1997 Mazda 626 complaints

DRIVING AND CAR BEGAN TO JERK OVER TIME. EVENTUALLY, CAR HAS LEAD TO PROBLEMS GOING IN REVERSE (MUST GAS TO 4000 RPM'S TO BACK UP). *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE...*NM

REPEATED FAILURE OF CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. DATES - 11/02/2004 AND 08/29/2006. BOTH TIMES TRANSMISSION WAS RECONDITIONED BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS (MIDDLETOWN TRANSMISSION AMD MECCA TRANSMISSION, INC). *JB

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO HIGH GEAR AND HAD NO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS WORSE. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY DID A COMPLETE REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER TO THE TUNE OF $2,000. *NM

MY 1997 626 MAZDA STARTED ACTING LIKE IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND SOON AFTERWARDS, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I AM 51 YEARS OLD AND TREAT MY CARS WITH RESPECT, GETTING REGULAR CHECKUPS FROM MY MECHANIC AND DRIVING WITH CAUTION. I DO NOT ABUSE MY CAR AT ALL. THIS FAILURE CAME AS A SURPRISE TO ME. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, WE ARE SEARCHING FOR A USED TRANSMISSION. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS AUTOMOBILE AT 90,000, AND AGAIN AT 140,000 MILES. *JB

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, MEANING IT WILL NOT WORK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 1O MPH AND CROSSING OVER A METAL SEWER COVER (THREE TO FOR 4 INCHES HIGHER ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE ROAD), THE FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A COMPLETE LOSS SINCE THE PRICE TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG OUTWEIGHED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V249000, REGARDING AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1997 MAZDA 626 HAS GONE OUT AND WOULD NOT APPEAR TO BE AS A RESULT OF ANY ABUSE ON MY PART. MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE MOTOR WAS REVVING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. AFTER VISITING A MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN FT. BRAGG, NC THEY ESTIMATE THE COST TO BE APPROXIMATELY $3,600.00. AFTER CONSULTING A NATIONALLY KNOWN TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH IN THAT THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNDERSIZED FOR THE MOTORS THEY WERE ATTACHED TO. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH COUNTLESS MAZDAS I NOW KNOW AND MAZDA HAS NOT AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS AN APPARENT DESIGN PROBLEM. TO HAVE ONE OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS TRYING CHARGE AN EXORBITANT PRICE FOR REPAIRING THE DEFECT IS SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE PUBLIC WHEN ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP CAN REPAIR IT FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE MAZDAS PRICE. THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD, I UNDERSTAND, THAT NO ONE WILL INSTALL A USED TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE USED ONES ARE JUST AS BAD. YOU HAVE TO REPAIR THE ONE YOU HAVE UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE EXTORTED INTO BUYING A NEW ONE FROM A DEALERSHIP THAT IS STILL UNDERSIZED FOR ITS PRIMARY USE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MAZDA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS DOING ITS BEST TO HIDE IT. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'VE WITNESSED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FORUMS ETC.. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO BE CALLED ON THE CARPET FOR SELLING KNOWN DEFECTIVE MACHINERY. ITS AMAZING HOW MOST OF THES

TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE. *NM

I BOUGHT A USED 1997 626DX IN 2000. AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE TRANS ANY SENSE. ONE MONTH AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR I NEEDED A NEW TRANS, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE IT. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANS, I CONTINUED TO HAVE WHAT SEEM TO BE PROBLEMS, THE TRANS WOULD HESITATE OR SHIFT HARD. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT 2 OR 3 YEARS OF THESE I GAVE UP. THEN IN DEC. 2005 I BROKE DOWN DO TO A RUSTED LINE LEADING TO THE TRANS THAT COST ME $325.00. NOW I'M BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND IT WILL COST $2400.00 TO $2500.00 FOR AN OVERHAUL TRANS. THAT I DO NOT HAVE. PEOPLE TELL YOU TO KEEP UP ON THE MAINTENANCE OF YOUR VEHICLE AS I HAVE AND NOW I NEED A TRANS WITHOUT WARNING. I BELIEVE IS CRAZY. FOR A CAR TO NEED 3 TRANS IN LESS THEN 9 YRS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING TOW INTO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

