1997 Mazda 626 complaints

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TIRES WOULD SPIN BUT THE VEHICLEWOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER CALLED EVERY SALVAGE AND JUNK YARD BUT NO ONE HAD THE TRANSMISSION. *BF *NM

I HAVE FAILED 2 TIMES TRYING TO TYPE THIS LETTER OF COMPLAINT. WELL,I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYLINDER,2 LITER ENGINE SEDAN.,THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THEW TIME NOW. FIRST TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO GRANGER IN GARDEN CITY,GA AND THEY SENT IT TO FAIRWAY FORDMAZDA IN ABERCORN ST IN SAVANNAH,GA. THEY KEPT IT ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED OFF ABOUT 2 YEARS. THEN IT STARTED COMING BACK ON IN FEBRUARY 2005,SO I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC HERE IN POOLER,GA.HE CLEARED THE SENSORS,LASTED ABOUT 1/2 DAY,TOOL\K IT BACK,HE SAID IT WAS NUMBER 2 SENSOR,REPLACED IT,LASTED ABOUT A DAY AND NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NUMBER 2 SENSOR WAS WHAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME. I;M ALSO EXPERCING SOME JERKY MOTION IN THIS CAR AND IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAULTY PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS,LIKE RECALL THEM AND REPAIR THEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. [email protected]. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA, THAT I BAUGHT FROM MY FRIEND IN 2001. IT HAD A TRANSMISSION BREAKDOWN WHEN AT HAD AROUND 30K MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW IT HAS 112K MILES ON IT AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS. I WAS SEARCHING ON THE WEB TO GET SOME CLUE ON THE PROBLEM AND I FOUND PLENTY OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPLACING THEIR TRANSMISSION WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. MY BELEIF IS THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE. IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE COMPANY AND NOT COST THE OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SO FAR NOTHING DANGEROUS HAS HAPPENED BUT IT SHOULD BE FIXED BEFORE SOME THING HAPPENS.*AK

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 MAZDA 626. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO MAZDA CORP. AND NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AUG. 2002, A GA MAZDA DEALER ADMITTED THAT MAZDA IS AWARE THAT THE THIS YEAR MAKE & MODEL HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DUE TO THIS ADMISSION MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND I SPLIT THE COST 50/50 WITH THE DEALER. NOW TWO PLUS YEARS LATER, I AM TOLD TODAY BY A CA MAZDA DEALER THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AGAIN. THE CA MAZDA DELAER ALSO ADMITS THAT THIS YEAR MAKE & MODEL HAS A KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, BUT WARRANTS THAT TECHNICALLY IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEALER TO OFFER SUCH INFORMATION...BUT ONLY TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT HAND. THEY STATED THEY WERE BEING NICE BY TELLING ME TO NOT PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THE CAR BECAUSE IT WILL PROBABLY ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX AND I MAY EXPERIENCE ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE LATER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT A MAJOR US CAR MANUFACTURER CAN GET AWAY WITH SELLING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE FOR THIS MANY YEARS. PY PERUSING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS, AND DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THAT MAZDA 626'S RANGING FROM 1994-2000 HAVE KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. YET MAZDA DEALERS & CAR LOTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STILL ABLE TO SELL THESE CARS. IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER, AND IT IS NOT FAIR TO THOSE WHO VALUE AND DEPEND ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO DELIVER SAFE AND WELL ENGINEERED CARS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE!!*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE,MOTOR MOUNT FAILURES,OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. BRAKE LINE FAILURE. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY MAZDA 626 USED FROM A DEALERSHIP I HAVE HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES. MAZDA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE KIND OF CARS THEY PUT OUT ON THE ROAD.

