Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Mazda 626 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
I purchased a 2000 Mazda 626 used in 2001. I took the car in for repairs to the cincinnati jake sweeny Mazda shop to address the shaking and noises that I was hearing from the front and rear of the vehicle. I was told that the car was okay the motor mounts were fine and that the noise was from a bottle of aspirin in the glove box. The noise continued and other shops continued to inform me that my motor mounts were bad. I was again informed by the repair shop that the car was fine. The vehicle now has 140,000 miles on it and the motor mounts, sway link bar and struts are all shot to heck. I am very disappointed being that this issue was addressed when the car was under warranty and the dealership neglected to fix the problem which now has escalated.
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.
Engine had been serviced initially ten days after date of purchase. Constant problems with knocking and jolting when putting vehicle in gear. Major acceleration problems. Vehicle was towed to dealer several times. During one incident vehicle refused to start, and leaked all transmission fluid on flatbed truck. Final incident check engine light indicator illuminated, vehicle was taken back to dealership. Light was reset by dealership. Vehicle's engine has now seized at 36,000 km.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Mazda 626. The contact stated that she noticed a gas smell on the inside and outside of the vehile. In addition, she only noticed the fumes after the vehicle had been parked for an extended amount of time. The dealer inspected the vehicle numerous times however they were unable to diagnose the failure. As of February 22, 2008, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 100 and current mileage was 22,000.
While commuting, the car stopped shifting. Took it to mechanic--they fixed a leak in the transmission fluid-- car was then shifting hard, took to transmission shop--they diagnosed two problems that caused the leak. The transmission is not effectively pushing the fluid through the system, and was very dangerous on the road when it stopped shifting.
Purchased used Mazda 262, year 2000, that happened to have original known-faulty cd4e. Car now inoperable after less than a thousand miles after leaving the lot. Occasional acceptable operation, interspersed with transmission slipping/losing gear/no power, nearly caused a rear-end accident going uphill on freeway.
Mazda 1996 626 and a Mazda 2000 626. Both 4 cyl and both automatics, and both having to have transmissions replaced. Leaves you stranded on the road, and causes bad shifts in speed before you stop going forward completely.
My 2000 Mazda 626 ls overheated on June 16, 2006. The o/d off light has been flashing when on the road for more than an hour since the fall of 2005. The transmission has not yet failed but has begun to. The car strains whenever I drive it & its lack of stability has LED to close calls with accidents whenever there's rain or snow. Every time I am on the road for more than 45 minutes, the engine heats up to the point that it boils the transmission fluid, which overflows onto the rest of the engine. After approx. 15 more minutes, the o/d off light begins to flash & my car starts to resist speeds over 60 MPH. The rpms increase when the light flashes & there's a dangerous delay in my ability to slow the car down as the car lurches. On June 19, 2006, I took the Mazda to an imports specialist who informed me that my transmission will soon fail. A new transmission costs approx. …
Engine complaints in other 626 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Mazda 626?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Mazda 626, 10% of the model year's 217 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Mazda 626 engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Mazda 626, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Mazda 626 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 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.