(SEE COMPLAINT # 10149676) AFTER HAVING THE RIGHT FRONT CV JOINT REPLACE JUST THE DAY BEFORE, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN @ 72,650 MI. FROM A COLD START, THE CAR WAS ALLOWED TO WARM UP BEFORE BEING PUT INTO DRIVE (APPROX 5 MIN.) THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE IN 30 MPH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN, AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE SAME THING WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. FIVE MINUTES LATER I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE, AND VOILA! I'M MOVING AGAIN. ANOTHER 500 FEET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD? THE SAME THING. STANDING THERE IDLING WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE, NO REVERSE, NOTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. ESTIMATE: $1500.00 TO FIX THIS CD4E TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I HAVE DECIDED TO NOT HAVE THIS TRANSMISSION FIXED THIS TIME AND WILL TRADE THE CAR IN, AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER VALUE (BECAUSE THE DEALERS ALL KNOW THE TRACK RECORD OF THIS CD4E GEM), FOR A HONDA ACCORD. WHICH I CONSIDERED BUYING INSTEAD OF THE MAZDA 626 BACK IN LATE JUNE OF 2000. MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD LIABLE FOR MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES, LOST TIME AND WAGES, AND AGGRAVATION ON THE BASIS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FRAUDULENT. SIGNED, FORMER MAZDA CUSTOMER. *NM

FIRST INCIDENT: 9/2/04: HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT AFTER IT FAILED ON @ 61,360 MILES. REPLACED MASTER O/H KIT, TORQUE CONVERTER, DIRECT HOUSING, SHIFT KIT, HUB, CHAIN, BAND, OIL FILTER, OIL. $ 2,062.70. *NM

CAR IS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS HIGHWAY/ CITY. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP THE OD OFF LAMP BLINKS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY, WHEN STARTING FROM A LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AT ABOUT 4000 RPM AND SEEMS TO GO DIRECTLY INTO 3RD. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED, NOW THE CAR IS JUST SITTING UNTIL WE CAN GET IT FIXED, THEY JUST TOO MUCH MONEY AT THIS TIME. *NM

I NOTICED MY CAR SHAKING AT IDLE AND WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK. I ALSO NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR SO I TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT RIGHT AWAY. ON THE WAY TO THE SERVICE STATION IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. ALL SYMPTOMS I HAVE HEARD ON THIS SITE, BUT NO DEALER EVER TOLD ME OF ANY PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR IS NOT WORTH THE PRICE OF A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT.*AK

I BOUGHT A MAZDA 626 BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. AFTER A YEAH I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER 3 TIMES BECAUSE I FELT SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANNY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WITH THE CAR. AT 95K MILE MY TRANNY WENT AND I CALLED THE MAZDA, THEY TOLD ME IM LUCKY TO HAVE IT FOR THAT LONG. THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE ITS A PROBLEM THAT I CAUSED. THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK THE RECORD TO THE DEALER OR HAVE IT CHECKED. *NM

CAR RPM'S ARE HIGH ON START, CAR IDLES ROUGH, OVER DRIVE LIGHT BLINKS, CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WHEN OD LIGHT BLINKS CAR CANNOT CHANGE GEARS CORRECTLY AND MAKES IT DANGEROUS ON TURNS. HAD CLOSE CALLS ALMOST BEING HIT, AS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE ALL SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, HAD A REBUILT ENGINE OUT IN AS OLD ONE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO A SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT BREAKING. NEW 02 SENSORS, AND MAF. CURRENT ISSUES ARE WITH THE OD LIGHT BLINKING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO HESITATE AND STALL. TURNING CAR OFF AND ON SEEMS TO FIX IT FOR A WHILE, THEN PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER A FEW HOURS. SEEMS TO BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM OR SOMETHING, ALSO THERE IS A WHINING NOISE WHEN RPM'S ARE OVER 4000. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I HAVE READ HOW MAZDA REFUSES TO ADMIT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THEY HAVE. *JB

97 MAZDA 626 LX TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME COMPLETELY (CD4E). *JB

I BOUGHT A NEW 1997 MAZDA 626 IN OCTOBER OF 1996. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 60,000 MILES, SO I SPENT $1800 ON A NEW ONE. THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR, SO I HAD THAT REPAIRED. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AGAIN. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT THREE TIMES. SEVERAL MECHANICS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT AGREED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS (OVER 70 MPH) THE O/D LIGHT BEGINS TO BLINK AND THE ENGINE REVS AN EXTRA 400 RPMS WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAME SPEED. WHEN DRIVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARSHLY. TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS READY TO GIVE UP AND REPLACING IT WILL COST ME $3400. MAZDA NEEDS TO REMEDIED THIS ISSUE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM TURNS DEADLY. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF. THEN, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OVER 40 MPH, AND THE RPMS INCREASED TO 6,000. HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND WAIT FOR THE RPMS TO GO DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS TOO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC , WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