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING EITHER BY OVERHEATING OR BAD TRANSMISSION BY MAZDA, AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 119,000 MILES ON IT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN ARE THEY RECALL ALL THE 626'S AND FIX THE PROBLEM, OR I'LL SUE THE COMPANY. THIS IS SO UNFAIR THAT THEY STOP MAKING 626'S, FOR WHAT REASON.*AK

O/D LIGHT FLASHING, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING, VERY HARD SHIFTING WHEN IN O/D ON MODE FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON 1997, MAZDA 626-THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRANSMISSION IN FOUR YEARS. *AK

97 MAZDA 626 AT THE LOCAL MAZDA/DODGE DEALER IN JUPITER FL JUST QUOTED ME $3200 TO PUT IN AN ALREADY REBUILT TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THEY DO NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSIONS AND THE ONE I CURRENTLY HAVE IS GONE. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE WEB THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM BETWEEN MAZDA & THE TRANSMISSION THAT FORD INSTALLS FOR THE 626 A CD4E. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE EARLY ON AND EVEN THE DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN IT OFF. MY WIFE AND ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS OF THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT MAZDA MUST ADDRESS WITH THE LONG LIST OF 626 OWNERS AND THEIR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 MAZDA 626 WHEN SHE HIT A POTHOLE AT 19TH AND SPRING GARDEN STS IN PHILA., PA. BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF, BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD. HER NECK WAS A LITTLE RED AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS SOUGHT. WE FOUND A SMALL DENT IN THE RIM, BUT THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. SHE DROVE THE CAR TO A PLACE WHERE SHE COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. I FOUND THAT 97 MAZDA 626'S WERE RECALLED. I HAD A DEALER CHECK OUR VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR THE RECALL. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AAA MIDATLANTIC IS CALLING THIS A CHARGEABLE ACCIDENT AND RAISING OUR RATES 40%. I FEEL THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE AT NO MORE THAN 25 MPH THAT DID NO REAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. LUCKILY, SHE WAS NOT HURT, BUT WAS CERTAINLY SCARED TO DEATH WHEN IT WENT OFF.*AK

I JUST BOUGHT A 1997 MAZDA 626 IT HAS ABOUT 97,000 MILES ON IT AND MY TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY FAILING. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE TRANSMISSION SKIPS. THE MECHANIC SAYS ITS A SENSOR BUT ITS NOT. IT'S ALSO LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID.

THE VEHICLE SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE NO RECALLS FOUND. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE RPMS SHOT UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILING. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED . PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *NM

TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING ALL THE TIME. HAD THE TRANSMISSION SEAL REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL LEAKING. LEAK IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION (LOOSE BEARING), I WAS TOLD. IT SOUNDS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AT 75K MILES. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS LIKELY TO GO OUT. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.*AK

IN JUNE OF 2000 I WAS VISITING FAMILY IN DETROIT. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THEY GOT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM MAZDA, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TRANSMISSION. TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER MY O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF, AND THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MY THIRD TRANSMISSION, AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE 1999.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION ACTS UP SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT GOES INTO HIGH RPM AND THEN JERKS INTO 2ND GEAR. AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THE O/D (OVERDRIVE) LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH AND IT ONLY TURNS OFF IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. A MECHANIC HAS LOOKED AT IT AND SAYS THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION ACTING INCONSISTENTLY.*AK

ENGINE IS STALLING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SIMILAR FAILURE RECALL DESCRIPTION OF MAZDA 97, HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/1997/49/MAZDA/626/RECALLS/12919.HTML) REPORTED. AND DEALER(TELE. NO. 972 298 0333) REFUSED TO FIX. *NM

THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED FOR MY OUT OF STATE COLLEGE STUDENT. UPON RETURNING TO SCHOOL FROM THANKSGIVING BREAK THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, FOLLOWED BY ERRATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DRIVING. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED HOME. ONCE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, IN GEAR, IT CEASES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN UNTIL THE ENGINE IS STOPPED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED AND THE TRANSMISSION PLACED INTO GEAR AND MOVEMENT OCCURS. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3000. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION PAN, DISCOVERED A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS AND ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEIR IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I KNOW THIS IS A FORD TRANSMISSION ALSO FOUND IN THE CONTOUR MODEL BUT HAVE NOT INQUIRED ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATED. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING WITH NO VISIBLE RESULTS. SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!! *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF MY 1997 MAZDA 626 AT JUST OVER 79K MILES. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY TYPE ROAD AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE OR INJURY.*AK THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MAZDA WARRANTY SPECIFICATIONS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MAZDA THAT I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB FOR THE ISSUE IN QUESTION AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF SAME BY NO LESS THAN 3 MAZDA AUTHORIZED SERVICE STATIONS.

I OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626, AT 57,000 MILES MY 2ND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. MY FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED OVER A YEAR AGO AT UNDER 50,000. MAZDA DEALERS DO LITTLE MORE THAN LAUGH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND OF COURSE GIVE ME A BID FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MAZDA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT AND ALLOWED THE WARRENTIES TO EXPIRE WITHOUT INFORMING OWNERS OF THE DEFECT.*AK

FLASHING "O/D OFF" LIGHT INDICATES FAILING TRANSMISSION. *AK

1) NORMAL DAILY USE (20) MILES TO FROM WORK ON HIGHWAY ROADS 2) TRANSMISSION WON'T WORK 3) COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REMOVAL AND REBUILD REQUIRED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ON THIS MAZDA/FORD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I ALSO CAN'T BELIEVE THIS GOVERNMENT OFFICE HAS STILL NOT ACTED ON IT. SURELY DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE OUR TAX DOLLARS WORKING FOR THE TAX PAYERS HERE. THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF WORN OUT TRANSMISSIONS CAUSED BY FAULTY COOLING DESIGN ON THIS COMBINED USED MAZDA/FORD TRANSMISSIONS MODEL LA4A-EL. MINE IS INSTALLED IN A 1997 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER. WILL THIS AGENCY PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS. THIS IS COSTING HARD WORKING PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS.*AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 55000 MILES FOR NO REASON. *JB

WHILE DRIVING,WITHOUT WARNING THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE START SHIFTING ERRATIC THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 MAZDA 626 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND ACTING WEIRD. THIS WAS THE CAR'S 2ND TRANSMISSION IT HAD REPLACED. I FIXED THE PROBLEM BY BUYING A NEW RADIATOR AND AN AUXILIARY COOLER BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAD OVERHEATED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-4 HOURS THE OD OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS INCIDENT AND APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION GETS TOO HOT FREQUENTLY RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIR! I HAD TO DRIVE BACK HOME AFTER DECIDING NOT TO CONTINUE MY VACATION AND EVERY 2 HOURS STOPPED TO LET THE CAR COOL BECAUSE LIGHT ( OD OFF) STARTED TO FLASH. *AK

IMMEDIATELY AFTER USED CAR PURCHASE IN JUNE 2003 THE 1997 MAZDA 626 REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REBUILD. SIX MONTHS LATER AT MY EXPENSE OVER $3000 REQUIRED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER SIX TIME WITH RECURRING OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING, OVERHEATING AND POOR SHIFTING. TWO COOLERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, OIL CHANGE AND TUNEUP HAVE NOT PREVENTED A RECURRENCE. AFTER 100 TO 150 MILES OF HIWAY DRIVING THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS.*AK

1194-2002 MAZDA 626 4-CYL. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE AS NOTED IN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS (FORMAL AND INFORMAL; SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LENGTHY DESCRIPTIONS IN 466 POSTS AT HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/189.HTML, A FORUM DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO THIS DEFECT). I PERSONALLY OWN A 1997 MAZDA 626 DX WHICH HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE DESCRIBED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, INDICATED BY THE FLASHING "O/D OFF" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE "TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH MECHANICAL FAILURE" TROUBLE CODE RETRIEVED BY ODBII DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED ON 8/27/2004. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MAZDA HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AS EARLY AS 2002, AND IN MAY 2002, TSB# 0500502 "A/T - OD OFF LAMP FLASHING/DTC P1783/SHIFT CONCERNS" WAS ISSUED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH OVER DRIVE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON . AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. NO IMPACT REPORTED. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

I PURCHASED A 1997 MAZDA 626 IN JAN OF 2004. TOOK IT ON ITS FIRST ROAD TRIP IN JUNE. WENT TO PASS ANOTHER DRIVER AND THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CAR STARTED JERKING. I LIMPED BACK HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A LOT OF MAJOR WORK. CONSQUENCES: TOWING, CANCELLED TRIP, REPAIR COSTS, TIME LOST. I'M WORKING ON SAVING THE MONEY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I WENT TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE & FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS DEALING WITH MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIONS. BUT NO RESPONSE FROM MAZDA.*AK

