2002 Mazda 626

Routine

Owners filed 87 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the transmission. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Mazda 626 years to avoid. Which Mazda 626 years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
73,000 milesMedian miles at failure

60 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,000–75,000 miles.

Most common 2002 Mazda 626 problems

67 of the 87 complaints (77%) are about the transmission.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission55
000
Power Train · transmission10
202
Electrical System3
000
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing2
000
Suspension › Front2
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission · transmission2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling · engine2
000
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags2
202
Visibility1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power TrainCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 2, 202085,000 milesFL

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF FORWARD GEAR WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKES AND GENTLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE DIDNT MOVE. MANUALLY SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR WAS THE CAR ABLE TO MOVE BUT CAUSING A VERY HARSH LURCHING FORWARD CAUSING A LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE CAR 3 MILES TO MY HOME. I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR AND HAVING THE BRAKES APPLIED THE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT IN GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO CONTACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH MYSELF AND THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE I HIT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WELL AS PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE BACK OF THEIRS.

Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2017TX

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOW. EVEN AFTER WE GET IT FIXED IT STILLS JERKS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO FALL OUT. IT HAS A TERRIBLE TIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT JUMPS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OUT. MY DAD IS 94 YEARS OLD AND NEEDS THIS CAR TO WORK. HE DOESN'T NEED TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER ONE OR SPEND ANOTHER $1800 OR SO TO GET THIS ONE FIXED. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

Power Train
Filed Dec 2, 2016TN

TAMARA RECALL

Power TrainCrash
Filed Sep 17, 2016214,000 milesNC

MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN ONE DAY AS I WAS LEAVING WORK MY CAR STARTED ACTING AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO SHUT OFF. I MADE IT ALL THE WAY HOME AND WAS GOING TO GO TO THE STORE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR I TRIED TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUIDS BUT IT SOUNDS NOT MOVE.

Power Train
Filed Aug 28, 2016CA

TRANSMISSION JERKS-HARD KICKING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION/DEFECTIVE TRANSMISION ON THIS MODEL NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.(FLUID FILTER SPEED SENSOR ETC)STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM...THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN ON ALL THE MAZDA VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION

Electrical System
Filed Dec 19, 2015100,000 milesTX

THE CAR STARTED TO NOT WANT TO CRANK IT WOULD CRANK SOMETIMES THEN ONE DAY WE WENT TO THE STORE THEN WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE THE STORE IT FINALLY JUST STOPPED TRYING TO CRANK ONLY MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND WHILE TRYING TO CRANK IT THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE I BELIEVE IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH

Power Train
Filed Oct 27, 201445,000 milesIA

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. REPAIR ENDED UP COSTING APPROXIMATELY $3,000 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AT TIME OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAD PUT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT PERSONALLY. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED BUT IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 16, 2014129,000 milesIN

MY CAR WILL MOVE FINE UNTIL IT WARMS UP BUT THEN SLIPS OUT OF ALL GEARS AND WONT MOVE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. *TR

Power Train
Filed May 27, 2013110,000 milesIN

TRANSMISSION MAKING POPPING NOISES AND LAGGING WHEN MAKING TURNS SOUNDS HORRIBLE TOOK TO A MECHANIC HE SAYS HE CAN FIX IT FOR 1700.00 THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD. AT A LITTLE OVER A 100 THOUSAND MILES IT SHOULDN'T NEED REPLACED. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT. *TR

Power Train
Filed Dec 3, 2012148,000 milesIL

ON ACCELERATION FROM BEING STOPPED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A SERIES OF POPPING SOUNDS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE A STRETCHED DRIVE CHAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION. INSTANCES OF HIGH TORQUE WOULD CAUSE THE CHAIN TO SKIP PAST TEETH, CAUSING THE POPPING NOISE. DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IF PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUE THE CD4E TRANSMISSION THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS REPLACED. *TR

