Mazda›626›1991›Overview/mazda/626/1991/base/

1991 Mazda 626

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 626.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Mazda 626, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 17 city, 23 highway, and 19 combined mpg, is a model that researchers will find notable for its reliability record: with 95 total owner complaints and two recalls, its most frequent issue area being seat belts, this year falls early in the model’s 1990–2003 complaint history, where the highest count was 518 in 1995, indicating that the 1991 sits at a relatively low point in the model's long-term dependability narrative.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1991

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy17/23/19 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	54.3 in
Wheelbase	101.6 in
Curb weight	2679 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	17 / 23 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	100 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium 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 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

Federal data for the 1991 Mazda 626 records 95 complaints, 2 recalls, 2 investigations, and 2 TSBs, nearly double the 55 complaints filed in 1990 yet a fraction of the 180 seen in 1993 and the subsequent climb that peaks at 518 complaints by 1995. Although 1991 marks a local high relative to 1992—which falls to 22 complaints, 1 recall, and 0 investigations—it sits at the low-activity end of an arc that escalates sharply from 1993 onward, placing it before the steep upward trend that defines the mid-to-late 1990s in this record. The 1991 docket is led by 34 seat-belt complaints, followed by 13 service-brake complaints, 10 powertrain complaints, and 8 engine-cooling complaints, alongside 4 crash complaints and 0 fire complaints. Because its complaint and recall counts remain modest against the surge documented in later years, the 1991 model occupies a relatively calm position in the timeline. That lower federal-complaint density makes it a comparatively favorable year to buy within this dataset, contingent on verifying the condition of the seat-belt and brake systems.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 0 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 95 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts34

Service Brakes, Hydraulic13

Power Train10

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Latches/Locks/Linkages5

Vehicle Speed Control4

Visibility4

Suspension4

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 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
0102504	2004-07-21	Electrical System	BATTERY TEST PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS. *TT
0902604	2004-07-01	Equipment	SPEEDOMETER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT

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 1991 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 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.