1999 Mazda 626 complaints

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP, BURNS UP AND CAR NO LONGER MOVES. *JB

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR OUR SON IN 2005 WITH ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 120,000 MILES AND IS IN NEED OF ITS 4TH TRANSMISSION (REBUILT)! IT IS ALSO ON ITS SECOND ENGINE. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING THIS BAD. HAS MAZDA DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS? *JB

I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYLINDER AND FOR A FEW YEARS HAVE NOTICED HARSH SHIFTING THAT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. THE OTHER DAY THE ODOMETER LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AND I TOOK VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP, AND THEY SCANNED AND CODES, AND TOLD ME THAT I HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ,AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMED SO WRONG BECAUSE THE CAR ONLY HAD 111,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT WAS WRONG BECAUSE I KNEW THIS PROBLEM STARTED A LOT EARLIER WHEN I GOT THIS CAR AT 64,000 MILES. IF MAZDA KNEW ABOUT THIS COOLING ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT , AND IF THEY KNEW THEY WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL WHY DIDN'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL? IF THEY KNEW THEY HAD INADEQUATE COOLING THEY SHOULD HAVE INSTALLED A COOLER AT THEIR EXPENSE NOT T AT HE OWNERS , AND THEY SHOULD ALSO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

MY1999 MAZDA 626 HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 4 FRONT SEALS AND 2 BACK SEALS REPLACE ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 80K MILES ON IT. TWO WEEKS AGO THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING OFF AND ON THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SINCE IT WAS A MONTH OLD WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. I HAD TO HAVE MY FIRST SEAL REPLACED AFTER ONE MONTH WITH LESS THEN 6K MILES ON IT. MAZDA REPLACED THE SEAL BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM (SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD 5 SEALS REPLACED, OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY). THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE THAT MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT. I JUST PAID 2K FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION 2 WEEKS AGO WITH 80K MILES. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

THE DOLLAR FIGURES ARE APPROXIMATE. IN FEBRUARY 2002 MY DAUGHTER AND I PURCHASED A USED 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM WILSON DODGE IN TORRINGTON CT, 06790 FOR $9000. PART OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE WAS A PROMISE TO INSTALL A SUN ROOF FOR $500. THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 60 DAYS OR 2000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR WAS ITS SECOND. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD TAKE THAT AS GOOD NEWS. A FAULTY ONE IS REPLACED. HOW OFTEN DOES A TRANSMISSION FAIL? *AK IN APRIL (ABOUT 5 '' 10 DAYS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED), THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. THE COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $2300. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GET THIS COVERED BY THE DEALER IN GOOD FAITH, I AUTHORIZED THE INSTALLATION OF A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. DURING THIS NEGOTIATION I HAD TO ENDURE WITH SOME SNIDE REMARKS FROM SOME OF THE OTHER SALES PEOPLE WHEN I MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER DEALER WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS ''YEAH. THEY SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SELL YOU THE CAR!'' (THE WARRANTY ON THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS 1 YEAR OR 12,000 MILES) THE SUNROOF COST WAS FORFEITED LEAVING A BALANCE OF $1800. IT WAS AGREED THAT I WOULD PAY $300 A MONTH UNTIL THE BALANCE WAS DONE. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MAZDA HAD USED AN INFERIOR TRANSMISSION IN ITS 626 MODELS. (HTTP://WWW.ESTREETJOURNAL.COM/MAZDA.HTM) MY BIG COMPLAINT IS AGAINST MAZDA, BUT I ALSO HAVE ONE AGAINST WILSON DODGE. THEY HAD TO HAVE KNOWN A

CAR HAVE A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF. I SENT IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST $4000.00 TO FIX IT. THEN IT TOOK IT IN FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION ALSO. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND NOTICE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPAIRS OR THE NORMAL SERVICE. I THINK THAT IT IS VERY UNUSUALLY THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THAT IS NOT PROFESSIONAL FOR THERE COMPANY AND THEY WILL LOST BUSINESS LIKE THAT.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 80,000 MILES. I HAD IT REPAIRED AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING A YEAR LATER. I NOW KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE THE TRANSMISSIONS MAZDA USED THE THE 626 WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE LARGER 626 CARS. *NM

