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Electrical system

1997 Mazda 626 Electrical problems

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 1997 Mazda 626's electrical system with NHTSA - 8% of all its complaints, most recently on December 8, 2018. They describe 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
29
Recalls
1
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Electrical recalls for the 1997 Mazda 626

Electrical system: switch

15V6740001,368,500 vehicles affected

The problem
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.
The risk
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
The fix
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.

Electrical complaints

Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

The vehicle is stalling during acceleration and after. Sometimes it's stops and clear itself up and then throws itself into overdrive (o/d off lights starts flashing) all while driving it in the street(city and interstate). When you let the car sit and not run it will not flash but after driving amd not getting any speed it does it again.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11157034
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called five star mazda at (478) 841-9275 (located at 3068 riverside dr, macon, ga 31210) and was informed that the dealer would call the contact. The dealer did not confirm that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11021570
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a recall resolution regarding replacing the ignition switch. After the ignition switch was replaced, the engine intermittently failed to start when the contact turned the key in the ignition. The manufacturer was not notified. The recall details were not provided. The failure mileage was 120,105.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10948408
Electrical system

SEE UPLOADED PDF DOCUMENT.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10917211
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact received a recall notification for the electrical system; however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The nhtsa campaign number was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10863025
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda 626. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10855029
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Car rpm's are high on start, car idles rough, over drive light blinks, car is very dangerous and when od light blinks car cannot change gears correctly and makes it dangerous on turns. Had close calls almost being hit, as transmission and engine does not work properly. I have had to change all spark plugs and wires, had a rebuilt engine out in as old one was destroyed due to a spring in the timing belt breaking. New 02 sensors, and maf. Current issues are with the od light blinking and causing the car to...

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hesitate and stall. Turning car off and on seems to fix it for a while, then problem happens again after a few hours. Seems to be a computer problem or something, also there is a whining noise when rpm's are over 4000. This car is a lemon and I have read how mazda refuses to admit the transmission problems they have. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10147615
Electrical system

Car cannot pass smog test - #10 test box does not exist. After spending $1300, it's been found repeated that 1997 car contains 1998 parts. #10 Timing/ground doesn't exist on 1998 but no procedure to smog without it. All other systems passed. Smog referee believes car was manufactured this way but possible dealership altered but they, of course, deny this and state they were able to smog car when they sold to us (since it is impossible to smog the car, it obviously was passed illegally by them). Now we are out $1300...

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repairs, $12,000 for cost of car, $75 for registration that the state won't give us a sticker for, and no use of a car that sits on the street. Only way to smog is to spend $2500 to replace all the parts to make it all 1997. Car isn't even worth that on top of what was already spent. Someone needs to come forward to take care of this mess. It's bad enough the car constantly stalls. (And yes, the motor light is always flashing. It doesn't mean anything, just a bezerk sensor-after paying $120 4-times to have it turned off, we just put masking tape over the annoying spot). *Nm

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10142076
Electrical systemAirbags

I have failed 2 times trying to type this letter of complaint. Well,i have a 1997 mazda 626 lx 4 cylinder,2 liter engine sedan.,The engine light stays on all thew time now. First time I took it back to granger in garden city,ga and they sent it to fairway fordmazda in abercorn st in savannah,ga. They kept it about 6 weeks and the engine light stayed off about 2 years. Then it started coming back on in february 2005,so I took it to a certified mechanic here in pooler,ga.He cleared the sensors,lasted about 1/2...

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day,tool\k it back,he said it was number 2 sensor,replaced it,lasted about a day and now it stays on all the time. Number 2 sensor was what it was the first time. I;m also expercing some jerky motion in this car and it could be the transmission. So I'm hoping that you will do something about these faulty problems with these cars,like recall them and repair them at no cost to the owners. [email protected]. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bagsNHTSA 10116819
Electrical systemFire

Car traveling at 70mph. Car unexplainably accelerates and then moderate "pop" heard under hood. Debris noticed falling from car. Car is brought to stop on shoulder. Smoke eminating from under hood. Latch of hood is released to investigate when flames erupt. Engine is on fire. Electric cooling fan was melted and destroyed. Damage to radiator and surrounding components and wiring as well as hood, chassis, and trim paint damage.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10068141
Electrical system

The vehicle experienced a problem with the headlight switch which was replaced a year ago. Now the headlights and tail lights switch are inoperable. Problem was due to broken wire connector inside of the switch.*Jb *mr

Filed Electrical systemNHTSA 10051591
BrakesEngine & coolingElectrical systemEquipment & accessories

In addition to smelling gas - the radio and antenna doesn't work. Now the sunroof won't close all the way. The check engine light comes on more often than not since I had the car. The key sometimes won't fit into door lock and even though the car looks brand new and has been well taken care off - it just seems to fall apart. The glove compartment lock fell apart but the biggest thing is the sunroof won't close all the way. This is my 3rd mazda and I will never buy another one.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · EquipmentNHTSA 10069215
Electrical system

Vehicle horn stuck, went to press down to use horn and it would not stop when released.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10052548
Electrical systemFire

After running the car for a short period (drove a few miles). Upon turning off the ignition, a fire started from behind the steering column inside of the cab. My mother (87 years old) was driving this car and barely escaped before the entire car was engulfed in flames. The car is a total loss. This car had 19000 original miles and I was the only owner. The car never had been worked on for any electrical problem and was never in any accident. *La

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10051080
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

1997 Mazda 626 lx - transmission, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, and computer have all been repaired in a span of 11 months. The car does not have 80,000 miles on it!*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10049009
Electrical system

Battery cable clamps are too loose for the battery pole

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 9006763
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Consumer states vehicle has stalled numerous times, 2 times due to spillage from a cup that's in the cup holder, dealer installed a cover to protect pcm, vehicle has also stalled 3 other times with no explanation, possibly an electical problem, however check engine light was also illuminated, stalling could also be related to engine problem. *Slc

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 877561
BrakesTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

The transmission went out in sept. Of 2000. The car has been servised by university mazda front brakes wearing engine light , battery and shift console problems. The car is a lemon.*Ak( dot number: )

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Power train · Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 733228
Electrical system

The electrical module failed (computer) causing the vehicle to shut down, was told by the dealer that this would not be cover under warrenty because something had spilled into it. Consumer believes this happened by design since the module is located immediatly forward and below the cup holder making it possible for things to spill into this location. Nlm

Filed Electrical systemNHTSA 784056
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Vehicle was in repair shop. Computer chip and sensor had to be replaced. Also, overdrive light kept blinking, and transmission malfunctioned and has to be rebuilt. *Ak *ml

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 863602
Electrical system

This car has been in the shop five times for the same symptoms, the car runs very rough, stalls, no acceleration etc. In november, 1998 (25,657 miles), jim ellis mazda in atlanta diagnosed the problem as being a defective powertrain control module. This part was replaced under warranty. At 63,000 miles, the power train control module goes bad again. However, this time, the dealer service representative as well as the "mazda" representative stated that the reason the part was bad was due to me spilling a drink...

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on it and thus breaking it. It should be noted that the part has an 80,000 mile warranty, which becomes and void if the part is damaged through owner negligence. To my astonishment, the service representative told me that the power train control module is located directly under the drink holder near the gear shift. The unprotected location of this critical part under a drink holder is exceeding hazardous to human life because when the power train control module breaks down, the car does not run. Locating this critical electonic part under a drink holder is extremely dangerous and in my opinion requires an investigation by the nhtsa. Imagine if some of my grandchilden spilled a drink on the interstate? It should be noted that the mazda representives acknowledged to me that this is a design flaw, but, in my case, since I spilled a drink on the control module, it invalidated the warranty. However, they were gracious enough to release my car to me by me paying 1/2 of the repair costs as a gesture of goodwill. Since a representative with mazda acknolwedged that this is a design flaw, I would have to assume that other people have complained about it and that mazda is aware of the problem. Please take this matter seriously and investigate this complaint. The car barely runs with a defective power train control module. With this part being so easily susceptible to "drink" damage, this is a disaster waiting to happen. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 721664
Electrical system

Was driving at 55mph when the interior system went out, eg., Instrument panel/dome lights. Another driver indicated no tail lights on vehicle. The headlights were working. Checked the manual, all are connected to one fuse, but the fuse did not blow. Took to dealer & mechanic noticed fuse which was not blown. Indicated it was electrical system. Wiring. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 852237
Fuel systemElectrical system

Fuel injection malfunctioned, causing car to stall. When starting up, wouldn't turn over , would open gas tank then car would start sometimes. Put in shop took 30days to get part then within the same year. The alternator failed now within a year. The same problem is arising. It been in the shop 5 times since I purchased the vehicle a little over 2 years ago. *Ak

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical systemNHTSA 708019
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Dealer refused to look at it as a warranty repair and advised me to take it back to other mazda deale where new transmission was installed and car was diagnosed for other ignition related problems. *Ak

Filed Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 707855
Electrical systemAirbagsSeats & seat beltsCrash

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · SeatsNHTSA 706459

Mazda 626 electrical complaints by year

626 electrical problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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