1998 Mazda 626 complaints

I HAD MY FIRST MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 65,000 MILES AND I GOT IT REPLACED, AND THEN AT 120,000 MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REAPLCED AGAIN. THEREWAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SOME FINANCIAL COMPENSATION TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. *AK

REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT 42,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 128,000 MILES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATE AND A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CD4 TRANSMISSION IS USED IN A MAZDA BUT MADE FOR A LIGHTER VEHICLE BUT USED IN A MAZDA 626. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 106,138 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REPAIRED RECURRING PROBLEM. *AK

TL- CALLER OWNS A 1998 MAZDA. CURRENT MILEAGE 140000. CALLER DOES NOT KNOW FAILURE MILEAGE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET AT 3MPH THE CAR SHUT OFF. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AFTERWARDS. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HE PUSHED CAR BACK TO HIS HOME. MECHANIC CAME OVER NEXT DAY AND NOTICED SPRING TENSIONER WAS BROKEN ;THIS WAS REPLACED IN 2000 UNDER RECALL 00V134000 . WEATHER WAS WARM APPROXIMATLEY 82 DEGREES. KTF

1998 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED FOR THE FOURTH TIME...THE AUTO IS UNDER 100,000 MILES...*JB

WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR 1998 MAZDA 626 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 76,691 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, SO THAT MILEAGE IS CORRECT. THE TOTAL COST TO HAVE IT REBUILT WAS $2,222.87. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL INJURIES. WHEN WE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET, WE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM, WHICH MAZDA IS AWARE OF IS, IT THAT THEY PUT A FORD TRANSMISSION IN THE MAZDA 626, BUT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS MEANT FOR A SMALLER, LIGHTER CAR, WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE OVERHEATING AND EVENTUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEIR BULLETIN TSB# 0500502.ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM. MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS OR COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAPPENS VERY SUDDENLY, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS GRAVELY INJURED OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. PLEASE MAKE MAZDA DO THE RIGHT THING!*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MAZDA 626 ( AGAIN) SECOND TIME. *JB

I OWN A 1998 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE NOW, 1ST REPAIR WAS OVER $2,000 SECOND REPAIR WILL BE JUST AS MUCH OR MORE. AFTER CHECKING MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET AND TALKING TO TRANSMISSION MECHANICS THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE FORD/MAZDA VEHICLES. WITH A FAILURE RATE THIS HIGH AND CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES OVER SEVERAL YEARS SOME SORT OF RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE. THERE IS ALSO A DANGER FACTOR WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS, THEY HAVE A HUGE TENDENCY TO OVER HEAT CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BOIL OVER THROUGH THE DIPSTICK CAUSING OIL SLICKS ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. *NM

1998 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

MAZDA DEALER DIAGNOSIS PO732 AND PO734 INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF 1998 MAZDA 626. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 WITH 2 FAILED TRANSMISSIONS COSTING $1800-$2100 EACH. THIS IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS! THE FIRST ONE FAILED AT ONLY 70,000 MI.,NOW THE SECOND REBUILT ONE HAS FAILED AT 140,000 MI. NEVER BUY MAZDA AGAIN!! *NM

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DURING NORMAL RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP. CAR GOES SLOWER AND SLOWER UNTIL IT FINALLY WON'T MOVE AT ALL. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT REGULAR 30K INTERVALS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANS WAS SHOT, RUINED, KAPUT, ETC...ESTIMATE OF $2500. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE IN MY CAR. AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO HELP OR EVEN TALK ABOUT HELPING ON THE REPAIR COST. MY CAR ONLY HAS 89K ON IT!! NOW THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY COLLECTING DUST, I DON'T HAVE $2500 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF SINCE MOST MAZDA 626'S ARE HAVING THIS FAILURE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE... ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CARS TRANSMISSION FAILED. LUCKILY THERE WAS SOME TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. IT HAS BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE PAST MONTH. *NM

I BOUGHT A MAZDA 626 1998 MODEL DURING FEBRUARY' 06. IT HAD 69K MILES ON IT. LAST MONTH, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS, IT DID NOT MOVE ON THE ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS ON THE LOCAL ROAD. SO I COULD PUT TURN AND PUT IT ON A PARKING LOT AT A SPEED OF 5 MILES/HR. WHEN I CONTACTED FIRESTONE THEY TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS A FAILURE AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I SPENT A TOTAL OF 2400$ FOR THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I AM TOTALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS. I MEED MAZDA NORTH AMERICA TO REFUND MY MONEY BACK. THANKS. VINOD. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 MAZDA 626 WITH 89,000 MILES JUST FAILED. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, A PUMP FAILED, AND NOW MY CAR HAS "NO FORWARD GEARS." I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL, DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW OF WHICH MAZDA IS AWARE. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT RECALLING THIS MODEL AND CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING SPRING FRACTURED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V134000, REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AT 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND THE FLUID WAS BLACK. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE SEALS ON THE GASKETS WERE WORN AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 30,000 MILES. THEN, WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED.

