1998 Mazda 626 complaints

ALL THE TREAD ON TWO REAR TIRES VANISHED AFTER VACATION TRAVEL AT SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO TREAD LEFT ON LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR TIRES. TIRES ON REAR NORMALLY AT 26 PSI WERE NOT OPERATED BELOW THAT PRESSURE.GARAGE MECHANIC FOUND TWO REAR WHEEL TIE RODS BENT IDENTICALLY . THERE WAS NO SIGN UPON INSPECTION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RUN OVER ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO SCRATCHES OR MARKS UNDER THE CAR TO INDICATE IMPACT WITH ROAD HAZARD. I BELIEVE THE TIRE WEAR PLUS THE MFG RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 26 PSI REDUCED ROAD CLEARANCE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WOULD BOTTOM OUT AFTER HITTING UNREPAIRED WIDE CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE ROADWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH.I BELIEVE THE TIRE WEAR WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE TIRES MADE BY BRIDGESTONE.I BELIEVE THE TIRE WEAR CAUSED THE TIE RODS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SERVICE CAUSING IDENTICAL BENDS IN EACH TIE ROD, THE BENT TIE RODS THEN WOULD THROW THE WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND ERASE THE TIRE TREADS.( DOT NUMBER: Y7CD CCF TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )

STEERING RACK GEAR BROKE IN TWO WITH NO WARNING, CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CROSSED HIGHWAY, DOWN A SMALL EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE TREES (NARROWLY MISSING AN ONCOMING SMALL TRUCK). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WAS SUFFERED AGGRAVATION TO EXISTING BACK AND LEG PROBLEMS. SHE SAID SHE HEARD A "CLUNK" AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS THE ROAD. AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AT THE TOWING COMPANIES LOT THAT NIGHT AND DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE UNDER THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. I ASKED THE DEALER NOW REPAIRING THE CAR TO SAVE ANY STEERING PARTS. THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AS A UNIT AND I NOW HAVE IT. I HAVE NOT DISASSEMBLED IT BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY BROKE UNDER THE BOOT WHERE THE RACK EXITS THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. COMMENT: CARS SHOULDN'T BREAK LIKE THIS WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON THEM. THIS CAR HAS RECEIVED REGULAR LUBRICATION MAINTENANCE AND WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN IT RECENTLY SHOWED NO SIGN OF IMPENDING STEERING PROBLEMS SUCH AS CLUNKS, TIGHT STEERING, ROAD WANDER, ETC. IT WAS JUST FINE UNTIL IT BROKE. *AK

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW CAN A 2YEAR OLD CAR NEED A TRANSMISION. I ONLY HAD THIS CAR 1YEAR I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THERE ANY THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME PLEASE CONTACT ME. I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRANSMISION FOR THIS YEAR. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF REPEATEDLY DUE TO OIL SPILLING INTO AIR FLOW SENSOR AND DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. YH

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND BEGINNING TO RE-ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN TO GEAR. THE INTERIOR HEADLINER OF THE CAR BURNED IN EXTREME HEAT. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO A LOCAL UPHOLSTERY SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON IN THE 1998 MODEL CAR THAT I HAVE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED OVERDRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHING. THEN, ENGINE WOULD IDLE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR OF OWNING THIS CAR AND A DAY AFTER HAVING A FULL MAINTENANCE JOB DONE IT'S STRANGE TO FIND OUT THAT YOUR TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED AND THE TOTAL COSTS IS $2470.00. *AK

AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND STEPPING ON BRAKE TO SHIFT GEAR, THE SHIFT GEAR REMAINS LOCKED. DOES NOT MOVE. MUST PLAY (SOMETIMES HARD) TO GET FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THEN MOVE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT IS SO LOW THAT IT MUST BE ADJUSTED WITHIN 12 INCHES OF AIRBAG FOR VISIBILITY. *AK

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE, VIOLENT CONDITION OF DEPLOYMENT CAUSED INJURIES TO CONSUMERS FACE AND CHEST AREA. YH

WHEN USING THE HEAD RESTRAINT, IF CONSUMER'S HEAD IS NOT CENTERED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE MATERIAL GIVES WAY . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES AND ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE LOSES SPEED AND BUCKS. *AK

