Mazda 626 Complaints (1998)

434 consumer complaints on file.

#727108August 8, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#725766July 21, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#552683June 16, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724064June 15, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863180June 7, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED OVERDRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHING. THEN, ENGINE WOULD IDLE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723500June 2, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722084April 29, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719297February 26, 2000
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT IS SO LOW THAT IT MUST BE ADJUSTED WITHIN 12 INCHES OF AIRBAG FOR VISIBILITY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#550900February 11, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#854464December 28, 1999
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854255December 21, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES AND ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE LOSES SPEED AND BUCKS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713105October 10, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR VERY ROUGH SHIFTING. PROCEEDED WITH LEMON LAW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#849526September 30, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OR HESITATE, WHICH MAY RESULTIN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#711671September 20, 1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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 BIGGER THAN THE SIZE OF A BB THAT WOULD HAVE RELEASED THE BELT. I FEEL THIS NON-STANDARD RELEASE BUTTON ALMOST COST ME MY DAUGHTERS LIFE. I'M SO UPSET WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT I DON'T WANT TO HEAR SOME SERVICE MANAGER TELL ME IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT EVERY DUMB THING MY THREE YEAR OLD COULD DO AHEAD OF TIME. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM UP TO MY MAZDA DEALER, NOR HAVE I DECIDED TO EVEN ASK THEM TO REPLACE THE SHOULDER STRAP THAT I HAD TO CUT THROUGH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#609522September 8, 1999
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#782517July 8, 1999
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#546535July 6, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#708003June 29, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#546050June 8, 1999
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RECALL COMPONENT (RADIO- #77810) FAILURE RESULTING IN FIRE/SMOKE DAMAGE, NOTICE NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER INCIDENT AND DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL WORK. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#545752May 25, 1999
AIR BAGS
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED INJURY TO CONSUMER UPON COLLISION, UPON INSPECTION CONCLUDED POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE. NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

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