The oil pressure sending unit gave out at 310,000 km.
The dimmer for the dash lights wore out at 260,000 km.
The plastic on the drivers seat above the tilt handle broke and badly cut my finger at 305,000 km. This was by far the worst thing that went wrong with car during the 9.5 years my family owned it.
I was the fourth owner of this car, the third person in my family to own it, and if my knees still worked properly I would still be driving it. We put on almost 200,000 km on this car with almost no problems and almost no maintenace except brakes twice and new tires twice. The 83hp engine was not the fastest, but it would get up to 125 mph after awhile and was very comfortable at speed. One of the last trips I took I was cruising at about 115 mph for close to three hours and still got 27mpg in it. I traded it for a '90 929 three months ago and really do miss my 626, it was the best car I have ever driven. I would trade the A/C, power windows, locks, seat, sunroof, heated power mirrors and all the other luxury features of my 929 to be able to drive that 626 again.
Yes, the Mazda 626 was Motor Trend's 1983 Import Car of the Year, but let's not forget what car won MT's Car of the Year that same year: the unlamented AMC-Renault Alliance!
Just goes to show how awful domestic cars were then.
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