I HAVE A MAZDA 626 1999 MODEL. THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AT ABOUT 80K MILES LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO SEND IT TO A SHOP (SPENDING OVER $1600 FOR IT TO BE REBUILT). IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND WAS MORE SERIOUS. NOW THE CAR STARTS VERY SLOW AND TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO REACH 40 MPH. WHENEVER I TRY TO SPEED, THE RPN GOING UP WILDLY AND DOES LITTLE TO SPEED. RECENTLY I JUST SEARCHED SEVERAL INTERNET BULLETIN BOARD AND FOUND OUT MANY MAZDA 626 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY POINT OUT THAT MAZDA ADMITTED THAT THEY PUT A FORD TRANSMISSION MEANT FOR A SMALL-SIZED CARS ON ITS MAZDA 626 MODEL. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE MAZDA TO RECALL THE MODEL AND ASK THEM TO REIMBURSE ALL 626 OWNERS FOR REPAIR. UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED, THIS WILL BE MY LAST MAZDA CAR. *NM

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 MAZDA 626 LX AND AT 118,000 MILES AND NO SIGNS AT ALL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY CAR. I AM A MOTHER OF 2 AND I ALSO BABY SIT FOR A LIVING. I HAD 3 CHILDREN WITH ME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND LEFT US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANK GOD FOR CELL PHONES. I NEVER HAD ANY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM AT ALL NOR WAS I AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 626 UNTIL THIS HAPPENED TO ME. I STILL HAVE 4 PAYMENTS ON MY VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED AND I AM HEART SICK THAT I AM STILL PAYING FOR A VEHICLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE. I WISH THAT I HAD KNOWN ABOUT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 626 BEFORE I PURCHASED MINE. *JB

1999 MAZDA 626 MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS MAZDA SHOP TOLD ME $4500 TO FIX. *JB

TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE IN MAZDA 626 FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY AT 20 PLUS MILES AND JUST REPLACE AGAIN AT AROUND 130 PLUS MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. CALLED THE FIRST TIME AND REPORTED TO MAZDA HOME OFFICE AND NOTHING WAS NEVER DONE ON MY COMPLAINT. *JB

1) OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING 2) TRANSMISSION OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION, EXCESSIVE SLIPPAGE, TEMPERATURE EXCEEDED 132 DEGREES CENTIGRADE (270 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. FLUID IS UP-BURNED AND CLUTCH MATERIAL IN OIL. 3) REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REBUILT ASSEMBLY, REPLACED ENGINE REAL MAIN SEAL, FLUSH TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES, ADD OIL, ROAD TEST, RECHECK FOR LEAKS AND CLEARED CODES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL # 00V134000 FOR THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING WAS DENIED, THEN, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TIMING BELT AND A BOLT THAT HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE SUMMARY OF THE RECALL WAS SIMILAR TO THE STALLING OF THE VEHICLE.

THE 626 LX MODEL MADE BY MAZDA IN 1999, SEEMS TO HAVE MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS SENT BY PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT MODEL AND YEAR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. DUE TO THE LACK OF COMPLAINTS, MAZDA DOES NOT WISH TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *JB

A 1999 MAZDA 626 WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE 2006 FROM CARMAX IN TAMPA, FL. WE TRADED IN OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER FOR THIS 626 TO SAVE ON GAS. THE MAZDA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO US; NOR ARE THEY EXPLAINED ON THE RECEIPTS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS AN OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED IT TO GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE MAZDA DEALER RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION COOLER ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS DISSECTED TO BE SURE THERE WAS NO INTERNAL DAMAGE. CARMAX TOWED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND HAD AAMCO DO THE REPAIR WORK. NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED THOUGH CARMAX SAID AAMCO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. UPON DRIVING MY 1 YEAR OLD SON HOME AFTER THIS FIRST REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO LEAK AND MAKE GRINDING SOUNDS, NONE OF WHICH DID IT DO BEFORE BEING REPAIRED MIND YOU. THE SECOND TIME WE SIMPLY EXPERIENCE THE STUCK IN GEAR ISSUE AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS TIME BELTS WERE ALSO SQUEALING AND OUR FUEL EFFICIENCY HAS DROPPED. THE THIRD TIME SEEMED DO BE THE CHARM, OR SO WE THOUGHT. THIS MORNING DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK, WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR PROBLEM WE HAD ORIGINALLY! AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL STORE THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO AAMCO. I NEVER DEALT WITH AAMCO BEFORE WHY SHOULD I TAKE IT THERE NOW. I ALSO CALLED THE CARMAX CORPORATE HELP LINE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE LOCAL STORE WE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY PHONE CALLS OR GET THE SERVICE OR GUAR

