2001 Mazda 626 complaints

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS BROKEN. *JB

HARD SHIFTING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. HAD A BLOW OUT SAME NIGHT TRANSMISSION MESSED UP. WON'T GO INTO GEAR UNTIL IT PAST 2.5 RPM'S. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SPEC. SAID IT WAS OVER HEATING ALSO NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, NEED TO INSTALL TRANSMISSION COOLER. *TR

2001 MAZDA 626, WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR, HAD THE LINKAGE CABLE REPAIRED TWICE. NOW AT 149,000 MILES THE CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE OD LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON AND OFF. WE ARE HAVING IT TOWED (THIS IS THE 2ND TOW BILL) TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP TOMORROW AND HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. IT WILL COST BETWEEN 1500 & 1700 TO REPAIR. *JB UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED *JB

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 2 TIMES BOTH TIMES REPLACED...*JB

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 LX WOULD JERK EXTREMELY HARD WHEN STARTING OFF UNTIL SPEEDS REACHED AROUND 25+MPH THIS HAPPENED SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS PURCHASED EVEN AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THE CAR STILL JERKED WHEN INCREASING SPEEDS. JUST RECENTLY WHILE GOING TO WORK THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE AND BARLEY MOVE IN DRIVE AFTER GETTING HALF WAY TO WORK I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ONLY REV UP THAT'S WHEN I CALLED A TOWING SERVICE TO DROP MY CAR OFF TO A GARAGE AFTER THE MECHANICS HEARD MY PROBLEM THEY GAVE ME SOME STARTLING NEWS THAT MOST OF THE 4CYCLE MAZDA 626S HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS PART I HAD TO GET WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

TWO TRANSMISSION FAILURES. FIRST AT 76,000, 2ND AT 101,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT BOTH TIMES. THERE WE 2 OTHER 626'S IN TRANSMISSION SHOP AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

2001 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 113,000 MILES AND ATTEMPT TO CONTACT MAZDA THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICES LINE RESULTED IN LONG WAIT AND NO SATISFACTORY ANSWER. *TR

MAZDA 626 YEAR 2001 TRANSMISSION FAILURE, RPMS WENT TO 4000 BY ITSELF ODOMETER LIGHT CAME ON AND FLASHED ON DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CAR JERKED BADLY. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED ON 7/6/2007, AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEN ON 7/9/2007 CAR WA S DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING. HAD TO HAVE TOWED AGAIN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE INSTITUTION AWAITING RESULTS OF ESTIMATE. *AK

AUTO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. FIRST TIME, JUST DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE SECOND TIME AFTER AN HOUR HIGHWAY DRIVE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASING WAS CRACKED AND WOULD COST $1,500 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE OUTPUT SEAL. THE THIRD DIAGNOSIS WAS LABELED AS A FAULTY SEAL. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALER FINALLY SENT HIM TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE AXLE SLEEVE. THE LEAK HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND NOW THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS BEGUN BLINKING. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN MY 2001 MAZDA 626

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 4 CYL HAD LOW POWER FROM THE BEGINNING. WHEN IT REACHED ABOUT 52000 MILES I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHIFTING SLOWLY. AT ABOUT 53000 THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND WITHIN A WEEK OR SO THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START MOVING AFTER A STOP. I CALLED HAROLD MAZDA AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH THEY PUT IN FOR A MERE $3800 AS IT WAS 3013 MILES OVER THE 50000 MI WARANTEE PERIOD.. AT THE TIME I ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS A REASON IT FAILED AND THEY TOLD ME NO THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE MAZDA 626. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO REDUCE THE LIKELYHOOD OF IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN - THEY DID NOT MENTION THE COOLING UNIT I HAVE READ ABOUT. NOW MY MAZDA 626 IS AGAIN SHIFTING SLOWLY AND I AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS ONLY 67000 MILES ON IT NOW BUT THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF IT'S 1 YR WARANTEE PERIOD. MAZDA SHOULD BE MADE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND OFFEER COMPENSATION TO IT'S VICTIMS.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 626 LX 2.0 I4. THESE PARTICULAR FORD TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILING. IT IS VERIFIED TO BE A POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

