Reliability & cost of ownership
Mazda 626 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Mazda 626? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Mazda 626 problems by model year
24 recall entries across 7 model years and 2,457 owner complaints across 9 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 2 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 626 | Not confirmed | 9 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2002 626 | Not confirmed | 87 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 626 | 1 | 188 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 626 | 2 | 217 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1999 626 | 4 | 318 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 626 | 6 | 433 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 626 | 4 | 358 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 626 | 3 | 359 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1995 626 | 4 | 488 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Mazda 626, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train1,715 complaints
- engine and engine cooling269 complaints
- air bags191 complaints
- electrical system98 complaints
- equipment76 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic69 complaints
- unknown or other58 complaints
- vehicle speed control49 complaints