Power Train
Filed Nov 4, 2012120,000 milesOH

HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN 2010 AFTER HARD SHIFTING AND SKIPPING GEARS, SAME PROBLEM AGAIN STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2012. SHOULD NOT BE REPLACING A TRANSMISSION EVERY TWO YEARS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 8, 2012NC

SMOKE CAME FROM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 13, 2010167,000 milesCO

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE LOCAL GAS STATION PARKING SPOT, THE ENGINE DIED. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO NEED A REBUILD. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 4, 2010107,000 milesMI

2002 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION BROKE ON ME AT 107,000 ODO . *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 25, 2010FL

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 2010125,000 milesGA

AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING AND SHIFTING. TONS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS. WHY CANT SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS LIKE A RECALL? *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 2010CA

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, 2002 MAZDA 626, TWICE IN LAST 6 MONTHS. CAR LURCHES, STALLS, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS, HAVE BEEN STUCK ON BUSY FREEWAY. ALSO FUEL PUMP JUST CUTS OFF AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 17, 201097,000 milesAZ

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, 2002 MAZDA 626 4CYL. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. 97,000 MILES BUT HAD REGULAR "HARSH CONDITIONS" MAINTENANCE AS IT WAS BEING OPERATED IN THE AZ DESERT HEAT. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BUT NOW SHIFTS HARD 1ST TO 2ND IN ADDITION TO 2ND AND 3RD DESPITE BEING SENT BACK. THERE ARE WIDESPREAD FAILURES OF 626 TRANSMISSIONS BUT MAZDA WAS NEVER FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE TRANSMISSION IS TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE PER SOME REPORTS. $2,500 FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I'VE NEVER HAD A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GO OUT THIS SOON AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS. *TR

Suspension › Front
Filed Oct 15, 200982,000 milesCA

2002 MAZDA 626 ES, LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 200972,000 milesFL

2002 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION CHAIN FAILURE. CAR HAS ONLY 72K MILES ON IT, NEEDS ENTIRE RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION COSTING OVER $1900.00. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 11, 200975,000 milesTX

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 75,000 MILES. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 18, 200994,000 milesTX

94,000 MILES ON MY 2002 MAZDA 626 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND STRUTS WERE WORTHLESS. WAS STRANDED ON THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO IN REVERSE BUT WAS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE IN DRIVE AND AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 27, 200953,000 milesMI

I HAVE MAZDA 626 YEAR 2002. IT HAD AROUND 53,000 MILES ON IT. VERY LOW MILEAGE AND WELL MAINTAINED. ONE DAY, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS SUDDEN JERKING MOTION AND OD LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, AFTER WHICH THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WAS MOVING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. (ON THE HIGHWAY). AS AND WHEN I STOPPED/SLOWED, THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY TO GAIN SPEED. SOME HOW, I GOT IT HOME AFTER WHICH , IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. NEUTRAL AND REVERSE GEARS WORKED FINE. TOOK IT MAZDA DEALER IN TROY, AND THEY SAID A BAD TRANSMISSION. FIRST THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL GET A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THEY WERE CHARGING EXORBITANTLY. LATER THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE REBUILT FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. I TOOK MY CART TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND GOT IT REPAIRED. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION WITH MAZDA 626. I CALLED UP MAZDA COMPANY AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. BUT MY WORDS FELL ON DEAF EARS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 6, 2009160,000 milesTX

2002 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION BURNOUT. PURCHASED USED MAZDA WITH 138000 MILES, PREVIOUS OWNER SAID HE'D REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE BEFORE. AT AROUND 160 K MILES MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, I HAD A SHOP REPLACE WITH REBUILT TRANS, BUT MORE PROBLEMS RESULTED. 2000 DOLLARS LATER, PLUS RENTAL CAR FEES AND THE "NEW" TRANSMISSION IS ON THE BLINK STILL, HAS BEEN BACK IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES. SYMPTOMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED IN THE INTERNET, BUCKING, NO POWER, HIGH RPM'S, FLASHING O/D LIGHT, SPEWING OIL. IF THIS CAR IS EVER DRIVABLE AGAIN I WILL SELL AND NEVER BUY MAZDA AGAIN. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 24, 200978,000 milesFL

