Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1989 Mazda 626, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts12
- Power train11
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Structure5
- Vehicle speed control3
- Tires2
- Exterior lighting2
- Parking brake1
- Electrical system1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1989 Mazda 626 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (81 kW, 109 hp), 1.8 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp) and 2.0 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 81 kW 109 hp | 50 |
| 1.8 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 35 |
| 2.0 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 26 |
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
138 first registered in 1989 are on Dutch roads; 4% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen6
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij3
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt2
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm2
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage2
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot2
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse2
- Band onvoldoende profiel2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
5 cars built in 1989 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 47 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
35 of these cars first registered in 1989 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 253,000 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
48 1989 cars are on the New Zealand register; 10% arrived as used imports, 88% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1989 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… |
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.
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 1989 Mazda 626: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 54319 | PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC |
| 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
THROTTLE STICKING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation