Mazda 626 Complaints (1998)

434 consumer complaints on file.

#10259681February 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE 103,000 MILES. MY TRANSMISSION HASN'T FAILED YET, WHICH I NOW SEE I SHOULD FEEL LUCKY ABOUT. I HAVE HAD ALL THE OTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUES I NOW FIND ARE COMMON BECAUSE MAZDA PUT TOO SMALL AN ENGINE INTO THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD THE O/D LIGHT FLASH ON AND OFF, THE TRANSMISSION BE JERKY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. (THIS HAS GONE ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW) I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER I NEEDED A RANGE SENSOR AND AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION COOLER. I THOUGHT I HAD A LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT IT'S JUST SPEWING UP FROM THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. EVERY TIME THEY CHANGE THE FLUID IT GETS WORSE. NOW I CAN SEE FROM WHAT OTHERS SAY THAT MY TRANSMISSION WILL NO DOUBT FAIL SOON. I HAD TO FIND THIS OUT BY GOING ONLINE; NO MAZDA REPAIR SHOP EVER TOLD ME ANY OF THIS, UNTIL TODAY WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN "ISSUE" WITH THE 1998 TRANSMISSION. UNBELIEVABLE. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING SINCE IT'S THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA!!!!!!! TOYOTA, HERE I COME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259274February 18, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEARS BEGAN SLIPPING AND THEN TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253807January 5, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I OWN TWO 1998 MAZDA 626S. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE FIRST ONE. I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED IT. AT THE SAME TIME, I BOUGHT ANOTHER MAZDA 626 AND MY WIFE STARTED DRIVING IT. EACH TRANSMISSION HAD ABOUT 100, 000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ON A BUDGET WITH A BIG FAMILY AND VERY MINDFUL OF PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE AND DRIVING WITH INTEGRITY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I AM SITTING HERE THIS MORNING WITH THREE, YES THREE, USELESS TRANSMISSIONS AND SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WASTED THUS FAR. MAZDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM WITH YOUR HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252729December 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 4CYL. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, ALONG WITH FLUID FLUSHES AND EVEN SOME ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS REPLACED AND NOW THE CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH A PERFECT MOTOR AND WHEN ITS IN REVERSE IT IS IN DRIVE, THERE IS NO REVERSE ANYMORE. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND NEED HELP REPAIRING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250253December 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE YEAR OF 98'S TRANSMISSIONS MADE BY FORD. TRANSMISSIONS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES STARTING FROM SHIFTING ISSUES, TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATING REQUIRING MORE AND MORE MAZDA 626'S TO HAVE AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION COOLERS INSTALLED, TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. THIS YEAR THAT FORD MADE THIS TRANSMISSION HAS CAUSED MANY PEOPLE TO OFTEN REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE. YOU WILL SEE MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THEIR TRANSMISSIONS 2 OR 3 TIMES WITHIN PUTTING 150K ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO AS I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION SLIP AND COMPLETELY NOT WORK, TO GETTING REBUILT AND NOW MY O/D IS NOW FLASHING, WHICH REQUIRES ME TO INSTALL AN AFTERMARKET OIL COOLER FOR MY TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH DOES NOT COME WITH THE VEHICLE ALREADY. TRANSMISSION REBUILD IS COSTING OVER 2,000 DOLLARS DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS FROM THE DEALER AND AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS. PLEASE RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION!!!!!! A MAZDA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTS FOR SOME 1998-2001 MODELS. TSB 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). OCCASIONALLY THERE WILL BE OVERFLOW THROUGH THE DIPSTICK TUBE AND HARSH SHIFTING. MAZDA'S RECOMMENDED FIX IS TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TO INSTALL AN AUXILIARY COOLER FOR THE TRANSMISSION." WHEN THE LIGHT GOES ON, IT ENTERS A FAIL-SAFE MODE? (THE EPC SOLENOID OPENS UP AND BRINGS LINE PRESSURE UP TO 'MAX') ... THE ONLY CATCH IS IT RAISES THE FLUID PRESSURE WELL BEYOND NORMAL SPECS (IT GOES FROM 100 TO 400 PSI). FORD CD4E TRANSMISSION HTTP://WWW.ANSWERBAG.COM/Q_VIEW/724066 - ISSUES ALSO WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247477November 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY MAZDA WAS DOING JUST FINE THEN ONE DAY IT STARTED HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND REVS VERY HIGH GOING BETWEEN GEARS, AND THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247442November 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, AND I WAS ABLE TO COST TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO WORK IN ANY GEAR (R, D, 1, 2). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND LITTERED METAL PARTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REQUIRED AT THE COST OF $2,212. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245305October 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
1998 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238987August 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN
MY 98 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT! MAZDA DID A '!@#$% JOB WITH THAT TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD HAVE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE ME SPENDING 2,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236795August 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 626 WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANNY REBUILT ONCE THEN REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 6 MONTHS WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING HAS COST ME A VERY GOOD JOB. THIS IS INSANE AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229992June 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE RODE THE TRANSMISSION JUST BEGAN TO LURCH, SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR, NO WARNING AT ALL, VERY DANGEROUS. NO TRANSMISSION LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223316April 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS THE SECOND MAZDA I HAVE HAD SINCE I EVER STARTED DRIVING. I AM 23 YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD MY LICENSE FOR 4 YEARS. MY