Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Mazda 626, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts13
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Structure5
- Power train4
- Latches/locks/linkages4
- Electrical system4
- Visibility4
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Steering1
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 1990 Mazda 626 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (68 kW, 91 hp) and 2.0 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 68 kW 91 hp | 29 |
| 2.0 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 20 |
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
98 first registered in 1990 are on Dutch roads; 1% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel5
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af4
- Stabilisator ondeugdelijk bevestigd, gebroken of gescheurd3
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname3
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht3
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont2
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse2
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
7 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 20 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
36 of these cars first registered in 1990 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 251,000 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
35 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 9% arrived as used imports, 89% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1990 Mazda 626.
| 1995085 24 May 1995 | Seats And Restraints THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HA… |
| 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 1990 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 |
| 10213425 | Speedometer replacement procedure |
| 10154879 | In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be revised gradually. |
| 10153339 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle m |
| 10148072 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle m |
| 10144333 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle m |
| 10118467 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometerand related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle |
| 10098367 | IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS, FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE LISTED BELOW WHEN REPLACING A SPEEDOMETER.NOTE:MAZDA VEHICLES ARE MANUFACTURED WITH TAMPER-PROOF SPEEDOMETERS.WHEN A SPEEDOMETER IS REPLACED, THE NEW SPEEDOMETER WILL READ ZERO (0) MILES.THIS PROCEDURE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT ACTUAL VEHICLE MILEAGE.PRIOR TO SPEEDOMETER REMOVAL, COMPLETE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED ON THE SPEEDOMETER REPLACE-MENT LABEL. LABELS CAN ONLY BE ORDERED THROUGH MSTORE, NOT MDCS. |
| 10009427 | BATTERY TEST PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 10009424 | SPEEDOMETER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENING
THROTTLE STICKING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation