Mazda 626: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
501 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Mazda 626, model years 2000 to 2003. 3 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2000 (transmission); 2001 (transmission); 2002 (transmission). Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 626 | 217 | transmission | 2 | |
| 2001 626 | 188 | transmission | 1 | |
| 2002 626FEW REPORTS | 87 | transmission | 0 | |
| 2003 626FEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Mazda models
Mazda B-Series Truck · Mazda CX-30 · Mazda CX-5 · Mazda CX-50 · Mazda CX-7 · Mazda CX-9 · Mazda CX-90 · Mazda MPV · Mazda MX-5 · Mazda Mazda3 · Mazda Mazda5 · Mazda Mazda6 · Mazda Protege · Mazda RX-8 · Mazda Tribute. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20002001