1997 Mazda 626 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1997 Mazda 626 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 451
- on record
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- 210 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 22 reported crashes · 35 injuries · 8 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,159
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mazda median
+255
median 196 across 81 Mazda records
Vs 1995-1999
+194
median 257 complaints in 591 records
Top component share
47%
Power Train: 210 complaints
What owners report fails — 1997 Mazda 626
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 210
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 22
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 15
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 14
1 recall on record for the 1997 Mazda 626
- NHTSA 15V674000 · 2015 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1997 Mazda 626
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1997 Mazda 626 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Mazda 626 reliable?
NHTSA has 451 consumer complaints on record for the 1997 Mazda 626 and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is power train:automatic transmission (210 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1997 Mazda 626 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mazda 626?
Owners most often report problems with: power train:automatic transmission (210), air bags:frontal (22), unknown or other (16), engine and engine cooling:engine (15). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1997 Mazda 626?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.