2002 MAZDA 626 Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

POWER TRAIN

63 complaints

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 3 MILES TO MY HOME. I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR AND HAVING THE BRAKES APPLIED THE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT IN GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO CONTACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH MYSELF AND THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE I HIT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WELL AS PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE BACK OF THEIRS.

Feb 02, 2020

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

TAMARA RECALL

Dec 02, 2016

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.

Sep 17, 2016

Crash: 1

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

Aug 28, 2016

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

Oct 27, 2014

+ 58 more complaints for this component

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

2002 MAZDA 626 ES, LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. *TR

Oct 15, 2009

VIBRATION IN THE FRONT (WORSE ON THE RIGHT) OF THE VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY SALESPERSON, CAR HAD BEEN SITTING A WHILE AND SHOULD DRIVE OUT, AFTER 8 MONTHS AND NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE NATURE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE THERE IS NO FRONT PASSENGER, YOU CAN SEE THE SEAT SHAKING !!! I HAVE SECURED A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY !!! *AK

Jun 05, 2003

WHILE DRIVING HEARD HUMMING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. A LOOSE BEARING ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. REPLACED PART. WHILE DRIVING AGAIN, HEARD A NOISE WHEEL FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF.*AK

Jun 19, 2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

SMOKE CAME FROM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Mar 08, 2012

CAR DOES NOT RUN/START OR ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT IDLES INAPPROPRIATELY. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED 10/02. IT WENT TO THE DEALER 11/02 AFTER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND CAR WOULD NOT START/DRIVE. CAR RETURNED 36 DAYS LATER. CAR NOW HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON AND IS AT A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR THREE DAYS

Dec 26, 2002

SEAT BELTS

2 complaints

VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION ABOUT 35MPH, FAILURE OF FRONT DRIVER SEATBELT TO LOCK. RESULTED IN INJURY TO DRIVER BY IMPACTING KNEES WITH LOWER DASH BOARD, AND CHEST AND FACE HITTING STEERING WHEEL. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. FAILURE OF SEATBELTS AND INJURES, ALL NOTATED ON ACCIDENT POLICE REPORT. *TR

Mar 16, 2008

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT DIDN'T HOLD CONSUMER IN. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Jan 28, 2003

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

DT: CONSUMER STATES SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 7-8-05. SHE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT END OF HER CAR BY SOMEONE TRAVELING WEST. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. SHE HAS NOT TALKED TO THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST THE PERSON WHO HIT HER WAS GOING. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING APPROX. 55-60 MPH. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS AIR BAG PROBLEMS. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. SHE DID APPLY HER BRAKES PRIOR TO IMPACT. SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT. *JB

Jul 13, 2005

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES. CONSUMER WAS PREGNANT, AND HIT HER HEAD AND CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS INJURED. BOTH CONSUMER AND THE PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED. *AK

Sep 29, 2004

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

TIRES

2 complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BRIDGETONE TIRES MODEL- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SIZE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -DOT- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TREAD SEPARATED AND BLEW UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE HOLE APPEARED TO BE IN THE LINE THAT CONNECTS THE TREAD TO THE REMAINDER OF THE TIRE. *SCC *JB

Sep 12, 2003

NOTICED BULGE ON SIDEWALL OF TIRE. REPLACED TIRE TO PREVENT TIRE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT/CASUALTIRES. DT

Nov 28, 2002

ENGINE

1 complaint

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 GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER ONE OR SPEND ANOTHER $1800 OR SO TO GET THIS ONE FIXED. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

Jun 07, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

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

Dec 19, 2015

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, 2002 MAZDA 626, TWICE IN LAST 6 MONTHS. CAR LURCHES, STALLS, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS, HAVE BEEN STUCK ON BUSY FREEWAY. ALSO FUEL PUMP JUST CUTS OFF AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

Feb 17, 2010

POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

94,000 MILES ON MY 2002 MAZDA 626 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND STRUTS WERE WORTHLESS. WAS STRANDED ON THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO IN REVERSE BUT WAS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE IN DRIVE AND AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS. *TR

Apr 18, 2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FIRESTONE STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AND UNDER THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ICE COLD MOTORS AND THEY CHANGED THE VALVE COVER GASKET. ICE COLD MOTORS DISCOVERED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

Jan 13, 2009

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA 626 4CYL WITH 71,200 MILES. I HAD JUST PAID IT OFF LAST MONTH AND COME TO FIND OUT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON ME. WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS AS IF GEARS ARE GRINDING. THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY CONNECTION WAS LOOSE. OTHER THAN THAT THERE WAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS AND HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. I HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE DEFECTED TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN THE VEHICLE CONTINUING WITH GRINDING NOISE. TOOK IT BACK IN AND TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO NEED REBUILDING I HAVE READ MANY PROBLEMS ONLINE DATING BACK TO 1996 REGARDING THESE 626'S TRANSMISSIONS AND HERE IS ANOTHER ONE. *TR

Nov 10, 2007

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

2002 626 PISTON RINGS FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PER THE MECHANIC. THERE WAS SCARING FOUND ON THE CYLINDER WALLS ALSO PISTONS LOWER COMPRESSION RING FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS STARTING TO RUN HOT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW OVERFLOW COOLANT BOTTLE BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED ALONG THE SEAM. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CV BOOT. *JB

Dec 15, 2006

SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,TIRES

1 complaint

HEARD NOISE AND BAD VIBRATION FROM FRONT LEFT , IT GOT WORSE AND LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. AROUND TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED, HEARD LOUD NOISE ON FRONT RIGHT, GOT LOUDER WHEN TURNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED FRONT RIGHT BEARING. CAR ALWAYS SERVICED AT DEALER, TWO WEEKS BEFORE TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR PULLING TO THE RIGHT. DEALER STATED IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING. DID THAT NEXT DAY AND SAME THING HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. I HAD NEW FRONT BRAKES, NEW TIRES, NEW RIGHT AND LEFT BEARINGS, AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO BALANCE AND ROTATE TIRES. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT DEALER INSISTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, HAD TO REPLACE COOLANT BOTTLE THREE TIMES, AND ONCE CAR OVERHEATED. IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

Apr 19, 2005

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

THE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER VIEW AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. *JB

Dec 29, 2004

POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 MAZDA 626. IT WILL NOT GO FORWARD. MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS AND HAS CHOOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND CORRECT THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

May 05, 2004

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, NOTHING WAS FOUND. *LA THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE TIE RODS, A NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, WHICH THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE RIGHT LOWER GRAVEL SHIELD, THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A RATTLE. *JB

Feb 19, 2004

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT WAS ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH YET NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID THE SEAT BELT HOLD THE DRIVER. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. *NLM

Nov 26, 2003

Crash: 1

STEERING

1 complaint

WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *TS *JB

Sep 15, 2003

EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONER IS CONSTANTLY BLOWING COLD AIR IN VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS ALSO REDUCED GAS MILEAGE.*JB

Jul 25, 2002

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2002 MAZDA 626 have?

The 2002 MAZDA 626 currently has 88 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2002 MAZDA 626?

The most common problems reported for the 2002 MAZDA 626 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2002 MAZDA 626 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2002 MAZDA 626 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.