I HAVE A 97 MAZDA 626 WITH 88000 MILES AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. STRATED OUT WITH A PROBLEM SHIFTING TO THIRD GEAR, BUT NOW THE O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $2000. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR PRETTY WELL AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS, UNLESS THE PRODUCTY IS FAULTY. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE.*AK

1997 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION GAVE UP AT AROUND 85,000 MILES. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS AT SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH AND THE CAR SOMETIMES COMPLETELY LOSE POWER MAKING IT A DANGEROUS RIDE.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDS TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (ATX) ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626, 2.0L I4. THE TRANSMISSION IS MANUFACTURED BY FORD, MODEL CD4E. DESPITE FAITHFULLY CHANGING THE FLUID AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 105,000 MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS FORCED ON MAZDA BY FORD IN ALL POST 1993 4 CYLINDER MODELS, AND SUFFERS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH HEAT AND METAL PARTICLES DUE TO INADEQUATE COOLING AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS. THE FILTER IS INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION AND INACCESSIBLE (CANNOT BE CHANGED) REQUIRING THE FLUID TO BE FLUSHED. IT IS ALSO WOEFULLY UNDER COOLED, WITH A SIMPLE PASS THROUGH THE ENGINE RADIATOR, AND NO EXTERNAL COOLER. MODELS SUBSEQUENT TO 1999 HAS EXTERNAL COOLERS INSTALLED, SO IT SEEMS THAT MAZDA/FORD ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS VERY ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THIS VEHICLE: HTTP://HOMEPAGE.NTLWORLD.COM/DOROTHY.BRADBURY/PROBEMX/INDEX.HTM. *JB

I HAVE SOME PROBLEM ABOUT MY CAR. MAZDA 626 1997 AUTOMATIC. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE,THE TRANSMISSION WENT DOWN AT 95,822 MILES. I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THAT PROBLEM HAPPENS TO EVERY 626 MAZDA. THEY [MAZDA] HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.I'M JUST ONLY STUDENT FROM THAILAND. I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY TO FIX IT.{2000-3000$}. MY CAR IS NOT WORTH THAT MUCH. PLEASE HELP ME TELL THEM {MAZDA} TO DO SOMETHING.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. I LET THE CAR SIT A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. IT SEEMED TO GO BUT TOOK A LOT MORE ENGINE POWER TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED TO POP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. 130000 MILES ON THE CAR. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 TO 50 MPH TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS VERY HARD AND WITH A THUMP. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC.*AK

MAZDA 626 '97, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LA

1997 MAZDA 626 - AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. COST TO REPAIR - 2300.00. NOT FIXED YET. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PARTS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

1997 MAZDA 626 "O/D OFF" FLASHING; NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION RIDICULOUS EXPENSIVE AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 626- UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T FIND THIS OUT UNTIL TOO LATE. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION!*AK

MY 97 MAZDA 626LX AUTOMATIC HAS 59K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING YESTERDAY, AND THE RPM'S REV UP TO 5000 OR 6000 ON NORMAL ACCELERATION. THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND AT A STEADY SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE RPMS STAY AT 5000. IT IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND - BY THE TIME I'M AT 25 MPH, THE RPM'S ARE AT 6000. I TOOK IT IN, AND BOTTOM LINE, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION - AT $2,900. I LOOKED ONLINE, AND FOUND DOZENS, MAYBE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 97 MAZDA 626. 59K MILES IS AWFULLY LOW TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE KEPT EXCELLENT UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 1997 MAZDA 626 SINCE I GOT IT ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. THE RPM'S SHOOT UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME AND THE OC SENSOR IS BAD AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ALREADY. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND SEE NO REASON AS TO WHY ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURED. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES SINCE I GOT IT A LITTLE OVER AA YEAR AGO. I REALLY LIKE THE NEW MAZDA 6'S THAT ARE OUT BUT AM REAL RELUCTANT ON BUYING A NEW ONE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE MAZDA THAT I HAVE NOW AND PARTS ARE SO EXPENSIVE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO COST $750.00 IN ORDER TO FIX THE OC SENSOR, THAT IS JUST CRAZY. PLEASE HELP! I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT ON THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT LOW MILEAGE, INSANE.*AK