FIRST CAR WAS A 92 MAZDA MX-3, I LOVED THE CAR I THEN STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH PISSED ME OFF BECAUSE I WAS VERY AWARE WITH THE MAINTENANCE DONE ON MY CAR. AS TIME PASSED ME AND THE MX-3 HAD TO PART WAYS. I THEN GOT A 98 MAZDA 626. I CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE MAZDA MOVEMENT ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A CAR IN ORDER TO OWN A MAZDA. I'M ABOUT TO HAVE TWO YEARS WITH THIS CAR, CONTINUING TO BE AWARE OF THE MAINTENANCE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I AM KIND OF UPSET. A MONTH AGO THE CENSOR IN THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SWITCH GEAR HAD LOCKED, WHEN I GOT THE PART FIXED THE MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE HE MADE IT A POINT TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, ONLY BECAUSE I AM PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR FLUID ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE HISTORY. APRIL 1, 2008 THE CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO REVERSE, IT WOULD JUMP IF I WOULD ACCELERATE, OTHER THAN THAT IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I WAS HESITANT TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS SUPER LOW. I BOUGHT ABOUT 4 BOTTLES AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL EXISTENT. I EVEN STARTED STRUGGLING TO DRIVE THE CAR. MY FATHER THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THE CABLE THAT WAS LOOSE, BUT NO. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR HASN'T COMPLETE ITS SECOND YEAR WITH ME AND ITS OF NO USE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE HIMSELF CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONCE AGAIN THE MAZDA AND I WILL SOON HAVE TO PART WAYS, WHICH IS SAD I ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT MAZDAS WERE GOOD VEHICLES. I AM NOW DISCOURAGED ABOUT PURCHASING A MAZDA IN THE FUTURE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS SCENARIO WILL DO BUT HOPEFULLY THEY GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT A BRAND NEW CAR BUT IF ITS WELL KEPT IT IS A BIT AGITATING. I DON'T SEE MYSELF BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER TO MAZDA, WHEN MAZDA HAS YET TO BE LOYAL TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220821March 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE JOLTS WHEN COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY WHICH I WAS INFORMED WAS DUE TO THE OVERHEATING TRANSMISSION. AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219864March 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY WHEN O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 7000 RPM AT THE SPEED. PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, AFTER THAT I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR. APPARENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS BLOWN (AS WHAT EVERYONE SAYS). I RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF AND, AS SUCH, SHOULD HELP MITIGATE. LOOKS LIKE TONS OF 626S WERE DAMAGED LIKE THIS. I WILL ATTEMPT TO HAVE DEALER TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIX IT. BUT I BELIEVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM ARE A VALID GROUND FOR A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218813February 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I KNOW OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH 626'S THAT HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND THE BAD THING ABOUT IT IS MAZDA KNEW ABOUT IT. WE ARE HOPING TO GET MAZDA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, IT'S PATHETIC. I WAS HOPING I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OUT OF MINE, BUT I HAVE. WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS, I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION, AND MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT IT. WHY DON'T THEY DO A RECALL? IT COULD POSE AS A HAZARD. MY CAR ERRATICALLY CHANGES GEARS, AND RPMS, IT COULD JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK. WHY WAIT UNTIL ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, WHY NOT GO AHEAD AND DO A RECALL???? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218664February 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 MAZDA 626. I'VE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPT. 2000. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS JULY 2006. THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216999February 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1998 MAZDA 626 LX 2.0L 4CYLINDER ENGINE. RETURNING BACK TO THE GUEST HOUSE AFTER DROPPING A FRIEND OFF AT THE AIRPORT THAT EVENING, AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A CRACK (FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE) FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WITHIN MOMENTS AS I SLOWED THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT, I HEARD A WHIPPING NOISE FROM THE SAME REGION. THAT LATER HAPPENED TO BE THE SERPENTINE AND ALTERNATOR BELTS BOTH BROKE JUST AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE.., AND THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE GUEST HOUSE. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT AND THE DIAGNOSES WERE THE GEARS IN THE WATER PUMP WERE BROKEN WHICH FROZE THE ALTERNATOR BELT, THE ALTERNATOR BELT-NOW STIFFENED- SHREDDED AND MANGLED THE SERPENTINE BELT. THEN THE SERPENTINE BELT TORE ALONG THE GROOVED LINES. PLUS, THE ENGINE IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT. REPAIRS???? I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE TO COME IN. I HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE CHEAP TO FIX. $500-$700 I ASKED? NOPE! HE SAID, AFTER LETTING OUT A CHUCKLE..., MUCH HIGHER HE REPLIED. AT LEAST $1000 OR MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213912January 3, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 MAZDA 626 WITH SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE BELIEVES THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. HIS HAS THAT PROBLEM AND HIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A FAULTY SPRING ON HIS TIMING BELT TENSIONER, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ONLY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 1997 AND NOVEMBER 1997 WERE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY 1998. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DIDN'T WORK IN THE INTERMITTENT MODE. (RECALL 00V134000)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213644January 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212357December 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TENSION SPRING ON THE TIMING BELT FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V134000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) AND WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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