Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 518 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Mazda 626, and it carries 4 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 | 312 | 60% |
| Air bags | 68 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2% |
| Seats | 8 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 1% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 1% |
| Power train | 6 | 1% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WENT TO START VEHICLE WILL NOT START SOMETHING FAULTY IN IGNITION POSSIBLY. SMELLED LIKE SMOKE INSTANTLY TURNING VEHICLE OFF. IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED BATTERY FROM VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 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 MANUFACTUR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA 626. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT RECIEVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTUR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 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 MANUFACTUR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
1995 MAZDA 6, CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG EXPLOSIONS DOES NOT INCLUDE CARS MANUFACTURED BEFORE THE YEAR 2000...UPDATED 02/12/15*BF THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON WAS DRIVING, WHEN SUDDENLY THE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER JUST DROP OFF MY DAUGHTER, I PROCEEDED BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST THREW ME IN PARK. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THEN I PUT IN GEAR AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN THE HOL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
OVERDRIVE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF CAUSING CAR TO BUCK, JERK AND HESITATE. DURING THAT TIME THE RPM SOARS IN THE RANGE OF 8-10. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING ANY AMOUNT OF TIME. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1995 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
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS AN INFLATOR BODY THAT CRACKED DURING FORMING OF THE CURL THAT RETAINS THE IGNITER PLUG IN THE END OF THE INFLATOR. ALSO, THE IGNITER END CAP CAN SEPARATE FROM THE INFLATOR.
Risk: THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN REDUCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. IF THE IGNITER END CAP SEPARATES IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, HOT GASES CAN BE RELEASED A
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Risk: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 90 | excellent |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 518 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 312 of them (60%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 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 74/100. 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.