Mazda›626›1989›Overview/mazda/626/1989/base/

1989 Mazda 626

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 626.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

Equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission delivering EPA fuel economy ratings of 19/26/22 mpg, the 1989 Mazda 626 documents 48 total owner complaints with seat belts identified as the top complaint area alongside two recalls. This model year precedes the broader complaint history covering 1990 to 2003, a period where reported issues fluctuated from a low of 9 in 2003 to a peak of 518 in 1995. Consequently, the 1989 variant sits well below the 1995 high in complaint volume, distinguishing it from the later surge in ownership issues documented in the model's history.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	179.5 in
Overall width	66.5 in
Overall height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	101.6 in
Curb weight	2579 lb
Track (front / rear)	58.3 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 26 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	100 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 626 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 1988 4WS Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1988	4WS Sedan 2.2L Turbo I-4	7.20 sec	15.90 sec	145 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	DEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1989 Mazda 626's federal record shows its heaviest complaint concentration in Seat Belts (12), Power Train (11), Engine & Engine Cooling (6), and Structure (5), with 4 crash-related and 1 fire-related complaint — but notably, 1989 is the earliest model year and does not appear in the generation's year-by-year federal tally that begins at 1990, where 55 complaints and 2 recalls were logged. The broader trend across this generation reveals a sharp escalation: complaints climb from 95 in 1991 to a peak of 518 in 1995, with recalls peaking at 6 in 1998 and TSBs ballooning to 106 that same year, before tapering off dramatically to just 9 complaints and no recalls by 2003. This arc places the 1989 model at the very start of the generation, before the steep mid-1990s surge in complaints and recalls that characterized the bulk of the platform's reported issues, suggesting it pre-dates the worst of the documented reliability deterioration. However, the 12 seat belt complaints are a non-trivial safety concern and warrant inspection of those specific components regardless of the vehicle's age position. Bottom line: 1989 is arguably a more defensible choice than a 1994-1998 example, but a pre-purchase inspection should specifically verify seat belt function, power train condition, and cooling system integrity before buying.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 48 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts12

Power Train11

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Structure5

Vehicle Speed Control3

Tires2

Exterior Lighting2

Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93E035000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:DrumReported 13/10/1993

THE GROOVE FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RETAINER RING WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED. Remedy: MIDAS SHOPS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS WITH OTHER BRAKE DRUMS FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER.

93V174000Structure:Body:DoorReported 29/10/1993

RESIN MOLDED FRONT HANDLES FAIL AT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATING ROD ATTACHMENT, FREEING THE ROD TO FALL INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. SUBSEQUENT LOWERING OF THE ASSOCIATED WINDOW MAY FORCE THE ACTUATING ROD DOWNWARD AND RELEASE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE/LATCH ASSEMBLY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
97102302097	1997-10-23	Structure	PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC
008/97	1997-05-19	Equipment	USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW
007/97T	1997-04-25	Air Bags	PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW
001/97G	1997-04-08	Electrical System	MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW
003/97G	1997-01-19	Electrical System	WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 626. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1989 626 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 626 get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.