The 1994 Mazda 626 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,408,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 353 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and…
Consequence
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
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. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Consequence
THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LEVER.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
161
2crashes1fires2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
12
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
11
11crashes7injuries
POWER TRAIN
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
9
1fires
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
6
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
5
Total complaints353
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Transmission won't shift properly. When it does shift, it shifts hard. Od light flashes. Was driving vehicle from work and took off from a complete stop. The car revved up real high but wouldn't shift. Made it home, and now vehicle won't move.”
“The 1994 mazda 626lx with a v-6 2.5l motor has required 3 transmissions in the 8 years I have owned the car. The water pump went out twice and the alternator twice as well. This last time the transmission failed, I was on I-5 heading north near the los banos turnoff when it just started slipping…”
“The 1994 mazda 626lx with a v-6 2.5l motor has required 3 transmissions in the 8 years I have owned the car. The water pump went out twice and the alternator twice as well. This last time the transmission failed, I was on I-5 heading north near the los banos turnoff when it just started slipping…”
“The 1994 mazda 626lx with a v-6 2.5l motor has required 3 transmissions in the 8 years I have owned the car. The water pump went out twice and the alternator twice as well. This last time the transmission failed, I was on I-5 heading north near the los banos turnoff when it just started slipping…”
“The hold light is continually flashing. This started on sunday may 16, 2010. I called mazda maple shade made an appt. I took the car in on may 19th at 7:30 am. I picked the car up on may 20th at 7:30 am and as I was driving home from work at 3 pm., the problem has worsen. I called mazda on may…”
“I puchased a 1994 mazda 626 2.0l automatic transmission, when I purchased the car they had told me that the transmission had already been replaced once due to falure. I do not know the story of how the transmission came to fail on the previous owner. Now that I own it the car has started to shift…”
“I bought a 1994 used mazda 626 lx a little over a month ago for $1600.00. And I put another $500.00 in it getting 2 new front tires a complete tune up, and a complete brake job. I test drove it and it ran fine. I found out later after I bought the car in a few days while going up a steep hill here…”
“I purchase a 1994 mazda 626lx automatic sedan approximately 3 months ago, from an individual here in austin, tx. Approximately one month after obtaining, and putting new tires, new brakes and a complete tune-up, the transmission went out. After doing some further investigation on the car, I found…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationRQ99022 Opened 1999-12-20 · closed 2000-08-30
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
InvestigationSQ98024 Opened 1998-10-29 · closed 1999-09-10
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 Mazda 626 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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