I ALONG WITH ABOUT EVERY MAZDA 626 OWNER I KNOW AM FACING REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND IS A REAL HAZARD SOMETIMES IS WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. IT IS SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AND WILL "HUNT" FOR FIRST GEAR AT TIMES WITH SEVERAL JERKS BETWEEN GEARS BEFORE IT SHIFTS. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - WOULD NOT GO INTO D. *NM

TRANSMISSION BREAKDOWN. BACK ON APRIL 07, 2003, I BROUGHT MY 1998 MAZDA 626 INTO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOAST. IT HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNT UP MOST OF THE INTERNALS. I ENDED PAYING FOR A REBUILT UNIT, A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, AND A DRIVE CHAIN. THE TOTAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE WAS $1272.00 NOW EXACTLY THREE YEARS DOWN TO THE MONTH I'M STARTING ALL OVER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING DOWNHILL AGAIN. FORTUNATELY THIS TIME I PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HAVEN'T FIXED IT YET. I AM CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM, YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. *NM

VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO 2 WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 70-75 MPH. CAUSED VEHICLE TO SKID ON WET ROAD! WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND ALMOST CAUSED A MULTIPLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *NM

CAR HAD O/D LIGHT ON WHEN BOUGHT IT AND TOLD IT WAS FINE BY DEALER. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WAS OFF FOR GOOD. CAR IS CURRENTLY DOWN SHIFTING FOR NO REASON AND NOW THE MECHANICS THAT I TOOK IT TO SAY THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. *JB

HELLO, WE HAVE A 2.0L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN OUR MAZDA 626 WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1998. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED A MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 99,000 MILES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 250 MILES ON A 95 DEGREE DAY. A TSB WAS ISSUED BY MAZDA IN 2002 BUT CURRENT OWNERS WERE NOT SENT ANY NOTIFICATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WE ARE LOOKING AT A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL ($2500) REPAIR BILL ON AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS LOW OF MILES THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND NEVER ABUSED. MAZDA HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED FAILURES ON THIS ISSUE, YET THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *NM

FAILED TRANSMISSION IN 1998 MAZDA 626. MAZDA CONTINUED TO USE TRANSMISSIONS THEY KNEW WOULD FAIL, INSTEAD OF FIXING THEIR PROBLEM, THEY PASSED THE COST ALONG TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

LAST OCTOBER (05), MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FINALLY WENT OUT. NOT WANTING TO SPEND TO MUCH MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING, WHEN THE CAR ISN'T WORTH IT. I GOT A USED TRANSMISSION (NOT SURE HOW USED IT WAS, BUT THE GUY THAT PUT IT IN, SAID IT WAS REALLY CLEAN (LITTLE WEAR) ON IT. NOW AUG 06 THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AGAIN. THE SYSTEM CAN'T SHIFT BETWEEN 2-3 GEAR. I HAVE YET TO GET IT FIXED, BUT IT WELL PROBABLY RUN ME AROUND $1300 LIKE THE LAST ONE DID. WHEN THE CAR ITSELF IS WORTH MAYBE 2,800? I THINK MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, MY '98 626LX THE TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE. AAMCO TRANSMISSION DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THAT DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND FRAGMENTS PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION WHILE BEING SUSPENDED BY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. NO LESS THAN $2000 TO REPAIR. HERE'S WHERE I REALLY GOT UPSET. MAZDA PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN-005/02 IN 2002 WHICH OUTLINES PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO TAKE TO AVOID THIS HEAT RELATED FAILURE. WHEN CONTACTED ABOUT A CLAIMS PROCEDURE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH BULLETIN AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURES DO OCCUR ON VEHICLES. HOWEVER, WHEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND FAILS TO EVEN MAKE A CURSORY EFFORT TO INFORM THE VEHICLE OWNER/PURCHASER, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE COMPANY IS NEGLIGENT AND SHOULD IN PART BARE THE BURDEN OF THE COST OF REPAIR. *JB

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN IT STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. IT WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE. WE HAD TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING REPLACED: CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, TIMING BELT, TIMING BELT TENSIONER, IDLER, SPARK PLUGS, THERMOSTAT, 2 DRIVE BELTS, AND THE WATER PUMP. IT COST US ALMOST $1,700 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT THEIR CARS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL... ONLY ONES WITH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 1998 626 MODELS. *NM