MAZDA 626 WAS BUILT WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE 50,000 MILES. THE CAR STARTED FORCEFULLY SHIFTING, AND NOW WILL HAVE PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT SINCE 50000 MILES WITH CONDITIONS GETTING WORSE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO FIX THE PROBLEM ACCEPT MY MECHANIC SAYS I NEED TO EITHER REBUILD THIS TRANSMISSION OR PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 13, 200986,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FIRESTONE STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AND UNDER THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ICE COLD MOTORS AND THEY CHANGED THE VALVE COVER GASKET. ICE COLD MOTORS DISCOVERED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 6, 200812,300 milesPA

I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA 626 AND ON JULY 5,08 MY CAR TRANS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS GOING UPHILL. I HAD TO SWERVE THE CAR TO KEEP IT FROM ROLLING BACKWARD INTO ANOTHER CAR. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 30, 200877,800 milesFL

NO EVENTS LEAD UP TO MY FAILURE. WE OWN AND HAVE A WELL MAINTAINED MAZDA 626 AND IT STOPPED DRIVING THE OTHER DAY. NO WARNING OR PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS - JUST STOPPED RUNNING. WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO NOT ACCELERATE OR SHIFT ERRATICALLY AND ROUGHLY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 23, 200896,328 milesFL

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 MAZDA 626 HAS BEGAN MAKING NOISES NOW. IT IS CLICKING AND JERKING THE CAR. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 2008NV

I AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE AND QUALITY RECEIVED BY MAZDA. WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2002 MAZDA 626 IN 2005 I TOOK MY CAR IN APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY ENGINE SHAKES. MECHANIC SAYS THAT'S THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO ME (ALTHOUGH NO OTHER CAR THAT I'VE BEEN IN DID THAT). AS TIME WENT ON & THINGS GOT WORSE WE DISCOVERED THAT OUR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. WE SEEM TO HAVE TO CHANGE OUR BRAKE PADS EVERY 3 MONTHS. WE TOOK OUR CAR IN TODAY BECAUSE OUR CAR WAS "JUMPING", FIND OUT OUR TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. IM A SINGLE MOM AND DO NOT HAVE A 6 FIGURE JOB , BUT HAS HAD TO DISH OUT $ ALL THE TIME FOR THE REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. IT IS MERELY A WORK VEHICLE AND I DON'T TRAVEL MUCH OTHER THAN THAT. I'VE BEEN PUT BEHIND ON BILLS AND NOW IS TOLD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION IT WILL BE $2000. IT IS FRUSTRATING. ITS NO WONDER WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE TOYOTAS AND HONDAS. *TR

Seat Belts › FrontCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 16, 200899,203 milesTX

VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION ABOUT 35MPH, FAILURE OF FRONT DRIVER SEATBELT TO LOCK. RESULTED IN INJURY TO DRIVER BY IMPACTING KNEES WITH LOWER DASH BOARD, AND CHEST AND FACE HITTING STEERING WHEEL. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. FAILURE OF SEATBELTS AND INJURES, ALL NOTATED ON ACCIDENT POLICE REPORT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 200863,642 milesAZ

FOR THE PAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I OWN A MAZDA 626 2002 4 CYL. MY VEHICLE HAS 63,642 MILES AND FOR THE PAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR INTO A LOWER GEAR. IT WOULD STAY IN THE SAME GEAR AND NOT SHIFT (THIS OCCURS MAINLY IN THE LOWER GEARS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE). THE O/D OFF LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF AFTER THIS OCCURS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. YESTERDAY AFTER PARKING THE CAR I AM UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO BACKWARDS. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE APPARENTLY NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED ISSUES OF MAZDA 626S HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. . I CALLED THE MAZDA CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO POWERTRAIN WARRANTY OFFERED AND MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE MANUFACTURERS 3 YEAR/50000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 10, 200772,200 milesTX

I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA 626 4CYL WITH 71,200 MILES. I HAD JUST PAID IT OFF LAST MONTH AND COME TO FIND OUT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON ME. WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS AS IF GEARS ARE GRINDING. THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY CONNECTION WAS LOOSE. OTHER THAN THAT THERE WAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS AND HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. I HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE DEFECTED TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN THE VEHICLE CONTINUING WITH GRINDING NOISE. TOOK IT BACK IN AND TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO NEED REBUILDING I HAVE READ MANY PROBLEMS ONLINE DATING BACK TO 1996 REGARDING THESE 626'S TRANSMISSIONS AND HERE IS ANOTHER ONE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 30, 2007FL

COMPLETE AND UTTER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 200743,700 milesCA

I OWN A MAZDA 2002 626 LX WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT WAS PURCHASED ON DECEMBER 12, 2004 AND HAS ONLY 43,700 MILES ON IT. THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PERFORMED AS OUTLINED IN THE CAR MAINTENANCE MANUAL. ON JULY 13, 2007 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. SOME TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO THE REVERSE GEAR IT WILL MAKE A SCREECHING NOISE AND THE GEAR WILL NOT ENGAGE. ON JULY 14, 2007 I CALLED TWO MAZDA DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (TIME WISE, NOT MILEAGE WISE) AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. ON JULY 16, 2007 I TOOK IT TO AN AAMCO SHOP. A DAY LATER I WAS TOLD BY AAMCO THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE RE-BUILT. IT COST ME $2510 TO GET THE TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD. THIS WAS A HUGE UNEXPECTED EXPENSE BECAUSE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE DUE TO SOME INHERENT DEFECT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 31, 200792,000 milesCA

THE CAR IS A 2002 MAZDA 626 WITH APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES. THE CAR WAS NOT IN A CRASH OR INCIDENT LEADING UP TO THE ISSUE. AUGUST 28, 2007-DRIVING ON I-5 ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM HOME SO I CONTINUED ON. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CAR AND BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. REVERSE WORKS JUST FINE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE $1350 FOR A REBUILT/REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND LABOR ($650). THIS IS A TOTAL OF $2,000 NOT INCLUDING TAX. THERE WERE NO USED TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA 626S AND THEY'VE ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 05-005/02 DEALS WITH ONE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE: AFTER EXTENDED HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE O/D OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING AND CODE P1783 IS SET (EXCESSIVE ATF TEMPERATURE). THE TSB REQUIRES THAT A COOLING KIT BE INSTALLED DUE TO OVERHEATING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION THE KIT IS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF THE OWNER WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $1,236 (QUOTED BY SENATOR MAZDA). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CD4E WAS MEANT FOR THE FORD CONTOUR/MYSTIQUE WHICH IS MUCH LIGHTER THAN THE MAZDA 626. IN ADDITION, THE MANUAL DOESN'T MENTION ANY SERVICING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION NOR HAVE I BEEN CONTACTED AS MAZDA'S DUE DILIGENCE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR 626 OWNERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS A PEREMPTORY STRIKE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 19, 2007NC

WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN GIVEN GAS. CAR NEVER PULLED WELL WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 626. IN LESS THAN 9 MONTHS THE CAR STOPPED PULLING ALL TOGETHER. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 11, 200740,000 milesNJ

PURCHASED A USED 2002 MAZDA 626 AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE WRRRANTY COMPANY DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM , AND THIS CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE PRESENT TIME. MEANWHILE THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WEEK AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 26, 200748,500 milesNY

2002 MAZDA 626 CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAS HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN**CC CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE 2ND TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING HARD. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLUID WAS BLACK, WHICH INDICATED A PREMATURE FLUID BREAKDOWN. THE CONSUMER STATED MAZDA INSTALLED A FORD CD4E TRANSMISSION THAT WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE; THUS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT AND THE FLUID TO BREAKDOWN PREMATURELY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 16, 200760,000 milesGA

NO CRASHES OR INJURIES JUST YET, BUT I PURCHASED A 2002 MAZDA 626 BRAND NEW AFTER I WAS TALKED INTO IT BY THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD A 2001 626 WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT I BROUGHT IN TO BE SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP (FIVE STAR MAZDA). THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD GET ME INTO A BRAND NEW 626 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR LESS PER MONTH THAN I WAS PAYING AT THE TIME. BEING YOUNG, AND JUST PURCHASED A HOME WITH ONE CHILD AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY, I JUMPED AT THE IDEA OF DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF OUR BILLS. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO DEAL WITH TWO LITTLE ONES IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO FOOL WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I SURE WISH I'D HAVE KEPT THAT CAR NOW!! ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY (2005), YOU GUESSED IT, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO FIVE STAR MAZDA, THEY CHARGED ME $90 TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR (EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS INTERNET POSTS, THEY ALREADY NEW THE PROBLEM!) AT ANY RATE, THEY CONTACTED ME LATER THAT DAY TO LET ME KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE NEARLY $3000 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, AND WOULD I LIKE TO KEEP IT THERE TO HAVE IT DONE. HELLO, LET ME JUST CLIMB UP MY MONEY TREE AND HAND IT RIGHT OVER!!! WE RECENTLY FILED A BANKRUPTCY AND ARE UNABLE TO JUST GO GET A LOAN OR PUT IT ON A CREDIT CARD, WE WOULD BE IN CONTEMPT OF COURT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I'M SORRY, BUT MAZDA HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1993? WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS? THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 15, 200739,500 milesRI

2002 MAZDA 626 2.0 W/ 39000 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED AS REPORTED BY THOUSANDS ON THE NET. ERRATIC HARD SHIFT OCCURRED THAT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE ODOMETER INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING RIGHT THERE AFTER. I SEE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ALTHOUGH REPORTED SO MANY TIMES ,WHICH I AM VERY SURPRISED. I SEE SO MANY FAILURES FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION . VERY DISAPPOINTED! NOT MANY MILES ON THIS CAR.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 15, 2007395,000 milesRI

2002 MAZDA 626 2.0 W/ 39000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AS REPORTED BY THOUSANDS ON THE NET. ERRATIC HARD SHIFT OCCURRED THAT ALMSOT CAUSED ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE OD INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING RIGHT THERE AFTER. I SEE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ALTHOUGH REPORTED SO SO MANY TIMES WHICH I AM VERY SURPRISED. I SEE SO MANY FAILURES FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION . VERY DISSAPPOINTED! NOT MANY MILES ON THIS CAR.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 12, 200769,000 milesNY

REPLACED MAZDA 626, YEAR 2002 TRANSMISSION AT 48,000 SPEEDOMETER MILES. DEALER INSTALLED RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. SAID THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL NEW. RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IS NOW FAILING AT 69,000 SPEEDOMETER MILES. ALSO, SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS TRANSMISSION REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF AN ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION COOLER BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING (BULLETIN # 05-005/02). MAZDA DOES NOT COVER THE COST FOR THIS. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 9, 200770,000 milesMD

TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE 2002 MAZDA 626 AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WERE NO WARNINGS INDICATING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP ,AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 71,000. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 31, 200727,000 milesMA

TL*- THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON A 2002 MAZDA 626. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WAS 27,000 MILES. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH. THE SECOND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 MILES. DURING THE SECOND FAILURE THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE PART WAS AVAILABLE.*AK UPDATED 02/27/07

