Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Mazda 626, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train177
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Electrical system24
- Service brakes, hydraulic16
- Air bags14
- Exterior lighting12
- Suspension10
- Vehicle speed control9
- Unknown or other8
- Visibility6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
59 first registered in 1994 are on Dutch roads; 3% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde5
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen5
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse3
- Roestschade as, wielgeleidingselement of reactiestang2
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname2
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij2
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af2
- Parkeerrem werkt niet op 2 wielen1
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 1994 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 38 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
24 of these cars first registered in 1994 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 269,000 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
31 1994 cars are on the New Zealand register; 3% arrived as used imports, 97% 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 1994 Mazda 626.
| 2015489 19 Oct 2015 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could cause an electrical short to develop over time. This could result in smoke and/or fire, increasing th… |
| 2000031 17 Feb 2000 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the headlight lead wire may break at the point where it is soldered to the headlight switch. This could result in loss of headlight functi… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
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 1994 Mazda 626: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 615641 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSPECTION PROCEDURE - WATER PUMP LEAK. *TT |
| 606033 | INFORMATION REGARDING PISTON STANDARDIZATION FOR VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES. *TT |
| 604035 | EXPERIENCEING A METALLIC TAPPING NOISE HEARD FROM THE RIGHT ( REAR ) CYLINDER HEAD EXHAUST CAM AREA. *YC |
| 603891 | CONDITIONS WITH STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER. *YC |
| 603854 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT EXTENDERS. *YC |
| 54320 | VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A OIL LEAK AT VALVE COVER. *YC |
| 54319 | PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC |
| 54318 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO MTX OVERHAUL INFORMATION. *YC |
| 54216 | SUBJECT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR COMPONENTS. *YC |
| 54212 | COMPLAINTS OF DOOR GLASS MAY COME OFF TRACK. *YC |
| 53007 | DESCRIPTIONS OF TYPICAL ENGINE NOISES. *YC |
| 52997 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING CIGARETTE LIGHTERS. *YC |
| 52524 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND TERMINAL REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABILITY. *TW |
| 52520 | PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW |
| 52503 | MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW |
| 52498 | PARTIAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT (PCV SYSTEM MODIFICATION). *TW |
| 52497 | USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW |
| 52492 | WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW |
| 52483 | DOOR SIDE MOLDING DETATCHES IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, *TW |
| 52475 | FRONT DOOR GLASS RUN CHANNEL OUT OF POSITION. *TW |
| 52470 | STABILIZER BAR BUSHING REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TW |
| 52467 | TORQUE CCONVERTER CLUTCH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE - DTC 628. *TW |
| 52460 | DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TROUBLE (DTC P0171 / 181). *TW |
| 46694 | LA4A-EL TRANSAXLE FLUID LEAK AT TORQUE CONVERTER HUB SEAL. *SD |
| 45001 | SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT MOVE FROM PARK. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation