2002 Mazda 626 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (54) · Power Train (10) · Suspension:front (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda 626 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
60 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (99)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · SA-055-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
product quality information (pqi) description service information mt-041/12 is no longer valid. it has been unpublished and superseded by the field quality information report (fqir) reporting system.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-07-29 · 09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns causing radio reception issues or terminal tabs pulled
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-10 · 07-004-25a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 the a/c evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling
Unknown Or Other 2025-04-25 · 07-004-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 the a/c evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling
Unknown Or Other 2024-08-08 · 09-038-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 laws. it is the dealer’s responsibility to comply with federal, state, and local laws concerning odometer
Showing the 6 most recent of 99 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-02-02 · Power Train · 85,000 mi · 💥 crash“without any warning the transmission started slipping out of forward gear while at a traffic light after releasing the brakes and gently pressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle didnt move. manually shifting into 1st gear was the car able to move but causing a very harsh lurching forward causing a loud "clunking" noise. i was able to limp the car…”
2017-06-07 · Engine“the transmission has been replaced twice now. even after we get it fixed it stills jerks and sounds like the engine is going to fall out. it has a terrible time shifting from 1st to 2nd and sometimes when you put it in reverse it jumps and sounds like it is going to fall out. my dad is 94 years old and needs this car to work. he doesn't need to…”
2016-09-17 · Power Train · 214,000 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
2016-08-28 · Power Train“transmission jerks-hard kicking from first to second gear automatic transmision/defective transmision on this model no matter what i do to try to fix the problem.(fluid filter speed sensor etc)still has the same problem...this problem is well known on all the mazda vehicles with this type of transmission…”
2015-12-19 · Unknown Or Other · 100,000 mi“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…”
2014-10-27 · Power Train · 45,000 mi“transmission failed while on highway. transmission failed at approximately 45,000 miles. repair ended up costing approximately $3,000 for a rebuilt transmission. i had owned the car for about 2 years at time of transmission failure and had put less than 10,000 miles on it personally. car was purchased used but in good condition. *tr…”
2014-07-16 · Power Train · 129,000 mi“my car will move fine until it warms up but then slips out of all gears and wont move until the next day. *tr…”
2013-05-27 · Power Train · 110,000 mi“transmission making popping noises and lagging when making turns sounds horrible took to a mechanic he says he can fix it for 1700.00 the transmission is bad. at a little over a 100 thousand miles it shouldn't need replaced. ford should have to fix it. *tr…”
2012-12-03 · Power Train · 148,000 mi“on acceleration from being stopped the transmission would make a series of popping sounds. i took it to a mechanic and it was diagnosed to be a stretched drive chain in the transmission. instances of high torque would cause the chain to skip past teeth, causing the popping noise. due to the significant amount if problems that plague the cd4e trans…”
2012-11-04 · Power Train · 120,000 mi“had transmission replaced in 2010 after hard shifting and skipping gears, same problem again started in september 2012. should not be replacing a transmission every two years. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.