Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Mazda 626, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 38 | 21% |
| Service brakes | 22 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 8% |
| Air bags | 11 | 6% |
| Suspension | 9 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 4% |
| Tires | 6 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 3% |
| Steering | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A DRIVER IN ANOTHER VEHICLE NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND EXITED WITHOUT I
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I OWN A 1993 MAZDA 626 LX WITH A 2.0 LITER ENGINE AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED IT IN EARLY 1998. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE CAR FOR THE YEAR, WITH JUST MORE THAN 80,000
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY CAR STARTED BLINKING "HOLD" IN RED ON THE DASH ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. IT WOULD CONTINUE BLINKING, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T USING THE 'HOLD BUTTON' ON THE SHIFTER. LAST MONTH, IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND MAKING ODD NOISES. IT N
NHTSA complaint: Power train
SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND I HAVE A "HOLD" LIGHT BLINKING. FROM THE STATEMENTS ON INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY MAZDA. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAVE A SET OF SIGMA SHADOW TIRES ON MY CAR MADE BY TBC CORPORATION. THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND DAMAGED MY REAR BUMPER. I HAVE ORDERED AN NEW SET OF TIRES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE PROBLEM JUST OCCURRED ALL OF A SUDDEN. FROM A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED, IT PUSHED THE CAR FORWARD TO WHICH I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, TRIED TO FIX IT BUT STI
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MAZDA 626 LX SLIPING GEARS, JURKING, LEAKING TRANSMISSION,TRANSMISSION FAILER HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT STILL NO GOOD. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Power train
1993 MAZDA 626-2.0 4CYL AUTO TRANS, 89000 MILES. BOUGHT CAR 9/28/05 FOR $2900.00, ON 11/15/05, ON HIGHWAY, CAR STARTS BUCKING AS THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE TRANSMISSION
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 Mazda 626. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 co
Risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
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,
CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TUR
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Fix: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 90 | excellent |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 38 of them (21%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.