2001 MAZDA 626 ES V6 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 78,000 MILES. *TR

AS WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER 626'S, OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE INTERSTATE....WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA. *NM

2001 MAZDA 626 LX WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT BEGAN HAVING ITS O/D OFF LIGHT FLASH ON MY DASHBOARD. THEN MY SHIFTING IN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BEFORE THIS AND THE ONLY REASON MUST BE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I AM A STUDENT AND AM HAVING TO WORK OVERTIME TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH MAY ALSO FAIL DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 HAS HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED AND NOW INSTALLING THE THIRD ONE @104000 MILES FIRST TIME THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR AT 53000 MILES WE HAD TO FIGHT WITH MAZDA NORTH AMERICA FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. ALSO WHEELER MAZDA IN YUBA CITY DID NOT HELP OR CARE WITCH THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AT NEW. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER FOR ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE. NOW THE SECOND ONE JUST WENT OUT @ 104000 MILES AND THE MAZDA REP FOR MAZDA NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT HELP AT ALL. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ONE IS2,900 DOLLARS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY. THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT FROM A NEW CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE AXLES WENT OUT @ 70000 MILES THE STEREO WENT OUT 2 TIMES IN THE FIRST MONTH. THE 2ND TRANSMISSION STARTED SQUEAKING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT. THANKS. *JB

2001 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYL AUTO TRANS. AT 80K MILES, AFTER LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS, THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. THEN, THERE WAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING, THEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSION REBUILDS AT A COST OF $3500 OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE MY LAST REBUILD AND I AM SEEING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET SITTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. *NM

ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26 AT AROUND 3:00 PM I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN HOMESTEAD WHEN MY 2001 MAZDA 626 V4 STARTED TO SPIKE IN RPM'S UP ABOVE NORMAL. AT THIS SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT I STARTED TO DECELERATE IN SPEED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND BEFORE THIS I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH MY AUTOMOBILE PURCHASE. UPON INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT IN DRIVE AND REVERSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME AND UPON CALLING A MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET ONLINE I STARTED TO SEARCH FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND WITH GREAT DISPLEASURE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAZDA 626 LINE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY KIND OF RECALL OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS ISSUE BY THE GOVERNMENT OR BY MAZDA AT ALL. WHY IS THERE NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO COMPANIES AND FAULTY EQUIPMENT? IT IS JUST LIKE THE SAYING GOES ??THE POOR GET POORER AND THE RICH GET RICHER". MY CAR IS A 2001 AND ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. I DO NOT DRIVE LIKE A CRAZY PERSON AND DRIVE A TOTAL OF 8 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILING IT JUST WENT FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON THE BUSY PART OF THE HIGHWAY OR ON I-95 WHERE THERE ARE LARGE SEMI TRUCKS GOING BY AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS. THIS COULD HAVE ENDED WORSE THAN IT DID. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO START DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE FIRS

WHILE DRIVING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MY CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED AND THE RPMS WERE WAY HIGH. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GO IN ANY GEAR. LUCKILY I PULLED OVER WHEN I DID. CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY SEE SO MANY MAZDA VEHICLES COME IN BECAUSE MAZDA PUT IN A FORD TRANSMISSION MADE FOR A SMALLER VEHICLE. THEREFORE THE TRANSMISSION BURNS OUT. WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REBUILT AND TO ADD THIS COOLING UNIT $2,100.00. THANK YOU MAZDA FOR KEEPING YOUR CUSTOMERS INFORMED OF THIS. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT IT NEEDED THIS COOLING UNIT OR MY TRANSMISSION WOULD BURN UP, I WOULD HAVE SPENT THE $140.00 FOR THE UNIT. BUT MAZDA DID NOT FEEL THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WERE PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION. NEVER WILL BY MAZDA AGAIN!!!!! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, HOWEVER NO DETERMINATION HAS YET BEEN MADE ON THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT AT THE END OF A LONG TRIP. INITIALLY, THE SERVICE DEALER OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION IF THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE LABOR COST. THE DEALER'S OFFER WAS WITHDRAWN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 65,000 MILES. A SERVICE BULLETIN (06012004, NHTSA ITEM #10013965) REGARDING OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DISCOVERED WHICH RECOMMENDED THE INSTALLATION OF A TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