OWN A 1999 MAZDA 626, 2.0 4-CYLINDER. IT ONLY HAS 52,170 MILES BUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND MAZDA DEALERS, THEY HAVE SEEN AND REPAIRED LOTS 626 (1999 -2001 MODELS) DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHICH HAD BEEN DESIGNED BY FORD FOR MUCH SMALLER AND LIGHTER VEHICLES THAN THE 626. CONSEQUENTLY, IF ONE DRIVES LONG DISTANCE, IT DOES BURN OUT. THE DEALERS AND AAMCO SHOPS RECOMMEND TO HAVE THE COOLING PUMP TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED THE CASE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY MAZDA. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DETERMINED THE SPRING FOR THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED AND A NEW TIMING KIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V134000, FOR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I OWN A 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES IN TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME (AUGUST 2004) IT FAILED IT WAS 24 HOURS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT FROM A MAZDA USED DEALER, HOLIDAY MOTORS IN FOND DU LAC WI. THEY PULLED THE TRANSMISSION OUT AND REPLACED GASKETS. I ASKED THEN TO PUT ON THE COOLING KIT AND THEY DID NOT. A YEAR LATER (OCTOBER 2005) MY DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED NORTH OF CHICAGO IL WITH THIS CAR AND A PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER IT (GASKETS AGAIN). THE THIRD TIME (MAY 2006) IT WAS SMOKING AND LEAKING FLUID (GASKETS). TWO MONTHS LATER (AUGUST 2006) IT WAS SMOKING AND LEAKING FLUID. THIS TIME IT LEFT MY DAUGHTER IN A VERY UN-SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MILWAUKEE WI. A COOLING KIT PUT ON THIS CAR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE LAST PROBLEM BUT IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE. THIS TIME THE SHOP IS REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER (?) THEY SAY IT OVER HEATED. REPAIR COST HAVE BEEN ABOUT $600-$300-$150 (COOLING KIT) $700-$300. *NM

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, SHIFT GEAR LOCKED UP, O/D OFF BLINKING, CHECKED BY MAZDA DEALER, RECOMMEND REBUILD TRANSMISSION. *NM

RECALL 00V134000 ON 1999 MAZDA 626 TIMING BELT TENSIONER SPRING DID NOT COVER SAME PART FAILURE ON SAME CAR(BY VIN #). *JB

(1) JERKING MOTION OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. MAZDA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS. (2) TRANSMISSION FAILURE. (3) REBUILT TRANSMISSION $1600.00. 1 YEAR LATER, IT FAILED AGAIN, DUE TO OVER HEATING. NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AGAIN. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE REQUIRING A COOLING UNIT TO AVOID OVERHEATING. NOW, I HAVE TO PAY FOR MORE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION, WITH NO END IN SIGHT. THIS IS NOT FAIR. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (BRAND NEW) IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS IS JUST NOT FAIR. *JB

I OWN A 99 MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER I HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR A YEAR AND SINCE I BOUGHT IT THE TRANSMISSION HAS ACTED UP AND AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION IT ISN'T JUST MINE EVERYBODY'S IS MESSED UP FIRST IT STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING MAKING THE O/D LIGHT BLINK ON AND OFF AND THEN SLIPPING REALLY HARD AND NOW IT IS OUT. *JB

O/D LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS. CAR STARTS SMOKING AND TRANSMISSION FLUID FLOWS OUT OF A TUBE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION LOSSES SPEED AND BEGINS SLIPPING. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY CAR LOCALLY FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED, AS I HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES. *JB

PURCHASED MAZDA 626 (1999) NEW IN 12/98. AT 27870 MILES TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. DEALER SAID I HAD TO PURCHASE A COOLING KIT FOR TRANS AT MY EXPENSE. I KNEW THEN I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA. WHAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! PROBLEM RECURRED AND I DISCOVERED IT WAS A KNOW PROBLEM TO MAZDA ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THE MAZDA 626. NOW AT 74000 MILES THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANS AT $3600, NO WAY. DON'T BUY MAZDA. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILING AT 120,000 MILES. *NM

