The 1997 Mazda 626 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,621,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 451 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.
AIR BAGS98V2490001998-10-08213,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V2060011998-09-0840,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TENSIONER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
210
2crashes7injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
22
5crashes12injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
16
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
15
1crashes1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
1fires
AIR BAGS
10
5crashes1fires5injuries
POWER TRAIN
8
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
6
Total complaints451
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The vehicle is stalling during acceleration and after. Sometimes it's stops and clear itself up and then throws itself into overdrive (o/d off lights starts flashing) all while driving it in the street(city and interstate). When you let the car sit and not run it will not flash but after driving…”
“The vehicle is stalling during acceleration and after. Sometimes it's stops and clear itself up and then throws itself into overdrive (o/d off lights starts flashing) all while driving it in the street(city and interstate). When you let the car sit and not run it will not flash but after driving…”
“The vehicle is stalling during acceleration and after. Sometimes it's stops and clear itself up and then throws itself into overdrive (o/d off lights starts flashing) all while driving it in the street(city and interstate). When you let the car sit and not run it will not flash but after driving…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a recall resolution regarding replacing the ignition switch. After the ignition switch was replaced, the engine intermittently failed to start when the contact turned the key in the ignition. The manufacturer was…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact received a recall notification for the electrical system; however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware…”
“See uploaded pdf document.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationRQ02004 Opened 2002-02-08 · closed 2002-08-19
OVERSENSITIVE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
There is no summary currently available
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 1997 Mazda 626 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.