The Lemon Index
200020025th generation
Avoid · most complaints: transmission & drivetrain
Better years to buy
62 owner complaints, first 3 years 20–25 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2001 Mercury Cougar 1312001 Honda Insight2001 Hyundai Tiburon
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 30,000 and 60,000 miles (48,000–97,000 km) (the middle half of the 37 complaints, of all 62 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K miles (97K km) Right in the range where most owners reported problems.
- At 100K and 150K miles (161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 05E065000 (fuel system, gasoline) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Mazda sent dealers 97 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mazda's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 62 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 60K miles (48K to 97K km) on the car (37 of all 62 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Mazda 626lx transmission went three times and the car is only 3 years oldmobile.
2001 Mazda 626 owner · NHTSA complaint 10064020
More owner reports
2001 Mazda 626 transmission overdrive not working, broke at 60 mph on interstate with only 40,000 miles on vehicle and had to pull over in a hurry possibly causing an accident.
NHTSA complaint 10082482
Consumer has been experiencing problems with transmission. Owner took vehicle to dealer for repairs several times, only to have a rebuilt transmission installed at 5000 miles , and it is worse than the original transmission.
NHTSA complaint 10029747
Problems Mazda told dealers about
Mazda sent dealers 97 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers
- Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2005
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…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★☆☆ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,400–$3,750 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 6-cyl.
Every Mazda 626 year. 2001 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2001 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mazda-626/?y=2001" title="Mazda 626 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mazda-626/2001/">Lemon Index</a> (2001 Mazda 626 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2001 Mazda 626 reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew about twice the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 212; 100 is average, lower is better). The Mazda 626 year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2000.
What are the most common 2001 Mazda 626 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (56%), engine (18%) and airbags (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2001 Mazda 626 have?
1 safety recall (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2001 Mazda 626 get?
20 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2001 Mazda 626 problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 30,000 and 60,000 miles (48,000–97,000 km) (the middle half of the 37 complaints, of all 62 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K miles, a 2001 is right in the range where most owners reported problems. At 100K and 150K miles, a 2001 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2001 Mazda 626 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 56% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2001 Mazda 626 cost in fuel a year?
About $2,400 to $3,750 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2001 Mazda 626 have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 6-cyl.
What Mazda 626 year is better than the 2001?
Nearby, the 2000 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about average).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works