Mazda6261997Overview/mazda/626/1997/base/

1997 Mazda 626

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 626.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1997 Mazda 626, a passenger car, recorded 379 owner complaints during its time on the road, with the power train emerging as the most problematic area and prompting four recalls. This places the model year well below the trouble peak of 1995 (518 complaints) but far above the refined 2003 model (just 9 complaints), marking it as a mid-generation year with notable but not extreme reliability concerns.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951994

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter B6Y114302A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterB6Y114302A
Engine air filterFS1113Z40
Fuel filterFS1120490B alt FS5620490B
Spark plug000018F287 alt 000018BP01
Front wiper bladesKA8167330A
Serpentine beltFS1218381A alt KL1118381B
ThermostatKL0115171A9U

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.6 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight2743 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in

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.

7.3–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 1993 ES Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1996ES Sedan 2.5L V67.70 sec16.00 sec164 hpFWD
1993ES Sedan 2.5L V67.30 sec15.80 sec164 hpFWD
1993ES Sedan 2.5L V68.30 sec16.40 sec164 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering FluidDEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts116-123 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 720, AT: 770 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-17 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap0.049-0.053 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.54 lbs

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance12-16 ohms
Engine Compression119-171 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket25-29 ft-lbs / 66 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle42 ft-lbs / 65-87 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.945 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in / 0.945 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.354 in / 0.897 in

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; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Frame Fasteners (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)

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 1997 Mazda 626 falls within the high-complaint peak of this generation, which escalated from 55 complaints in 1990 to a maximum of 518 in 1995 before moderating. With 379 complaints, 4 recalls, and notably 84 TSBs—the second-highest count in the dataset—the 1997 model year sits at the tail end of a sustained problem period that continued into 1998 (438 complaints, 6 recalls, 106 TSBs). Power Train issues dominate the complaint profile at 200 of 379 total, dwarfing Air Bags (33), Engine & Engine Cooling (26), and Electrical System (20), while 17 crash complaints and 8 fire complaints indicate secondary safety concerns. The data does not specify a root cause for the Power Train concentration. Compared to the dramatic complaint decline after 1999 (322 → 9 by 2003), the 1997 sits squarely in the troubled middle of this generation's lifecycle. Concrete takeaway: the 1997 is not an isolated problem year but rather one of several high-complaint years in a troubled generation; a thorough pre-purchase inspection emphasizing the Power Train should be non-negotiable, and buyers should budget for potential repairs on known issues.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
84
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
379
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 8 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 379 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train200
Air Bags33
Engine & Engine Cooling26
Electrical System20
Power Train,Equipment8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
Steering6
Unknown Or Other6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V674000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 19/10/2015

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center…

05E065000Fuel System, GasolineReported 05/10/2005

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… Remedy: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 84 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
01-006-21-3779a2021-08-24Electrical SystemThis service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper…
09-025-21-38242021-08-17EquipmentThis service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the driver’s…
01-005-21-37782021-02-08Electrical SystemThe Mazda DCA-8000PM is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda…
01-006-21-37792021-02-08Electrical SystemThis service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper…
09-002-21-37702021-01-21Vehicle Speed ControlIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…

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.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1997 626 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.