2002 Mazda 626 Problems
- Complaints
- 87filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 72,600miles, 60 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in 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 2002 Mazda 626 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2002 Mazda 626 report automatic transmission problems far more than anything else, with hard or delayed shifting, a flashing overdrive light, slipping and eventual loss of forward gears. Many complaints come from cars still well under 100,000 miles, and several owners describe the failure as sudden, appearing with little or no warning while driving. Other reports are scattered across electrical, suspension, cooling and seat belt/airbag concerns.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Automatic transmission slips, shifts hard and fails
- 53 complaints (61%)
- median 72,100 mi at 5.5 yrs old (44 state mileage)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 13 quotes)
- filed 2003–2020
Owners describe harsh or delayed shifts, a transmission that slips out of gear, jerking between gears, and a flashing overdrive or OD OFF light on the dash. Many say forward gears stopped working entirely, sometimes while driving, leaving the car able to move only in reverse or not at all. Complaints frequently mention dealers or shops replacing or rebuilding the transmission, and some owners report repeat failures after a rebuilt unit was installed. Several owners note that burnt or black transmission fluid was found and connect the failure to transmission overheating, and a service bulletin covers adding an auxiliary cooler for that concern. Most complaints fall between roughly 25,000 and 100,000 miles, with many in the 45,000 to 85,000 mile range, and several owners mention hot-weather or highway driving.
What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and pull codes before buying, and test drive long enough to include highway speeds and repeated stop-and-go shifts. Ask for transmission service records and check the fluid condition and level; a black or burnt smell is a warning sign.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Mazda 626 was built with a bad transmission that has had problems since 50,000 miles. The car started forcefully shifting, and now will have problems accelerating. This happens every time I drive it since 50000 miles with conditions getting worse. Nothing has been done yet to fix the problem accept my mechanic says I need to either rebuild this transmission or put in a new transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10256186, filed 2009-01, 78,000 miles“2002 Mazda 626 2.0 w/ 39000 miles transmission has failed as reported by thousands on the net. Erratic hard shift occurred that almsot caused me to be in an accident. The od indicator began flashing right there after. I see no recalls for this although reported so so many times which I am very surprised. I see so many failures for this particular transmission . Very dissappointed! Not many miles on this car.”
NHTSA complaint #10187878, filed 2007-04, 395,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Overdrive light flashing with jerking or loss of power
- 20 complaints (23%)
- median 83,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 5 quotes)
- filed 2003–2020
A repeated pattern in the complaints is the overdrive or OD OFF light blinking on the dash, often followed by jerking, slow acceleration or the car refusing to move forward. Some owners say the car would not exceed highway-legal speeds or dropped out of gear on the road, and that a shop then diagnosed a failed transmission. Several owners describe being told the whole unit needed replacement or a rebuild. Reported across a wide mileage span from about 40,000 to over 150,000 miles, usually after the car has been driven at speed.
What to check: During a test drive, watch whether the overdrive light blinks or the car hesitates when shifting; ask whether any stored transmission codes have been read. If the light is already on, treat it as an unresolved fault.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 2002 Mazda 626 4cyl with 71,200 miles. I had just paid it off last month and come to find out my automatic transmission is going out on me. When accelerating it sounds as if gears are grinding. There was a couple times over the last 3 months my check engine light came on. I took it in and was told my battery connection was loose. Other than that there was no events leading up to this and happened all of a sudden. …”
NHTSA complaint #10208602, filed 2007-11, 72,200 miles“At around 30000 miles we took the car to the dealer complaining of a stuttering problem when accelerating and insisted there was something wrong with the transmission. Dealer found no obvious problem but did replace the fuel filter. Took the car back several times for this still, no problem. At around 89000, took the car back in because transmission jumped into reverse. Dealer stated transmission looked fine but recommended a flush so we did. …”
NHTSA complaint #10171964, filed 2006-10, 30,000 miles
Buying note. The transmission is the deciding factor on this model year: ask for service history, have the fluid and shifting behavior checked by an independent shop, and budget for a possible rebuild. Otherwise inspect the belts, battery and charging system, and check the struts before agreeing on a 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 87 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mazda 626. 60 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,600 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 85 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.
- Electrical system4 4.6%
- Suspension4 4.6%
- Air bags3 3.5%
- Engine cooling3 3.5%
- Seat belts3 3.5%
- Steering2 2.3%
- Body and structure2 2.3%
- Tires2 2.3%
- Brakes1 1.1%
Also reported: Engine (1), Equipment (1), Fuel system (1), Other or unknown (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “My car was driving fine and then one day as I was leaving work my car started acting as though it wanted to shut off. I made it all the way home and was going to go to the store and my car would not shift into gear I tried to add transmission fluids but it sounds not move.”
NHTSA complaint #10907323, filed 2016-09, 214,000 milesElectrical system: “The car started to not want to crank it would crank sometimes then one day we went to the store then when we went to leave the store it finally just stopped trying to crank only making a clicking sound and while trying to crank it the steering column started smoking and almost caught on fire I believe it is the ignition switch”
NHTSA complaint #10811234, filed 2015-12, 100,000 milesSuspension: “Heard noise and bad vibration from front left , it got worse and louder when making turns. Took vehicle to dealer, who stated that front wheel bearing was bad. Around two weeks before the same thing happened, heard loud noise on front right, got louder when turning. Took vehicle to dealer, who replaced front right bearing. Car always serviced at dealer, two weeks before took car to dealer for pulling to the right. Dealer stated it needed an alignment and balancing. Did that next day and same thing happened within the past month. …”
NHTSA complaint #10118125, filed 2005-04Air bags: “The consumer's vehicle was involved in a rear end accident. The impact was about 25 to 30 MPH yet neither of the air bags deployed nor did the seat belt hold the driver. The air bag warning light did not illuminate prior to the crash. Please provide any additional information. A police report was issued.”
NHTSA complaint #10048723, filed 2003-11, 16,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
25% of the 60 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 94,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 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 2002 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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Mazda 626 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 85 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037013Aug 20, 2026Other or unknown. Product Quality Information (PQI) DESCRIPTION Service Information MT-041/12 is no longer valid. It has been unpublished and superseded by the Field Quality Information Report (FQIR) reporting system.
- 11035599Jul 29, 2026Electrical system, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window…
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026Engine, Brakes, Other or unknown, Transmission and…. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended…
- 11026904Dec 10, 2025Other or unknown. A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in…
- 11017699Apr 25, 2025Other or unknown. A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in…
- 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
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 2002 Mazda 626?
Owners of the 2002 Mazda 626 report automatic transmission problems far more than anything else, with hard or delayed shifting, a flashing overdrive light, slipping and eventual loss of forward gears. The issues reported most often: Automatic transmission slips, shifts hard and fails; Overdrive light flashing with jerking or loss of power.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Mazda 626 have?
NHTSA recorded 87 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mazda 626 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2002 Mazda 626 is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 70 complaints (80% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.
Has the 2002 Mazda 626 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Mazda 626 get?
The EPA rates the 2002 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 2002 Mazda 626 reported?
Among the 60 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,600 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 94,000 miles; 25% 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.