I BOUGHT A 1997 MAZDA 626 AND HAS BEEN HAVING NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF IT!! MY O/D (OVER DRIVE) LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY NON STOP AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS REAL HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS. TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL THE WAY! ITS OBVIOUS THAT MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLME BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR, I TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING AND HE SAID YOU NEED A TRANSMISSION BECAUSE ALL MAZDA DO THAT. WELL I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO WHY IS ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS GOING BAD IN THEM? I RECEIVE NO ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND NOW IAM ABOUT TO BE ALL A BUNCH OF MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, MONEY I DON'T HAVE! AND HARD TO GET WHILE YOU HAVE NO WAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK TO EVEN GET THE MONEY! WELL I REALLY THINK MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSION FOR THEIR CARS. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS EVERYTIME I TOOK TO A TRANMISSION PLACE IT STOPPED BLINKING LIKE A GHOST! WELL ITS GOING TO COST ME 2,600 TO FIX IT SO MAZDA NEEDS TO PAY AT LEAST HALF OF IT CONSIDERING I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR LONG AND THE OWNER BEFORE ME TOLD ME HE JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TIMING BELT. I HAD A 87 CAMRY AND IT RAN GOOD FOR OVER 3 YEARS NEVER HAVING TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION OR MOTOR! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA EVER! THEY NEED TO HAVE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND AT LEAST CONTACT THERE CONSUMERS AND LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.*AK

ON TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2004 THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 MAZDA 626 LX WENT OUT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING FROM NASHVILLE, TN TO GATLINBURG, TN. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,500 MILES AND OTHER THAN THE NOW NONFUNCTIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, NELSON MAZDA ANTIOCH, TN AS WELL AS THE MAZDA CORPORATION. BASICALLY, ALL I HAVE GOTTEN IS SORRY, NO WARRANTY, NO HELP. IT IS NOW GOING TO COST ABOUT $2700. TO GET A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS OTHERS IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!*AK

CAR TRAVELING AT 70MPH. CAR UNEXPLAINABLY ACCELERATES AND THEN MODERATE "POP" HEARD UNDER HOOD. DEBRIS NOTICED FALLING FROM CAR. CAR IS BROUGHT TO STOP ON SHOULDER. SMOKE EMINATING FROM UNDER HOOD. LATCH OF HOOD IS RELEASED TO INVESTIGATE WHEN FLAMES ERUPT. ENGINE IS ON FIRE. ELECTRIC COOLING FAN WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO RADIATOR AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS AND WIRING AS WELL AS HOOD, CHASSIS, AND TRIM PAINT DAMAGE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND SHATTERED THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD. *AK *MR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WAS LOCAL AND CLOSE TO HOME. COULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS AT HIGH SPEED AND MAKING A TURN. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES. REBUILT INSTALLED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FAILED AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES. WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS I SPEED UP ENGINE. MAZDA NEEDS TO 'FESS UP TO THIS PROBLEM. I TELL EVERYBODY I KNOW AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE. I HAVE A 1987 CHEV CELEBRITY WAGON 130,000 MILES AND ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION, SHIFTS LIKE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT! MAZDA PLEASE SEE WHAT GM IS DOING RIGHT.*AK

BOUGHT '97 MAZDA 626 LX USED WITH ONLY 67000 MILES ON IT. SOON THE "O/D OFF" LAMP KEEPS BLINKING AND IT CHANGES GEAR ROUGHLY. IT IS SAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL SOON AND WILL DO NO GOOD EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE TRANNY WITH $$$$. IT IS REALLY ASTOUNDING TO FIND SO MANY PEPOLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUST ONE FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/189.HTML MANY PEOPLE HAD EVEN WORSE EXPERIENCES THAN MINE. I AM WONDERING WHAT THIS MODEL IS IF IT IS NOT A LEMON? HOPE YOU TAKE NECESSARY MEASURE BEFORE IT KILLING PEOPLE BY SUDDENLY BROKEN DOWN IN THE INTERSTATE. (IF NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET). *AK