MYRModel Year Report

1998 Mazda 626

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1998 Mazda 626
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Mazda 626 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1998 highlighted. 1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 6 complaints 1986: 16 complaints 1986 1987: 29 complaints 1988: 46 complaints 1989: 42 complaints 1989 1990: 45 complaints 1991: 64 complaints 1992: 19 complaints 1992 1993: 124 complaints 1994: 285 complaints 1995: 488 complaints 1995 1996: 359 complaints 1997: 358 complaints 1998: 434 complaints 1998 1999: 318 complaints 2000: 217 complaints 2001: 188 complaints 2001 2002: 87 complaints 2003: 9 complaints 2003
1998: 434 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19820
19832
19843
19856
198616
198729
198846
198942
199045
199164
199219
1993124
1994285
1995488
1996359
1997358
1998434
1999318
2000217
2001188
200287
20039

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

POWER TRAIN 74%

74% of complaints: power train — 319 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN READING ALL TYPES OF POSTS FROM WEBSITES SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT THE POOR TRANSMISSIONS IN THE MAZDA 626. HOW COULD YOU DISREGARD THE QUALITY OF A PART THATS SO VITAL TO A NEWLY MANUFACTURED CAR?

NHTSA ODI report, 20030708

THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ENGINE STALLING/SURGING AND ACCLERATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19990217

SINCE OWNING THE MAZDA 626 I HAVE HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. IT WILL SLIP GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. IF ITS BELOW 60 DEGREES THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE MOTOR GETS HOT ENOUGH.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180108

Also filed under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 21%

21% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 90 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing engine and belts and associated pulleys.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3%

3% of complaints: electrical system — 14 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing ignition and interior/under dash.

FIRE DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

I PURCHASED A CAR IN APRIL 2001 (A USED CAR) AND HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20031017

AIR BAGS 3%

3% of complaints: air bags — 11 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT HER FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20030708

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED INJURY TO CONSUMER UPON COLLISION, UPON INSPECTION CONCLUDED POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE. NLM

NHTSA ODI report, 19990608

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR ON 17 DEC 98, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT INERTIA DEVICE DID NOT LOCK.

NHTSA ODI report, 19981218

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2%

2% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 10 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1998 — complaint volume: 434
R 19980115 — fuel system, gasoline

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) INSTALLED CAN, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRIGGER A SHIFT IN AIR-FUEL RATIO TO AN OVE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM WITH THE CORRECT ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC.

Campaign 97V228000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19981029 — SQ (closed 19990910)

SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE

R 19981203 — equipment

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A HOT, HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AUDIO UNIT AND CAUSE A SHORT

Remedy: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.

Campaign 98V243000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000928 — engine and engine cooling

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER COULD BREAK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TENSIONER INSTALLED AND REPLACE IT IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AFFECTED TENSIONER.

Campaign 00V134000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050927 — fuel system, gasoline

CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COU

Remedy: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6

Campaign 05E065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20151217 — electrical system

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6.

Campaign 15V674000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1998 Mazda 626 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (319 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (90 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (14 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97V228000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V243000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V134000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05E065000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V674000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1989 ▲ 1990 ▲ 1988

WORST YEARS

■ 1995 ◆ 1996 ◆ 1997

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1998 Mazda 626 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Mazda 626 is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mazda 626?

The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 74% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Mazda 626 have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.