I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626 LX 2.0 THAT I PURCHASE IN OCTOBER 2001. WHAT SEEMED TO BE A PRETTY RELIABLE CAR TURNED TO CRAP IN 2003 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT MUCH NOTICE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT AAMCO (THE BIGGEST RIP OFFS ON THE PLANET NEXT TO MAZDA) FOR $2650.00. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR 2 MORE YEARS WHEN ONCE AGAIN WITH OUT MUCH NOTICE THE CAR STARTS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE IN REVERSE, I TOOK IT BACK TO AAMCO WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT I ONCE AGAIN NEEDED A REPLACEMENT AND THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT "GO FIGURE". SO HERE I AM LEFT WITH THIS CAR THAT I OWE $1500.00 ON AND I NEED $2000.00 WORTH OF WORK. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT I AM ONE OF MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THANKS MAZDA, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I BOUGHT A HONDA A MUCH MORE RELIABLE CAR. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WAS LOSING SPEED EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN HOPING TO REGAIN SPEED. I DID NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED, AND IT CONTINUED TO DROP. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BREAK IN TRAFFIC WHERE I COULD TURN INTO A SMALL PARKING LOT TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM TRAFFIC. AS I BEGAN TO MAKE THE TURN I NOTICED THAT I HAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR MANUALLY. WHEN I GOT INTO THE PARKING LOT, I HAD HELP ATTEMPTING TO JUMP THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING WORKED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. AS THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD "JUMPED". THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE TENSIONER SPRING BREAKING. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000, THIS PART (TENSIONER SPRING) WAS RECALLED FOR DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT DID ON MY CAR. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 00V134000. I SPOKE WITH THE MAZDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR MY CAR, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. MY VIN IS:[XXX]. I WAS APPALLED THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR MY CAR, FOR DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE BULLETIN SAID IT WOULD DO, BUT THAT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. HOW CAN THIS BE SO? *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012*JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE GEARED DOWN SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT THE SHOP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHICLES. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM

1999 626 STALLED DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. *TS THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR SHE HAS. *JB

ON MARCH 27TH 2005, I WAS RETURNING FROM A 4 HOUR TRIP WHEN THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON MY DASH STARTED FLASHING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, TRANSMISSION FLUID COVERED MY ENGINE. I STOPPED TO ALLOW FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO COOL, IT WAS FINE AFTER THIS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 7 MONTHS AGO. AT THAT TIME I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED. MAZDA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE MAZDA TRANSMISSION WERE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM, THAT ON LONG TRIPS AT ROADWAY SPEEDS THEY TEND TO OVERHEAT AND SHOULD HAVE A TRANSMISSION COOLER INSTALLED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, MY FLUID HAS ONLY 5000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO CONTINUE HAPPENING, OR HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. MAZDA/FORD, WHOEVER, SHOULD BE REPLACING ALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

THE CHAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION IS "BREAKING" OFF THE TEETH OF THE SPROCKETS. CAR SPUTTERING AND JERKING. MAKES A CLICKING/POPPING SOUND. HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA ONLY TO BE TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AUTOMATIC WITH 4 CYL MAZDA 626 1999. *NM

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FAULTY. AWARE THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON AS EACH TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT I HAVE CALLED FOR REPAIR DETAILED EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS DOING BEFORE I EVEN TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. REPAIR COST OF $2000 WITH ADDITION OF TRANSMISSION COOLER AND 12 MONTH WARRANTY WERE FAIRLY COSTLY AND WARRANTS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

RUMBLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD; MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB

FAULTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MAZDA 626. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BOTH TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN SLIPPING AND OVERHEATING MANY MILES BEFORE FAILURE. THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME OF ANY BULLETINS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. *NM

MY WIFE WAS ENROUTE FROM WORK TO HOME WHEN THE 626 STARTED LOSING SPEED. IT WOULDN'T PULL-OFF FROM STOP LIGHT. UNEVENTFULLY IT WOULD MOVE FOR THE DISTANCE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD AND QUIT IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT OUT FOR A DRIVE AND BARELY MADE IT BACK HOME. THE TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE AND ENGAGE FROM TIME TO TIME. *JB