2001 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IS AT TRANSMISSION SHOP RIGHT NOW BEING REPLACED. ONLY HAVE APPROX 56 THOUSAND MILES ON CAR, SHOULD NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I SEE MANY MANY OTHER MAZDA 626 HAVE SAME PROBLEM. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE TO PAY EVEN IF OFF WARRANTY. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE CONSUMER'S 2001 MAZDA 626. *KB *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65,000 MILES. FLASHING O/D LIGHT. REPLACED TRANSMISSION IN 2/05 AFTER $300 75 MILE TOW. 07/06 AT 83000 MILES O/D LIGHT ENGAGES AUTOMATICALLY. CANNOT GET ABOVE 50 MPH. SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND VERY ROUGH. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM WITHOUT COMPUTER CODE THAT DOES NOT SHOW ANY DIAGNOSTICS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO A COOLANT TANK LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE COOLANT TANK WAS REPLACED. AFTER A YEAR A HALF THE NEW COOLANT TANK STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING THE SAME OVERHEATING ISSUE.

AUTO WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, THREE MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER AND WIRING WAS REPLACED. THREE YEARS LATER , THE TRANSMISSION HAS PACKED UP AGAIN. *NM

1. 2001 MAZDA 626 --- TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 2. AAMCO #4660-- KEPT MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS. DIFFERENT STORY/EXCUSE FOR JOB NOT BEING COMPLETED. DIDN'T PUT IT BACK PROPERLY, ENDED UP WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON, TRANSMISSION FLUID SPILL ON RIGHT SIDE LEAKING DOWN ON THE GROUND; HOSE NOT CONNECTED & CAUSE FOR A 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WENT BAD ON THE INTERSTATE. MY HUSBAND KNOWS A SALVAGE YARD OWNER AND HE SAYS HE CAN'T KEEP THEM IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY ARE NOTORIOUSLY BAD. IT ONLY HAS 79K MILES ON IT. THIS IS SO WRONG ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. I SEE THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. MAZDA CORP. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SHORTCOMINGS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AT THE DEALER. I WON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF PURCHASING A MAZDA AGAIN. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE (TWICE). FIRST TIME TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WAS AT 107,105 MILES. I PAID FOR THE REMOVAL,REBUILDING, AND RE-INSTALLING OF MY TRANSMISSION. PARTS REPLACED WERE, TORQUE CONVERTER, MOKCD4E, SHIFT KIT, FILTER INSIDE, WASHER DIR DRUM, SPRAG FWD, DRUM FWD, DIRECT SHELL, T/BEARING KIT, BUSHING KIT. TOTAL COST $1701.82. NOW AT 138, 652 MILES MY TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT AGAIN AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK. THIS TIME IT WILL COST ME $700.00. *JB

AFTER BEING PARKED MY CAR WENT IN REVERSE WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE, I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE CAR STILL WENT BACKWARDS, THE SAME WITH NEUTRAL. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE CAR WAS DEAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR DEALER MENTIONED THEY HAD SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM IN 10 SAME MODEL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SHIFTER BUSHING WAS REPLACED, WAS TOLD THIS PART WILL WEAR OUT IN 3-4 YEARS TIME, THE BUSHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN A STRONGER RUBBER MATERIAL. *NM

FAULTY/DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BEING USED IN MAZDA VEHICLES WELL AFTER THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT...MANY WITH WELL UNDER 60K MILES. AND, MANY HAVE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE 100K MILES. ALL OF THE PROBLEM VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME SYMPTOMS: OD LIGHT FLASHING OFF AND ON, AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR, AS THE TRANSMISSION BURNS UP, LITERALLY FROM POOR DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW FOR PROPER AIR FLOW AND COOLING. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MANUFACTURER, CAR OWNERS, DEALERS, SERVICE CENTERS, AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS. PROOF OF THIS FACT WAS A NOTICE SENT OUT TO DEALERS THAT THERE IS A COOLING KIT "AVAILABLE" FOR THIS TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD AID IN KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION COOL. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A FREE ADDITION! MAZDA IS ACTUALLY CHARGING CUSTOMERS TO ADD A FIX TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW! I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A FRAUDULENT ISSUE, BUT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE COULD BE (AND MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN) SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED, BY HAVING THEIR TRANSMISSION GO OUT AS THEY ATTEMPT TO ENTER HIGH TRAFFIC, HIGH-SPEED AREAS, SUCH AS A FREEWAY. I WAS NOT EVEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BY MAZDA AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AFTER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. I AM EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF FILING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST MAZDA CORPORATION. *NM

2001 MAZDA 626 WITH A FLASHING OVER-DRIVE LIGHT AT 48,000 MILES. THE GEAR RATIO IS OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $3300.00. *NM

I BOUGHT A MAZDA 626 IN AUGUST 2001. WHEN THE MILEAGE REACHED 74,414 IN EARLY MARCH 2006, THE CAR COULD NOT REVERSE AND WAS HARD TO GO FORWARD. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR PUTTING A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE AROUND $3,800. SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY COULD ONLY GIVE ME A DISCOUNT OF $1,000. I DID BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND I BELIEVED THEY DID NOT TRY THEIR BEST TO HELP ME OUT EVEN I TOLD THEM THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO OTHER SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS, AND THE DEALER CHARGED ME $80 FOR DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THIS CAR HAS COST ME SO MUCH FOR REPAIRS: FIXING THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2,700, AND I JUST WORRY THAT THERE WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS IN NEAR FUTURE. *JB

I BOUGHT A MAZDA 626 2001 IN OCTOBER 2005. IN JANUARY OF 2006 (4 MONTHS LATER) THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP. TRANNY FLUID WAS EVERY WHERE AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE TRANNY IT'S SELF, I WAS STRANDED. THANKFULLY I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THE FACTORY WARRANTY COVERED THE COST. AGAIN. LESS THAN A MONTH AND A HALF, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF WAS A 'WEAR AND TEAR" PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS THAT CAUSED IT TO SLIP. THE DEALER AGAIN SENT IT TO THEIR CONTRACTOR...THE SAME ONES THAT 'FIXED' IT BEFORE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE COME TO MY ENDS TRYING TO FIX MY CAR. I RELY ON MY CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO GET NOT ONLY MYSELF TO WORK, BUT ALSO MY NEPHEW TO DAYCARE, AND MY MOTHER TO WORK. IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP ME GET RESOURCES, OR HELP ME RESOLVE MY PROBLEM I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. *NM

WAS AT A STOP SIGN. STARTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING, AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL RATHER THAN DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS APPROACHING , AND THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTED. ONCE UP TO SPEED, IT WORKS OKAY. THERE WAS NO EARLIER INDICATION THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. CURRENTLY, I CAN DRIVE THE CAR, BUT I NEED TO SHIFT BETWEEN DRIVE AND 2ND. WHEN SLOWING TO STOP, I DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND JUST BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, I SHIFT TO DRIVE WHEN THE CAR REACHES AROUND 1500 RPM. MECHANIC SAYS IT'LL COST ME 3K OR MORE FOR A NEW TRANS, OR BETWEEN $1200 TO $2500 FOR REBUILT. CALLED THE MAZDA CUSTOMER SVC LINE. GIVEN MAZDA'S HISTORY WITH 626 TRANS, I'M UPSET THEY HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE ANY HELP WITH THIS SITUATION. *NM

FAILED TRANSMISSION. NEW TRANSMISSION COSTING OVER $3000.00 REQUIRED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SO I CANNOT DRIVE, NEITHER CAN I HAVE MY EMISSION TESTING DONE. I HAVE ASKED FOR TWO POSTPONEMENT FROM MVA ALREADY. *JB

2001 MAZDA 626 ONLY 68,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED $2,800 TO FIX! *NM

MY 2001 MAZDA 626 WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO A BURNING SMELL IN THE ENGINE. THE CAR ALSO SMELLED MUSTY AS IF WATER WERE LEAKING SOMEWHERE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE MOONROOF SCREWS OUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND CLAIMS NO BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, THE STEREO DISPLAY STOPPED ILLUMINATING AND MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER THE $300 REPAIR. AT AROUND 70,000 MILES, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO FLASH CONTINUOUSLY. THE CAR STARTED TO CHUG UP HILLS AND JERK WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. I NOTIFIED MAZDA IMMEDIATELY, THINKING IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE DEALER SAID TO DRIVE IT IN. ON THE WAY, THE CAR QUICKLY GOT WORSE, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH AND STALLED WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER SAID, "BAD NEWS, YOU NEED A NEW TRANNY". UNPROFESSIONAL AND IGNORANT WORDS TO ME. I PAID ANOTHER TRANSMISSION COMPANY FOR TOWING AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION SINCE MAZDA WANTED OVER $3,000. HE STATED THAT MANY MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN FAILING TOO EARLY SINCE THEY WERE BUILT WITH A FORD TRANSMISSION, NOT CAPABLE FOR A CAR LIKE THE 626. MAZDA MUST HAVE HAD SOME GOOD REASON TO OFFER 0 PERCENT FINANCING THEN SUDDENLY STOP MAKING THE LONG EXISTING AND ONCE RELIABLE 626. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE NUMEROUS AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THERE ARE PROBABLY SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE 626 OUT THERE REPAIRING THEIR TRANSMISSION

DT: THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS TRAPPED IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT. THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY UNLATCHED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. HOWEVER, THE STRAP TIGHTENED AROUND THE CHILD, LIMITING MOVEMENT AND RESULTING IN AN INJURY. IN AN EFFORT TO FREE THE CHILD THE STRAP WAS CUT BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO REAR END COLLISIONS . UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SPEED OF THE FIRST COLLISION WAS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT IT WAS AT A LOW SPEED. THE SECOND COLLISION OCCURRED AT 30 MPH. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION OR REPAIRS MADE TO THE AIRBAGS. *AK

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTH FROM RICHMOND, VA. AT APPROX. 70 MPH WHEN AUTO TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING SUDDEN DECELERATION. WAS ABLE TO EXIT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BY PULLING TO MY RIGHT AND DRIVING SLOWLY UNTIL EXIT RAMP WAS REACHED. CAR WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME TO RALEIGH, NC BY TAKING SECONDARY ROADS AND NOT TOTALLY STOPPING FOR STOP SIGNS AS TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO PULL CAR AWAY FROM A TOTAL STOP. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 73K MILES ON IT AND IT NOT DRIVEN HARSHLY NOR HAS IT EVER PULLED A TRAILER. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO MECHANICS. THEY ALSO SAY THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION HAS BAD REPUTATION WITHIN THE REPAIR INDUSTRY. APPEARS THAT I WILL NEED TO PURCHASE A "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. *NM

DUE TO A LOW QUALITY OF MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION, IT STOPPED ON THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TO ILLUSTRATE, TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A USED 2001 MAZDA 626, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION'S WEAKNESS [NO POWER, SLUGGISH AND UNRESPONSIVE]. TO CLAIM, IMMEDIATELY I CALLED TO THE MAZDA-DEALERSHIP SALES DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAIN THE ISSUES AND I REQUESTED A REPAIR OR SERVICE. AFTER A SHORT CONVERSATION WITH THE SALES DEPARTMENT FOR RETURNING THE CAR, MR. DAVE WILSON AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS, SO HE TRANSFERRED MY CALL TO THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE CENTER MANAGER, MR. STEVE POLLARD. BASED ON MY PHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE MANAGER, I WENT TO THE CENTER TO GET THE PROBLEMS FIXED. HOWEVER, MR. STEVE POLLARD BY REJECTING MY REQUEST FOR A TRANSMISSION-REPLACEMENT, AFTER A MINOR CHECK, HE FIXED THE AUDIO-SET AND THE STEERING WHEEL NOISE ONLY. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, I FOUND THE SAME WEAK TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I CALLED BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER, AND REMINDED THE PROBLEM BUT THE MANAGER GAVE THE SAME REPLY AS BEFORE (THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION). THEN HE ASKED: DO YOU HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY? YES, I SAID. THEN HE ADDED: DON'T WORRY AND ADVISED ME TO USE IT FOR ANY FUTURE MAJOR PROBLEMS! AS A RESULT, I STARTED TO USE AND DRIVE THE POWERLESS CAR WITH ITS WEAK TRANSMISSION, NOT ONLY CAREFULLY AND STRESSFULLY FOR 2 YEARS, BUT ALSO FULL OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, UNTIL IT STOPPED ON THE ROAD COMPLETELY. UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO THE CENTER FOR THE SAME ISSUE, TRANSMISSIO

