The 1996 Mazda 626 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,581,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 426 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
AIR BAGS98V2490001998-10-08213,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
222
5crashes99injuries99deaths
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
33
23crashes24injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
14
AIR BAGS
11
3crashes5injuries
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
2crashes3injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
6
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
Total complaints426
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. After placing the key in the ignition and starting the vehicle, the contact noticed a fuel odor under the hood of the vehicle. The contact turned the vehicle off for a while and proceeded to turn the vehicle back on with the front driver and passenger side…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. The contact stated that there was a progressing electrical failure and unknown warning lights remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The vent controls failed to work for the air conditioner and heater. The vehicle was taken to four different…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. While driving, the check engine sensor light suddenly illuminated and the instrument panel lights would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition switch wire harness was faulty and needed to be replaced.…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. While driving, the check engine sensor light suddenly illuminated and the instrument panel lights would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition switch wire harness was faulty and needed to be replaced.…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. The contact stated that while the shifter was in the park position and powered on, the vehicle suddenly experienced an unintended acceleration and crashed into a brick pillar. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. The contact stated that while the shifter was in the park position and powered on, the vehicle suddenly experienced an unintended acceleration and crashed into a brick pillar. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an…”
“I smelled gas whenever I would get gas for the car or speed up the car. So I took the car to my mechanic and he said it was some sort of a problem with the gas tank. I need to know what it is. *tr”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mazda 626. The contact stated that while reversing from a driveway, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA97012 Opened 1997-05-23 · closed 1998-10-09
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN…
InvestigationPE97006 Opened 1997-01-30 · closed 1997-05-23
INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
IN JANUARY OF 1997, ODI OPENED A PE BASED ON 9 ODI COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 51 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS INCLUDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20…
InvestigationRQ99022 Opened 1999-12-20 · closed 2000-08-30
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
InvestigationSQ98024 Opened 1998-10-29 · closed 1999-09-10
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Mazda 626 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.