VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Mazda 6261993–2002
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Mazda 626 Years to Avoid
0 recalls · 137 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
0 recalls · 116 complaints
8 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
0 recalls · 45 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 4 past investigations into the 626 became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 16, 2026.
Mazda 626 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 | 45 | 6 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2001 | 0 | 116 | 8 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2000 | 0 | 137 | 7 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1999 | 2 | 201 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1998 | 4 | 253 | 10 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1997 | 2 | 256 | 24 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1996 | 1 | 238 | 123 | 99 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 1995 | 1 | 265 | 22 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1994 | 2 | 180 | 10 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1993 | 1 | 106 | 4 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Mazda 626 Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the 626 compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year 626 to buy?+
See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every 626 model year.
Which 626 years have the most problems?+
The 2000, 2001, 2002 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2000 626 leads with 0 recalls and 137 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common 626 problems?+
The most frequently reported Mazda 626 issues involve: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.