Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Mazda 626, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts25
- Latches/locks/linkages5
- Structure4
- Electrical system4
- Power train4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Visibility2
- Back over prevention1
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1988 Mazda 626 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp) and 2.0 petrol (81 kW, 109 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 45 |
| 2.0 petrol | 81 kW 109 hp | 40 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
126 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 4% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde10
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse2
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af2
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen2
- Remleiding beschadigd1
- Lichtbeeld dimlicht onjuist1
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht1
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
4 cars built in 1988 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 36 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
42 of these cars first registered in 1988 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 240,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
26 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 38% arrived as used imports, 62% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1988 Mazda 626.
| 1994027 10 Feb 1994 | Structure NOTE: 626 - 16,682 UNITS. 929 - 3,001 UNITS. THE FRONT OUTER DOOR HANDLES CAN PREMATURELY FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE THE HANDLE CONNECTS TO THE ROD THAT ACTIVATES… |
| 1988021 18 Feb 1988 | Engine AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -18 DEGREES CELSIUS, FROST MAY ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED CONSTANT SPEED OPERATION. THIS COU… |
| 1987138 16 Dec 1987 | Brakes TRANSPORTATION BY RAIL COULD CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE SHOE WEB TO COME OFF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PISTON GROOVE. THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL CYLINDER … |
| 1987133 8 Dec 1987 | Structure THE FUEL TANK STRAPS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED AND MAY RUB AGAINST THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TANK'S PROTECTIVE COATING TO WEAR THROUGH RESULTING I… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
RESIN MOLDED FRONT HANDLES FAIL AT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATING ROD ATTACHMENT, FREEING THE ROD TO FALL INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. SUBSEQUENT LOWERING OF THE ASSOCIATED WINDOW MAY FORCE THE ACTUATING ROD DOWNWARD AND RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH.
THE DRIVE SPRING THAT DRIVES THE AUTOMATIC BELT MAY BREAK.
AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 DEGREE F, FROST MAY ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER EXTENDED CONSTANT SPEED OPERATION.
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR BRAKE DRUMS TRANSPORTED BY TRAIN MAY EXPERIENCE SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE SHOE FROM THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER PISTON.
FUEL TANK FIXING BAND RETENTION IS NOT SUFFICIENT, ALLOWING THE BAND TO RUB AGAINST THE FUEL TANK BY VEHICLE VIBRATIONS.
FLOOR MAT COULD INTERFERE WITH RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF MAT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 1988 Mazda 626: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 52520 | PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW |
| 52503 | MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW |
| 52497 | USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW |
| 52492 | WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENING
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENING
THROTTLE STICKING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation