 626 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2000 Mazda 626 get?
The EPA rates the 2000 Mazda 626 (626, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 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 2000 Mazda 626 reported?
Among the 146 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 81,100 miles and the middle half falls between 62,000 and 104,000 miles; 13% 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.