Mazda

626

Compact Cars · model years 1984 to 2002

See all 55 626 trims All Mazda cars

The verdict

Best year: 2002. complaints: 87, below this model's typical 300; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 1998. complaints: 434, above this model's typical 300; recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Mazda 626
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Top complaints
1984	6Diesel, Gas	25	$2,900	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1984
1985	3Diesel, Gas	25	$2,900	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1985
1986	3Gas	23	$2,900	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1986
1987	3Gas	22	$3,050	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1987
1993	4Gas	21.5	$3,275	1	122	POWER TRAIN 24%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 122, below this model's typical 300 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	4Gas	21.5	$3,275	2	282	POWER TRAIN 54%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7%
complaints: 282, below this model's typical 300 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 56 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	4Gas	21.5	$3,275	2	488	POWER TRAIN 61%, AIR BAGS 12%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5%
complaints: 488, about 1.6x this model's typical 300 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 40 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	4Gas	21.5	$3,275	2	359	POWER TRAIN 58%, AIR BAGS 12%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%
complaints: 359, above this model's typical 300 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 99 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 138 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 19 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	4Gas	22	$3,225	3	358	POWER TRAIN 54%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%, AIR BAGS 8%
complaints: 358, above this model's typical 300 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 27 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	21.5	$3,250	4	434	POWER TRAIN 65%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3%
complaints: 434, above this model's typical 300 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	21.5	$3,250	2	318	POWER TRAIN 65%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 4%
complaints: 318, above this model's typical 300 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	21.5	$3,250	1	217	POWER TRAIN 59%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5%
complaints: 217, below this model's typical 300 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	4Gas	21.5	$3,250	0	188	POWER TRAIN 62%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%, AIR BAGS 5%
complaints: 188, below this model's typical 300 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	21.5	$3,250	0	87	POWER TRAIN 71%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4%, SUSPENSION 4%
complaints: 87, below this model's typical 300 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1984: 25 to 2002: 21.5

Owner complaints1993: 122 to 2002: 87

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Mazda 626 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.