CAR JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR VERY ROUGH SHIFTING. PROCEEDED WITH LEMON LAW

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OR HESITATE, WHICH MAY RESULTIN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR CENTER SHOULDER SEAT BELT STRAP OF THE 1998 MAZDA 626. WHAT I CONSIDER AS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM TO MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WE WERE IN ROUTE TO OUR HOME, SHE WAS RESTRAINED CORRECTLY IN A CHILD CAR SEAT IN THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND MYSELF (DRIVER) SHE WAS BEING VERY QUITE SO I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE IF SHE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP. I NOTICED HER SKIN COLOR WAS DARKER THAN NORMAL AND SHE WAS FOAMING AT THE MOUTH, I QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO THE CURB BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE WAS CHOAKING ON SOMETHING. SHE HAD TAKEN THE SHOULDER STRAP FROM THE REAR CENTER SEAT AND WRAPPED IT AROUND HER NECK SEVERAL TIMES. I REACHED IN OVER THE CHILD SEAT AND TRIED TO RELEASE THE TENSION, BUT IT WOULD NOT LOOSEN UP. I REACHED INTO THE DARK TO RELEASE THE RED BUTTON THAT HOLDS THE LAP BELT THAT SNAPS INTO THE LOCKING DEVICE, BUT THE CENTER BELT DOES NOT HAVE A RED BUTTON. AT THIS POINT I PANICKED, MY DAUGHTER COULDNT BREATH AND I COULD DO NOTHING TO RELEASE THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT. I MANAGED TO WORK MY FINGER IN BETWEEN THE STRAP AND HER THROAT SO SHE COULD GET SOME AIR. NOW I WAS TRAPPED AND COULD DO NOTHING THAT WOULD RISK HER LIFE. I SCREAMED AND SOMEONE CAME TO MY RESCUE WITH A PAIR OF SCISSORS. I CUT THROUGH THE SOLDER STRAP AND UNWRAPPED IT FROM AROUND HER NECK. THE TOP HALF OF THE SHOULDER STRAP RETRACTED INTO THE TOP SLOT IN THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THE NEXT MORNING I CLOSER EXAMINED THE BELT MECHANISM AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SMALL RELEASE LATCH NO BIG

VEHICLE FRAME.

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN SERVERE INJURY. HOWEVER, BOTH AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT WHICH COULD HAVE PREVENTED INJURY. *YC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

RECALL COMPONENT (RADIO- #77810) FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE/SMOKE DAMAGE, NOTICE NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER INCIDENT AND DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL WORK. MJS

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED INJURY TO CONSUMER UPON COLLISION, UPON INSPECTION CONCLUDED POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE. NLM

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AGO, AND NOTICED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK

THE CAR THAT I PURCHASED WAS ON DEMONSTRATION AND THERE WAS LIKELY A DEFECT ON THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, THIS WAS MY LAST RESORT.

CLUTCH STALLED DUE TO LEAK IN HOSES TO AND FROM SLAVE CYLINDER. YH

HEADLIGHT FAILED. *YC

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL VIBRATES AND THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, FRONT PASSENGER'S/ DRIVER'S SEATS VIBRATE. *AK

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED NEEDED TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS & ROTORS REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR ON 17 DEC 98, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT INERTIA DEVICE DID NOT LOCK. FAILURE OF PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT ALLOWED PASSENGER TO BE THROWN FORWARD, STRIKING LEGS IN DASH AND HEAD HITTING WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER SUSTAINED ALOT OF BRUISING AND SWELLING, BUT DID NOT SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY. ALSO, DRIVER HAD SOME BRUISING AND CUTS. BOTH ARE UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY. *AK *AK

626 TAKEN TO MAZDA TO HAVE TRANSMISSION CHECKED FOR ROUGH SHIFTING AND CLUNKING NOISE. MAZDA SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONCE REPLACED, NEW TRANSMISSION ACTED IN THE SAME MANNER. MAZDA THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL 4 MOTOR MOUNTS. THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEN TOLD ME THAT ROUGH SHIFTING AND CLUNKING SOUNDS ARE NORMAL FOR THE 98'626. I FOUND THAT EXPLAINATION VERY HARD TO BELIEVE TO SAY THE LEAST, SO I AM MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL SALES REP FOR MAZDA IN AN EFFORT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECTIFIED.

THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ENGINE STALLING/SURGING AND ACCLERATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

FRONT AXLE PULLS OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES. COULD LOSE CONTROL IF DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON HIGHWAYS, ALSO, WHEN MAKING A TURN, CANNOT DRIVE. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT PROBLEM WILL OCCUR WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY WILL REPLACE THE AXLE, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A NEW AXLE IN STOCK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WENT. THE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.