Complaints
99
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Mazda 626 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#156 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:75,458 mi
#210 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:121,571 mi
Crash-related:2
#33 complaints
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Mazda 626.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 56 | — | — | 75,458 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 10 | 2 | — | 121,571 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — |
Automatic Transmission
56
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,458
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
121,571
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Mazda 626. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mazda 626 Years
2002 Mazda 626 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Mazda 626 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Mazda 626 has 99 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 56 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Mazda 626?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (56 complaints, avg 75,458 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (10 complaints, avg 121,571 mi); Electrical Faults (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Mazda 626?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 82,445 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Mazda 626?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Mazda 626 include 7 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Mazda 626 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Mazda 626 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Mazda 626?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mazda 626 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Mazda 626
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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