MY NAME IS [XXX]. I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626 LX. 4 CYL. WITH ONLY 97,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE GEAR THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ONLY THE RPMS WOULD REV UP. THE CAR DRIVES IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND REVERSE BUT NOT IN DRIVE. AFTER TAKING TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP IT IS COSTING ME $2000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE FILED A COMPLIANT AGAINST THIS CAR FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE CAR MANUFACTURER IS NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR THEIR CONSUMERS. WHY DON'T THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS CAR?? DOESN'T MAZDA WANT TO SELL MORE CARS IN THE FUTURE? I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AND WILL DISCOURAGE ANYONE I KNOW FROM BUYING IT. IS THIS TRANSMISSION EVEN WORTH REBUILDING? I AM SCARED THAT THIS ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. IS MAZDA EVEN REIMBURSING ANY COST FOR THIS REPAIR? DOES ANYONE KNOW? *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATES HE EXPERIENCED A DOWN SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE TRANSMISSION RAPIDLY DOWN SHIFTED TO A VERY LOW SPEED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE HOWEVER HE PREVIOUSLY DISCOVERED THERE WAS SOME LEAKAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES NOW. TWICE UNDER WARRANTY ONCE OUT OF MY POCKET AND THE LATEST LASTED ONLY 13,000 SO ITS NOT COVERED AGAIN. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 MAZDA 626 THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT LESS THAN 60K MILES. MY PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN I STARTED NOTICING A JERKING MOTION WHEN I ACCELERATED OUT OF A FULL STOP. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES DELAY ENGAGING IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAD MULTIPLE MECHANICS LOOK AT THE CAR, ALL OF WHOM RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH EVEN MORE MECHANICS ABOUT THE SITUATION, INCLUDING THREE AT MAZDA DEALERSHIPS, AND ALL FULLY AND OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS WITH MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS. ONE SERVICE MANAGER AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED I GET RID OF THE CAR ALTOGETHER. ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, REFUSED TO WORK ON MAZDAS AT ALL. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, MAZDA IS ALSO CHARGING EXORBITANT PRICES FOR REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS (PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SUCH DEMAND?): JUST UNDER $3000 FOR THE PART ITSELF, NOT TO MENTION LABOR. I PAID OVER $3700 FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP. EVEN THEN, I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TWICE TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T ENGAGING PROPERLY WHEN I SHIFTED GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE, FOR EXAMPLE. FINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON MY BRAND-NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO TAKE ACTION TO BEGIN A RECALL OF MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS. ON THIS SITE, THE 2001 MAZDA 626 HAS 10 TIMES THE TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS THAN 2001 HONDA AND NEARLY 12 TIMES MORE THAN THE 2001 CAMRY. *NM

I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR WITH MY 9 YR OLD AUTISTIC SON WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2001 MAZDA 626. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITH OUT BEING REAR ENDED HOWEVER WE WERE FORCED TO PULL OVER IN A VERY DANGEROUS PART OF AUSTIN. I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. I AM LEARNING THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MAZDA 626 MODELS 94-2002. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A FORD AND TOO SMALL TO SUPPORT THE 626 MODEL THEREFORE THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION HENCE THE SYSTEM OVERHEATS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE FILED FOR MAZDA TO BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE. MY RESEARCH IS DISCOVERING THAT TONS OF ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO HOLD MAZDA ACCOUNTABLE. *NM