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Dec 20, 2006174,250 milesGA

TL* - THE CONTACTS OVERDRIVE BUTTON WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND THE CAR WAS JERKING. THE CONTACT TOOK CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, AND WAS TOLD THAT MAZDA WAS NOTORIOUS FOR CAR JERKING, AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SAYS THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON HER TRANSMISSION AND WOULD LIKE FOR THE DEALER TO PAY FOR THE WORK.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 15, 2006UT

2002 626 PISTON RINGS FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PER THE MECHANIC. THERE WAS SCARING FOUND ON THE CYLINDER WALLS ALSO PISTONS LOWER COMPRESSION RING FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS STARTING TO RUN HOT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW OVERFLOW COOLANT BOTTLE BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED ALONG THE SEAM. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CV BOOT. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 22, 200685,000 milesTX

I OWN A 1992 4CYL AUTOMATIC MAZDA 626. IN AUG 2005 - THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE AT THE TIME THE MILEAGE WAS AROUND 60K. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST MAZDA 626'S BUT MAZDA WAS NOT OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. NOW, NOV 2006 - 15 MONTHS LATER, THE CAR STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, AND THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. AGAIN I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A LOT OF REPAIR SHOPS AND MAZDA STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD - ALSO IT WAS NOTED THAT IT MAY ALSO BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM. HOW MANY TRANSMISSIONS DOES MAZDA HAVE TO HAVE BREAK BEFORE THEY OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL 626 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS? *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 22, 200685,000 milesTX

2002 4 CYL AUTO MAZDA 626. AUG 2005 - TRANSMISSION WENT OUT - $1800 REPAIR (ABOUT 60K MILEAGE) PRESENT - NOV 2006 - CAR RUNS ROUGH, THEN O/D LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. ONLINE RESEARCH STATES EITHER COMPUTER MODULE PROBLEM (REPORTING SPEED TO TRANSMISSION) OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN THE 626'S HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY YEARS - I BELIEVE BACK TO AROUND 1992 THROUGH 2002 (LAST YEAR MADE). WHEN IS MAZDA GOING TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL OR FIX THE BROKEN TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 27, 200630,000 milesMO

AT AROUND 30000 MILES WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING OF A STUTTERING PROBLEM WHEN ACCELERATING AND INSISTED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER FOUND NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM BUT DID REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER. TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS STILL, NO PROBLEM. AT AROUND 89000, TOOK THE CAR BACK IN BECAUSE TRANSMISSION "JUMPED" INTO REVERSE. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION LOOKED FINE BUT RECOMMENDED A FLUSH SO WE DID. DEALER ALSO STATED TRAN-AXLES WERE CRACKED/RUSTED SO WE REPLACED THEM AT A COST OF $500 (DEALER SAID THIS WAS A VERY UNUSUAL PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD PART). THE NEXT DAY, I NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT BACK ASAP. THEY SAID THERE WAS A BROKEN SEAL AND THEY REPLACED IT. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED THE CAR FOR ANOTHER APPT. LATER THAT SAME DAY, WHILE SITTING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY OFFICE A 1/2 MILE AWAY AND CALLED THE DEALER. THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR THERE BY DRIVING IT IN D1 LATE AT NIGHT AS TO AVOID TRAFFIC. DEALER EXAMINED AND CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT. I QUESTIONED AS TO WHY A WEEK EARLIER THE TRANSMISSION "LOOKED GOOD" AND THEY ONLY RECOMMENDED A FLUSH. NO ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. DEALER CREDITED BACK THE FLUSH AND SENT THE CAR TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. STILL DO NOT HAVE CAR B

Complaints 1-50 of 87, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20039010Routine
2002 — this page87000Routine
2001188140Routine
2000217200Above average
1999318430Above average
1998434655Fatalities reported
1997358450Above average
1996359320Above average
1995488480Above average
1994282460Above average
1993122240Routine
199219100Routine
199162200Routine
199044220Routine

Compare every 626 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.