I PURCHASED A MAZDA 626 (1999 MODEL). THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW OVERHEATING. THIS IS SUCH A PREVALENT PROBLEM THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT. PUTTING A FORD TRANSMISSION IN A BIG MAZDA WAS A HUGE MISTAKE AND THEN NEED TO MAKE RESTITUTION FOR THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THOSE OF US WHO GOT DUPED MUST PAY. BOTTOM LINE: THEY MANUFACTURED TICKING TIME BOMBS AND ALL TRANSMISSION REBUILDS DO IS ADD A FEW SECONDS TO THE BOMB COUNTER. *NM

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT; FAILURE TO ENGAGE AND OVERHEATING WHEN RUNNING; HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT AT 85K MILES. *NM

1999 MAZDA 626 -COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MARCH,2003. REPLACED WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR $2048.00 - JAN-2006 - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE, WITHIN ONE YEARS TIME. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V134000, REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

REFER TO ODI 10150361. WANT TO CLARIFY THAT PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW 6-28-99. TRANS WENT OUT AT 87000 MILES. HAD REBUILT. NEVER SHIFTED CORRECTLY WHEN NEW. EVEN WORSE AFTER REBUILD. REVERSE SHIFTED VERY ROUGHLY AFTER VERY APPARENT PAUSE. CALLED MAZDA DEALERSHIP PURCHASED FROM, THEY DIDN'T CARE. SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. HAD REBUILT 23 MONTHS AGO. ALREADY WENT OUT AT CHRISTMAS 2005. HAD REBUILT. LASTED TWO DAYS - RETURNED TO TRANS SHOP. WENT BACK TO THE SHOP TODAY FOR THE 5TH TIME SINCE WAS "REBUILT" AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS. NO ONE DROVE THE CAR/SAT IN DRIVEWAY AFTER PICKED UP THE LAST TIME. DECIDED TO TAKE THROUGH CAR WASH TODAY, AND DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY - SO NO CAR WASH. WANTED TO GET IT READY TO TRADE OFF, AND TRANS STARTED SLIPPING AND JERKING AGAIN. O/D LIGHT FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. WON'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE. SAME THING AGAIN. I CERTAINLY WISH I WAS A MILLIONAIRE AND I WOULD PURSUE A LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD AND MAZDA FOR THEIR "EXPENSIVE JUNK" CARS! MY CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGES, TUNE-UPS, ETC. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND STILL LOOKS LIKE BRAND NEW INSIDE AND OUT. TOO BAD IT'S NOT RELIABLE. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID HERE, WORD OF MOUTH, SAYING THEY WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA OR FORD AGAIN. THE SAME DEFINITELY GOES FOR ME. SO, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE SPENT OVER $4000 FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS, AND IT STILL WON'T RUN CORRECTLY! I'M JUST FED UP!*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING, AND THEN THE REVERSE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REVERSE FAILED AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A SECOND TIME. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING LESS THAN A WEEK LATER.

I PURCHASED THIS 1999 MAZDA 626 USED IN NOVEMBER 2002. I HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE CAR TO MAKE SURE ALL WAS OKAY; THEY SAID YES. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WITH 3 PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND SOME LUGGAGE FOR THE WEEKEND, WE EMBARKED ON A TRIP. TWO HOURS INTO THE TRIP AT SPEEDS NO HIGHER THAN 75 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT DRIVING AT SUCH HIGH SPEEDS (70 TO 80 MPH) FOR 2 HOURS WITH 3 PEOPLE IN THE CAR WAS TOO MUCH FOR THE MAZDA 626. I DID HAVE THEM PUT IN A TRANSMISSION AND A TRANSMISSION COOLER WHICH WE FOUND OUT WAS NOT STANDARD FOR THE 1999 626. IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT MAZDA AGREED TO PAY PART OF THE COST. INTERESTINGLY, WHEN I CALLED TO SPEAK TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US OF THE MISSING TRANSMISSION COOLER ABOUT 1 WEEK AFTER THE CAR BROKE DOWN, HE NO LONGER WORKED THERE. ANYHOW, TO NOTE I DID PUT THIS INFORMATION IN AT THE TIME, BUT I NOTICED TODAY MY COMPLAINT WAS NOT IN THE SYSTEM. MOVING ON, IT IS ONE THING AFTER THE OTHER ON THIS CAR. I REALLY WANT TO GET RID OF IT, BUT I DO NOT EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE PUTTING SOMEBODY ELSE THROUGH THIS. I HAVE PUT MORE MONEY INTO REPAIRS IN A COUPLE YEARS, THAN I EVER DID WITH THE SATURN. THIS IS MY THIRD CAR AND THE ONE WITH THE MOST PROBLEMS. MY FIRST WAS A USED DODGE K, AND MY SECOND, A WONDERFUL SATURN SL1. I THOUGHT I WAS MOVING UP IN THE AUTO WORLD WHEN PURCHASING THE MAZDA. SORRY TO SAY, I DO NOT HAVE GOOD REPORTS ABOUT THE COMPANY. IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR

IF ONLY I DID MORE RESEARCH ON THE 626! WIFE DROVE 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED CABLE LINKAGE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. WIFE TRIES TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE, BUT COULDN'T. O/D LIGHT FLICKERING ON AND OFF , FLUID COMING OUT OF DIP STICK ONTO MOTOR. MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANS IS COMPLETELY GONE OR SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB

SEVERAL MONTH BACK, AFTER 2 HOURS OF A 3 HOUR TRIP ON I-77, THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON MY 1999 MAZDA 626. IT REMAINED IN THE OD (4TH) GEAR, BUT I SLOWED DOWN ANYWAY AS I THOUGHT THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO W/ OVERHEATING. AFTER CHECKING WITH MY NEIGHBOR (HAS HIS OWN TRANSMISSION SHOP) HE NOTED INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION, AND THAT IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO OVERHEATING. THIS WAS AT AROUND 96,000 MILES. NOW, AT 104,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. AT FIRST, IT WAS SLIPPING ON THE HIGHWAY. THEN IT WOULD ONLY GO FORWARD IF SHIFTED INTO 1, 2, OR DRIVE, BUT NOT OVERDRIVE. LASTLY, IT LOST ALL FORWARD POWER WHILE ALMOST AT THE TOP OF A HILL AT A RED LIGHT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST IN REVERSE DOWN THE HILL AND INTO A PARKING LOT, LET THE TRANNY COOL, AND GET A POLICE ESCORT TO MY APARTMENT 4 BLOCKS AWAY (IN REVERSE), UP A ONE WAY STREET. REPLACEMENT COSTS PER MY TRANSMISSION GUY (FOR A USED TRANNY) AROUND $1000 + LABOR.*JB

THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. STOPPED AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT ON TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I FILLED THE TRANS BACK UP AND IT ALL LEAKED OUT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. THE FLUID IS COMING OUT OF THE VENT TUBE. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. JUST REPLACED THE COOLING LINES THAT RUSTED IN HALF!*AK

I OWN A 99 MAZDA 626 W/ 120K MILES ON IT. ON NEW YEARS DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED REVVING UP PERSISTENTLY. IT SEEMED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. QUICKLY THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL IN ALL THE GEARS. THERE WAS ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET THE CAR TO A SIDE ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS NEARLY HOME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION PLACE TO GET LOOKED AT. THE FINAL QUOTE WAS ABOUT $3000 DOLLARS. SUPPOSEDLY THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT AND THE TRANNY BURNED UP. THE TORQUE CONVERTER, SOLENOID BLOCK, 4 GEARS, AND ALL THE BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST BAD LUCK BUT AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURES WERE COMMON FOR 93-2001 MAZDA 626'S. APPARENTLY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS OR PUBLICITY FOR MAZDA TO ISSUE A RECALL, YET THEY STOPPED PRODUCING THE VEHICLE DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

(1) THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 120000 MILES WHEN ACCELERATING HARD (2) I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR MY CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP FROM FL TO CA, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME NOR MONEY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION; I HAD TO TAKE MY CHANCES AND BARELY MADE IT. THE CAR NOW CANNOT BE DRIVEN, IT CANNOT MAKE IT UP A HILL, AND I'M STUCK WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. (3) NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DONE; I'LL BE DROPPING THE CAR OFF EITHER AT A MECHANIC TO GET IT FIXED (IF I CAN GET A CREDIT CARD) OR AT A DEALER AS A TRADE-IN FOR ANOTHER CAR. *NM