1997 MAZDA 626 LX 4 DR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *NM

OD LIGHT BLINKING ON 1997 MAZDA 626 LX. TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION? *JB

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 57000 MILES BACK IN 2004. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED I HAD TO SPEND $2200 OUT OF MY POCKET. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE NOW AND HAVE NOTICED THAT 1000'S OF THESE 1997 MAZDA 626 CARS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHY HASN'T THE NHTSA FORCED MAZDA TO ISSUE A RECALL OR AT LEAST HAVE THEM REIMBURSE CAR OWNERS? *NM

CAR CANNOT PASS SMOG TEST - #10 TEST BOX DOES NOT EXIST. AFTER SPENDING $1300, IT'S BEEN FOUND REPEATED THAT 1997 CAR CONTAINS 1998 PARTS. #10 TIMING/GROUND DOESN'T EXIST ON 1998 BUT NO PROCEDURE TO SMOG WITHOUT IT. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS PASSED. SMOG REFEREE BELIEVES CAR WAS MANUFACTURED THIS WAY BUT POSSIBLE DEALERSHIP ALTERED BUT THEY, OF COURSE, DENY THIS AND STATE THEY WERE ABLE TO SMOG CAR WHEN THEY SOLD TO US (SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SMOG THE CAR, IT OBVIOUSLY WAS PASSED ILLEGALLY BY THEM). NOW WE ARE OUT $1300 REPAIRS, $12,000 FOR COST OF CAR, $75 FOR REGISTRATION THAT THE STATE WON'T GIVE US A STICKER FOR, AND NO USE OF A CAR THAT SITS ON THE STREET. ONLY WAY TO SMOG IS TO SPEND $2500 TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS TO MAKE IT ALL 1997. CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THAT ON TOP OF WHAT WAS ALREADY SPENT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO COME FORWARD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MESS. IT'S BAD ENOUGH THE CAR CONSTANTLY STALLS. (AND YES, THE MOTOR LIGHT IS ALWAYS FLASHING. IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, JUST A BEZERK SENSOR-AFTER PAYING $120 4-TIMES TO HAVE IT TURNED OFF, WE JUST PUT MASKING TAPE OVER THE ANNOYING SPOT). *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE O/D ON LIGHT FLASHING, CAR FAILS TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR, 2ND FAILURE OF THIS NATURE TRANS WAS REBUILT. *NM

1997 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM

DECEMBER 2004-JANUARY 2005- 1. CAR OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY 2. THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED THE CAR AND CAUSED COMPLICATIONS WITH THE WATER PUMP, COMPUTER 3. REPLACED ALL ITEMS; TRANSMISSION REBUILT COST TO FIX $3200.00 COULDN'T AFFORD TO JUST JUNK THE CAR, AS I HAD PURCHASED IT FOR $5200 THE SUMMER BEFORE. SO I HAD TO FIX IT. WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING THE CAR BACK, IT BLEW A RADIATOR HOSE. *JB

BRAND NEW SET OF 4 TIRES, FR440 (DOT NO.HYRC4FB4703) P195/65R14 PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE IN MAY 2005. CHECKED AIR AND ADJUSTED AFTER 100 MILES AS ADVISED, AND MONTHLY THEREAFTER. JULY 13TH, 3000 MILES LATER, FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE BLEW, WHILE DOING 70 MPH AT 6AM (NOT HOT ENOUGH FOR TIRES TO BE TOO HOT, ONLY ON ROAD FOR APPROX. 7 MINUTES WHEN IT HAPPENED). GOLF BALL SIZE HOLES IN A PATTERN BLOWN OUT HALF WAY AROUND THE TIRE ON THE SIDEWALL, AND CAN SEE THE PATTERN CONTINUING THE REST OF THE WAY. FIRESTONE REPLACED TIRE FOR $9 DUE TO MY ROAD HAZARD PURCHASE, BUT WOULDN'T COVER THE COST TO GET A NEW WHEEL, CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR, AXLE, STRUT & STRUT MOUNT. $500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY 97 MAZDA 626LX; COULD'VE BEEN MORE, BUT A FRIEND, MY BOYFRIEND & MYSELF DID ALL OF THE WORK. A SHOP WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE COSTLY. FIRESTONE TENNESSEE OFFICE "INVESTIGATED" AND BLAMED IT ON: "OUR INSPECTION SHOWED DEFORMATION AND RIM FLANGE GROOVING...WE DID OBSERVE SIGNS THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR AN UNKOWN PERIOD OF TIME IN AN OVER-DEFLECTED STATE CAUSING THE DETACHMENT YOU EXPERIENCED." THE FIRST SHOP WE TOOK IT TO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT ADVISED US THAT IT WAS A FAULTY TIRE AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'D SELL US A NEW TIRE, TO TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AS THE SELLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE; THAT IF IT WAS THEIR TIRE, THEY'D REPLACE THE TIRE, WHEEL & PAY FOR ANY OTHER DAMAGE AS A RESULT. WISHED I HAD BOUGHT MY TIRES FROM THEM. *NM

WELL FIRST OFF I WAS DRIVING AND MY SPEED STARTED TO DROP SO NATURALLY I PRESSED THE GAS HARDER AND HARDER AND THE RPMS JUST KEPT SHOOTING UP AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO AND MY ENGINE WAS ROARING LIKE A MUSTANG TRYING TO RACE SOMEONE. SO MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT IN THE DASH STARTING BLINKING ON AND OFF AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SCREWY SO I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND RESTARTED MY CAR. MY CAR WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS THE RPM NEEDLE WOULD JUST SHOOT UP AS IF I HAD MY CAR IN PARK. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED ALL OVER TOWN, TO FIND THE BEST QUALITY SERVICE ON A NEW TRANSMISSION I LEARNED THAT 626S' HAVE THE WORST TRANSMISSIONS EVER!!! IT COST ME $2,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I THINK I DESERVE TO BE REIMBURSED, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

1) PURCHASED A USED '97 MAZDA 626 DX, WITH 115000+ MILES ON IT, SUPPOSEDLY IN DECENT CONDITION. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW FUEL PUMP, SO WASN'T IN ANY KIND OF ROAD USE UNTIL REPLACEMENT. AFTER REPLACING, THE CAR SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT HAD ODD 'JUMPS' FORWARD IN LOW SPEEDS AND STOPS (MAKING ME BELIEVE I WOULD RUN STOP SIGNS). THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED THIS LEMON BACK. 2) AFTER HAVING THE CAR 8WKS, & ONLY TESTING IT AROUND THE BLOCK UNTIL ALL TESTS COMPLETED ON THE FUEL SYSTEM, IT BEGAN TO STEAM & MAKE POPPING NOISES DRIVING <400 YARDS AT <20MPH. AFTER TIME, THE NOISES GOT LOUDER, THE STEAM MORE WIDESPREAD, AND WHEN THE GAS WAS PRESSED THERE WAS NOTICABLE LACK OF POWER FOR LONG SECONDS. RADIATOR WAS SUSPECTED DUE TO THE STEAM AND POWER ISSUES. DURING 1 TEST WHILE BRAKING IT JUMPED/LURCHED SIDEWAYS INTO A WEAK BRICK WALL. 3) WE ARE MILITARY MECHANICS, & WE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE FUEL/TRANSMISSION/OIL SYSTEMS BY MAZDA'S OWN BOOK. WE EVEN REMOVED THE ENGINE, COMPLETELY CLEANED THE OLD GUNK OUT, & REFILLED FLUID WITH ONLY THE FINEST FLUIDS & CLEANSERS, REPLACING ENTIRE SECTIONS OF THE ENGINE WITH NEW PARTS, & STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. PER MAZDA, THEY KEPT DIAGNOSING ANYTHING FROM SENSORS/COMPUTER/REGULATORS/HOSES/FUEL SYSTEM ISSUES. EXTENSIVE SEARCHES ON-LINE TURNED UP A HORRIFYING LIST OF 100'S OF WEBSITES THAT ALL BLASTED FORD'S BUYING OF MAZDA & RESULTANT LOWERING OF QUALITY. ALL SITES REPORTED TRANSMISSION ISSUES, SIMILAR 'DIAGNOSIS' FROM BAD MAZDA DEALERSHIPS, & THE END RES

LEMON - THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. EVERYTHING FROM TRANSMISSION TO COMPUTER TO TIMING BELTS TO POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES I HAD IT FIXED AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY AND SINCE THEN I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. LAST YEAR IT WAS THE RADIATOR I GUESS THINGS WEAR OUT BUT IT TOOK MAZDA 2 TRIES TO FIX IT. THIS YEAR I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE IDOL AIR CONTROL VALVE AND THE POWER STEERING SOMETHING OR OTHER. THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE SOMETHING I'VE EXPERIENCED BEFORE. AFTER REPLACING THE IDOL AIR CONTROL VALVE IT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 3500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TRYING TO FIX IT. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND I FEEL REALLY BAD NOW BECAUSE AFTER 3 TRIES THEY STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY STILL HAVE THE CAR AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED NOT TO MENTION IT'S COST A LOT MORE THAN I EXPECTED TO FIX. *NM

DT: CALLER WAS DRIVING HER CAR AND ENGINE STALED AT SPEEDS 20, 25, 35, 45 OR 55 MPH. CAR RAN GOOD FOR A WHILE THEN IT JUST STALLED WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. . NUMEROUS TIMES CALLER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT IT IS STILL DID NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK

1)NEW CAR PURCHASE AUG 1997 - 5 MILES;2)TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FEB 1999~38,000 MILES;3)TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT DEC 1999~57000 MILES;4)INFORMED AT 130K MILES THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ( WITH EACH TRANSMISSION CLEARLY HAVING LESS THAN AN AVERAGE OF 60,000 MILES ON IT. IN EACH CASE MY O/D LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, IMMEDIATELY SENDING A SIGNAL TO TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I SENT FORMAL COMPLAINTS TO MAZDA, THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE HAVE SENT COMPLAINTS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. I HAVE LEARNED OF TSB # 0500502 (WHICH YOU DO NOT SHOW ON YOUR SITE). YESTERDAY (07/25/2005) I LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND TODAY I LEARNED OF NHTSA. SINCE THERE ARE NO SET NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS NEEDED BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED AND CONSIDERING THE SEVERITY OF THIS ISSUE, WHY WAS A RECALL NOT ISSUED? I SENT A COMPLAINT LETTER TO TOWN NORTH MAZDA (DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE) WHILE LOOKING FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITIES, I RAN ACROSS THIS ARTICLE AND AM OUT DONE BY THE BLATANT DISLOYALTY AND FAILURE ON THE PART OF MAZDA/FORD MOTORS TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS VIA RECALL OR SOME OTHER MEANS. HTTP://WWW.ESTREETJOURNAL.COM/MAZDA.HTM

IN FEB. 2005 I PURCHASED A 97 MAZDA 626 WITH 74000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT STARTED IDLING AT 500-2500 RPMS AND HAD TROUBLE SWITCHING GEARS. AROUND 75 MPH IT WOULD CUT OUT AND DROP TO 60 MPH BEFORE JERKING BACK INTO GEAR. LAST MONTH MY O/D OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTING LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAD THAT FIXED, HAD A NEW O2 SENSOR PUT IN, AND MY O/D OFF LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON. NOW MY OVERDRIVE DOESNT WORK AT ALL AND I HAVE TROUBLE SWITCHING IT OUT OF LOW GEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AFTER ALREADY PUTTING A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY INTO REPAIRS. I HAVE 84000 MILES ON IT RIGHT NOW, AND AFTER SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, AM OUTRAGED THAT MAZDA IS DOING NOTHING AS FAR AS A RECALL.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 97 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AFTER APPROX 15000 MILES.

I WOULD LIKE TO E-MAIL YOUR COMPANY AN EXPRESS MY DISPLEASURE IN MY 1997 MAZDA 626. MY CAR HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE 48,000 MILES AND MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX A PROBLEM THEY DON'T SEE. {IE: THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BOILED OVER AND OUT A BREATHER TUBE.} WELL THAT BEING SAID I NOW HAVE 62,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING MORE THAN EVER. NOW IT SEEMS TO ME WITH ALL THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRANSMISSION YOU SHOULD RECALL AND OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS FREE OF CHARGE AS I''VE NEVER DONE ANY THING TO RUIN THIS TRANSMISSION. AND 2500.00 DOLLARS IS A BIG CHUCK OF CHANGE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU, BRAD LORENZ

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE, AT 91K AND AT 120K. BOTH TIMES THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME, AND VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE OF OTHER 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURES; JERKY SHIFTING, SHAKING AT IDLE, LOSS OF CERTAIN GEARS, ETC.

WIFE WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON TURNPIKE WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WAS NO BLINKING LIGHTS, NO NOISE, NO ANYTHING TO ALERT HER THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. IT JUST QUIT. ADDITIONALLY, SHE WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED REAR-END COLLISION. LUCKILY, THE INDIVIDUAL BEHIND HER SWERVED AND MISSED HER CAR. SHE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE SHE WAS, AGAIN, NEARLY HIT. ONCE STOPPED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO DO ANYTHING IN ANY GEAR. I HAD TO TRAVEL OVER AN HOUR TO GET HER. IT WAS 97 DEGREES AND SHE WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITHOUT ANY SHELTER EXCEPT FOR HER CRIPPLED VEHICLE. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED, SHE HAD BEEN IN THE HEAT LONG ENOUGH TO START EXPERIENCE MUSCLE CRAMPS FROM ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET SOMEONE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE ISSUES? IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT, MAZDA WOULD HAVE HAD A LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS. IS THIS WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE? SOMEONE JUST NEEDS TO "COWBOY UP" AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ADDITIONALLY, I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT IT WILL COST ABOUT $2000.00 TO FIX. THIS IS WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT SUPPOSEDLY HAS NEW PARTS AND SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO SUDDEN FAILURE LIKE THE OEM TRANSMISSIONS (PER THE TRANSMISSION SUPPLIER).

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM A WEEK AFTER I BOUGH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WAS REBUIT OVER 5 TIMES WITHIN 10K MILES.

VILOENT JERKS AND STALLING OF THE TRANSMISSION. O/D LIGHT FLASHES AFTER DRIVING FOR 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALSO AS A RESULT.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 80000 MILES . THE MOTOR MOUNTS , WATER PUMP,OXYGEN SENSOR , CATALYTIC CONVERTER , GOT SPOILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING

I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR (2002). I HAVE SINCE HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN. THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING OFF AND ON AGAIN AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT ALSO SHIFTS ROUGHLY.

DT: THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD KEEPS BLINKING. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ELECTRICAL. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS A SENSOR THAT NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE CAR OUT OF POCKET. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING A MONTH.*AK

A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGTH THIS CAR WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE'VE REPLACED TWO O2 SENSORS ($300.00 EACH) AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER VALVE ($450.00). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, STATING PROBLEM INSIDE TRANSMISSIONS. NOW OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND BLINKS WHEN IT COMES ON AND STARTS TO BLINK THIS MEANS THE TRANSMISSION IS MELTING AND YOUR CAR WILL QUIT ON YOU WHILE YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ALSO, WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS THE RPM'S TOP OUT BUT THE SPEED DOESN'T INCREASE. I HAD THE GAS PEDEL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. HOPEFULLY, THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WILL BE RESOLVED BY YOU, SINCE MAZDA SEE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BUILDING CARS THAT CAN POSSIBLY HURT OR KILL SOMEONE.

I OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 ES V6. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ABOUT 68000 MILES, AND NOW, AT ALMOST 200K MILES, ANOTHER IS HAVING PROBLEMS. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM, AS I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF WEBSITES WITH LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION I WAS TOLD DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. ACCORDING TO EACH OF THESE WEBSITES DISCUSSED ABOVE, THIS IS ONE OF THE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING NOW IS ANOTHER APPARENTLY COMMON ISSUE. THE O/D LIGHT WILL BLINK ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY, AND THE CAR WILL SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR WITH THREE OF OUR CHILDREN DAILY, THEREFORE, THE PROBLEMS DEEPLY CONCERN ME, SINCE SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THESE SITES INVOLVE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE NHTSA, THE REP INFORMED ME 335 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED REGARDING THIS VEHICLE, WITH MANY OF THEM FOR THE SAME REASON. ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED SITES HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MAZDA THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT MAZDA'S, BUT THE CONSUMERS. ACCORDING TO MOST OF MY RESEARCH, ALL 626 MODELS FROM 1994 TO 2000 ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION, AND BEING THIS IS A FORD TRANSMISSION, THE FORD PROBES OF CORRESPONDING YEARS ARE AFFECTED AS WELL. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE OLD TRANSMISSION IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE WERE AS FOLLOWS: I MISSED FOUR D

REPEATED TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEMS /AXLES TOO. *AK

MAZDA PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 90000. O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS. POOR PLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION FILTER. THIS TRANSMISSION IS MANUFACTURED I BELIEVE FROM 95-2000 AND MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE AROSE THROUGHOUT ALL PRODUCTION YEARS. ALL OVER THE INTERNET INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION BEING FILED IN MICHIGAN. I THINK IT SHOULD BE NATIONALLY FILED. DEALERSHIPS ARE NON RESPONSIVE. *AK