I JUST BOUGHT A 98 626 WITH A LITTLE OVER A 100K ON IT IN MAY BEFORE I BOUGHT IT I TOOK IT TO MAZDA TO HAVE ALL PARTS AND COMPONETS CHECKED OUT THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS HEALTHY AND THE ENGINE WAS GOOD AND ALL PARTS LOOKED GREAT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR THE SAME DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS USING THEN RESET MY CODE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR THE BELTS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE MAY I HAVE PUT OVER 1100 IN PARTS AND LABOR IN THIS CAR NOW THEY SAY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS OVER 2200 ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO. *JB

FAILURE OF 1998 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED ON THE INTERSTATE RESULTING IN BOILING OUT OF FLUID, FLUID WAS REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AGAIN BLOWING THE MAIN SEAL. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE (WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE TO EXIT RAMP -INCIDENT OCCURRED VERY CLOSE TO RAMP). THE SEAL WAS PREPARED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (PTC 0743). DIAGNOSIS AT LOCAL SHOP INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MILEAGE WAS ONLY 90,000. *JB

I PURCHASED A 1998 MAZDA 626 IN OCT. 2001 WITH 71 THOUSAND MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 110. I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A USED ONE (BEFORE I KNEW OF ALL THE DEFECTS), IT LASTED 8000 MILES. IN SEPT 2004 A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM MAZDA. IT LASTED 18,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD IT HAD A THREE YEAR WARRANTY. MAZDA NOW DENIES THIS. THEY SAY ITS 6 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. BEING DISABLED THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT. THE INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE ARE TAKING ITS TOLL. IN 3 YEARS TIME MAZDA HAS COST ME OVER $5000 IN REPAIRS AND CLOSE TO $500 IN TOWING. THEY ARE AWARE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY BUT REFUSE TO HELP PEOPLE. IT SEEMS MORALLY AND ETHICALLY WRONG.. ANY 'NEW' TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAT THESE. I RECENTLY GAVE THIS CAR TO MY DAUGHTER, BUT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT WITH MAZDA. THANK YOU! *JB

I JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 MAZDA 626. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WENT 93,000 MILES BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THAT UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH A USED TRANSMISSION AND IT FAILED AT 105,000 MILES. I HAD THE SECOND FAILURE REBUILT AT A COST OF $2,100, THE FIRST USED TRANSMISSION COST $1,700 TO REPLACE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IDLES TO LOW DUE TO THE AIR FLOW RATIO. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V228000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK

MY 1998 MAZDA 626 REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT 49000 MILES ON IT O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING ON ITS OWN. TRANSMISSION FLUID BLEW OUT, THE DIPSTICK WAS REPLACED, SPEEDOMETER GEAR SET ALSO FLUSHED RAD.& COOLER NOW NEW TRANSMISSION DOING SAME THING AT OVER $2600 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. HEARD LOTS OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS WOULD LIKE TO REPORT. TO SEE IF THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. *JB

PURCHASED CAR USED ONE WEEK AGO AND IMMEDIATELY TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ~155K PROBABLY EARLIER...AWAITING REPAIRS COSTING 3K DOLLARS. *NM

MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER, 4 DOOR, AUTOMATIC; 93K MI; TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL OVERHEATING (''O/D OFF'' LIGHT FLASHES). I NEVER USED THIS CAR TO TOW ANYTHING; DRIVING PATTERN IS VERY LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES DAILY TO WORK ON HIGHWAY AT 40-60 M/H SPEED (TRAFFIC). MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MAZDA WAS CLEARLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM - SB0500502/NHTSA 634465. SB DETAILS A VERY SIMPLE AND RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE FIX - EXTERNAL TRANS OIL COOLER. DEALER CLEARLY STATES THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IF IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY USES THIS CAR ROUTINELY WHY WOULD MAZDA BE SO NEGLIGENT AND NOT ADVICE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL RISK AND THE ALTERNATIVE REPAIRS, WHICH WOULD SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY DAMAGE? IT IS NOW IN THE THOUSANDS TO FIX THE CAR. *JB

