Most common 2000 Mazda 626 problems
Share of the 217 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda 626 complaints by model year
Best 626 years: 2003, 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1995, 1998. Compare all years →
2000 Mazda 626 recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain reservoir tank caps on the brake master cylinder were produced with a worn out die and lack ventilation holes. As a result, the pressure in the reservoir tank can drop gradually as the brake pad or shoe wears and ambient temperature drops.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the reservoir cap and replace it, if necessary.
What 2000 Mazda 626 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 160 →
My 2000 Mazda 626 began having problems a week after purchasing April 10, 2008! The car started having electrical problems which resulted in 3 batteries, 2 alternators, no ac or defrost could be run. Then the brakes were replaced twice within a 2 month period! All these problems resulted in me almost being killed from an automobile accident! This happened June 8, 2009 which was a Monday approx. 4 pm. The airbags never deployed, and my head hit the steering wheel. Windshield shattered all over my hand resulting in severe lacerations! This car needs looked at asap!!!! Please help
Od off light on our 2000 Mazda 626 lx started flashing. Took the car to a local dealer (berge Mazda in mesa az) and they diagnosed a code p1718- transmission overheating. They recommend to install a transmission cooler kit and perform a transmission service to correct the problem(estimate given -$1014.00-way too expensive!!!). Went to another dealership (earnhardt's Ford/Mazda in chandler az) to get a second opinion and they made the same recommendations. Both dealers stated that Mazda issued a technical service bulletin about this problem (cd4e transmission) and addressed this issue with a transmission cooling kit install. We decided to have the work done at earnhardt's (total cost $344.00-more reasonable estimate). We purchased this vehicle at hertz car sales in nov 2001 with about 30,000 miles on it. …
Engine & cooling all 21 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Mazda 626. When the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the cabin. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (perry Ford, 440 hitchcock way, santa barbara, ca 93105 [phone]), but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 44,825. The VIN was not available.
Vehicle began to make pinging noise, that was only noticeable under heavy acceleration, thus causing me, the driver, to acclerate with gingerly. Approx. One day after the engine made pinging noise no matter how fast or slow the vehicle accelerated, eventually leading up to the following: the car was at a speed of approx 55-60 MPH on the freeway, when all of a sudden the pinging got louder, the engine lost all power, a loud noise occured, something appeared to shoot from underneath the vehicle, and smoke began to pour from under the hood. After the vehicle was towed to a local service station, I was then told that an engine rod blew through the engine block, thus requiring a new engine. Approx 1 1/2 to 2 weeks prior an oil change was performed on the vehicle, and thereafter the car ran with no problems at all up until the pinging occurance. …
Brakes
My 2000 Mazda 626 began having problems a week after purchasing April 10, 2008! The car started having electrical problems which resulted in 3 batteries, 2 alternators, no ac or defrost could be run. Then the brakes were replaced twice within a 2 month period! All these problems resulted in me almost being killed from an automobile accident! This happened June 8, 2009 which was a Monday approx. 4 pm. The airbags never deployed, and my head hit the steering wheel. Windshield shattered all over my hand resulting in severe lacerations! This car needs looked at asap!!!! Please help
I own a 2000 Mazda 626 with only 90,000 miles. I have been stranded several times in this car and spent over $3000 parts and labor. I had to replace the catalytic converter, several sensors, master break cylinder, cv boots, and rack and pinion. Now I am having trouble with the transmission and the ac. The mechanic says I need to rebuild the trans and replace the ac compressor. This is another $3000 or more. I am very disappointed in this situation. I plead with you to take action on this. I have checked several web forums and found similar problems. Please, please make Mazda accountable for building such bad cars. Fyi, I am very, very diligent in general maintenance. Thanks for your time. Chris.
2000 Mazda 626 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Mazda 626 a good car?
Based on 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 626 rates average: 34% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 626 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Mazda 626?
The transmission & drivetrain — 160 complaints, 74% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (21) and brakes (14).
How many recalls does the 2000 Mazda 626 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2000 Mazda 626, the most recent from March 7, 2000 (master cylinder). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda 626?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1998. See the full Mazda 626 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Mazda 626 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 81,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.