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. ITS TO EXPENSIVE TO GET FIXED. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYLINDER, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES FROM 92-02. DURING LONG DRIVES (OVER 30 MILES), I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE O/D (OVERDRIVE) LIGHT FLASHING. ACCOMPANYING THIS PHENOMENON, WAS ERRATIC SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS. WHEN PULLING OVER AND STOPPING THE CAR, BLACK SMOKE CAN BE SEEN COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGH SPEEDS, ABOVE 50 MPH. THIS OCCURRED ON LONG DRIVES AS SOON AS I PURCHASED THE CAR. MULTIPLE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE O/D LIGHT PROBLEM. I HAD THE O2 SENSORS REPLACED. I FOUND OUT LATER THROUGH INTERNET CHAT ROOMS FOR THE MAZDA 626(AKA: SUPPORT GROUP FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 626 OWNERS), THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE FIRST SIGN THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BURNING UP. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED AT 105,000 MILES(LUCKY TO LAST THAT LONG). COST ME $2000 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH ONE FROM A JUNK YARD. NOW THE O/D LIGHT STILL FLASHES WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MILES OVER 50 MPH. JUST WAITING FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AGAIN. MAZDA SHOULD PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS, AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER UNFORTUNATE MAZDA 626 OWNERS OUT THERE. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAR 120,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A TECHNICIAN TO NEED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #05-00502). *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH DETECTED A FAILING TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 40,000 MILES. DURING THE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DISCOLORED AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT COMPLETED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 58,000 MILES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULLING FROM A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE. A LOCAL MECHANIC CAME TO THE SCENE, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS MAKING NOISES IN THE ENGINE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V134000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I HAD THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 MAZDA 626 REBUILT AT NO. 1 AUTO REPAIR CENTER IN STAFFORD, VA, BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 AT A COST OF 1650.00. ON JANUARY 1, 2006, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM LORAIN, OH, TO KETTERING, OH, THIS REBUILT TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SUDDENLY AND SMOKE PROCEEDED TO BILLOW FROM MY HOOD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 75 MPH. THE O/D OFF LIGHT HAD BEEN BLINKING A FEW WEEKS AGO, SO I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GRISMER AUTO REPAIR IN DAYTON, OH. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY DARK AND SLUDGY AND RECOMMENDED A FLUSH AND CHANGE. THE O/D OFF LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER THAT AND DIDN'T COME ON AGAIN UNTIL MOMENTS BEFORE THIS SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NOW IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO GET A SECOND REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR THE SAME CAR WITHIN A SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS. BY THE WAY, MY LAST PAYMENT IS NEXT MONTH ON A FIVE-YEAR LIEN. THAT'S TWO REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR BEFORE THE CAR WAS EVEN PAID OFF. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW THIS IS FAIR. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT HAD THE SPRING FOR THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. LATER, SHE FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V134000 CONCERNING TIMING BELT. WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER SHE WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND SHE WAS REIMBURSED FOR RECALL REPAIR WORK COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY WAS NOT WORKING, AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WORK HAD NOT ACTUALLY BEEN DONE. HE STATED A KIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS ALREADY REIMBURSED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR HER. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 98 MAZDA 626 JUST STARTED TO SLIP AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2000 AT ONLY 107000 MILES. *NM

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY MAZDA 626, (4 CYL) IS FAILING AGAIN. HAD IT REBUILT 10 MONTHS AGO AND IT FAILING AGAIN. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE: I HAVE A BABIED 1998 MAZDA 626LX. AT 107,000 MILES I NOTICED SOME VERY SLIGHT TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS. I CONSULTED THE MANUAL. NOTHING. I CALLED THE DEALER, VAGUE ANSWERS, NO RECOMMENDATIONS. I DROVE IT AND NOTICED THE O/D LIGHT COMING ON AT ABOUT 60 MILES ( HEAT ? ). SO I STARTED SHORT DRIVING ONLY. FINALLY IT FAILED AND BLEW FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS. SO FAR - $1590.00, BUT NO CONFIDENCE IT IS OVER. MY MECHANIC SAID THE TRANS COOLER WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND COULD NOT BE CLEANED TO WHERE IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY. WE PUT ON AN AUX COOLER. WE HOPE IT WORKS. PROBLEM IS THE CAR IS NOT WORTH IT. I AM ANGRY AT ^&% ^%$#^& MAZDA FOR THEIR INEPT SUPPORT AND STUPIDITY. I WILL NEVER USE THEM AGAIN. THEY HAVE LEECHED ME LONG ENOUGH ON THIS CAR. THEY COULD HAVE HELPED A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT THE HEAT BUILD-UP OF THE FLUID. THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING. THEY ARE VULTURES WAITING FOR YOUR CAR TO DIE AND THEN THEY WILL HELP THEMSELVES TO YOUR $2500.00. I WILL DIE TELLING FOLKS TO STEER CLEAR OF MAZDA AND FORD. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TECHNICIAN WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM