10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 99 / 99
- Average Mileage:
- 43,998 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
1996 Mazda 626 transmission problems I.e. od light flashing when car is driven at speed of 65 mph. Car must be stopped, shut off, and restarted to correct the problem, otherwise once speed is decreased the car shifts erratically. In a two hour car trip, I may have to restart car 3 or 4 times or drive under 60 at all times. I've seen several complaints on the web regarding this problem and the major costs to repair, so I just don't drive my car any long distances and haven't for years! don't understand why Mazda isn't recalling if they know it's such a widespread problem. I worry that because I have to drive slow, I'll get rear-ended on the expressway by someone going the speed limit!!
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
My over drive light has been blinking lately, and my wife two weeks ago had the light come on and stay on when returning from a trip on the interstate driving about 72 mph. At 121,000 miles and regular maintenance, my automatic transmission is about to completely fail in my 1996 Mazda 626 LX. Doing online research and talking with the specialty transmission shop, I have learned that the issue with the Mazda transmission type cd4E is well known by the company and documented in numerous complaints, yet Mazda has done nothing about it. I am lucky to have this many miles on the car, where others have failed much worse, but as a consumer that does not drive abusively and that regularly (every 30,000 miles) has the transmission fluid flushed and replaced and the filter serviced, this is an expense that is definitely not my fault. And given that the manufacturer has known about this since the mid 1990's, it is frustrating. I am now spending between $1500 and $1800 to get a rebuilt transmission put in my car, along with an ATX cooler that Mazda recommended in 2002 but did not cover under warranty or even provide an extended warranty to install.
- Flowood, MS, USA
Low power output, then finally car will not accelerate. Have not repaired yet. Car still in my possession. Burned up transmission fluid with three thousand miles of changing.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
First my transmission was slipping now the od light flashes when I drive on the thruway or any situation where im goin 50mph or more I have owned the car for less than a year
- Niagara Falls, NY, USA
Transmission on my 1996 Mazda 626 has been replaced more that once. The first time was at 50,000 miles. 30,000 miles later here it goes again. The over drive light blinks and the transmission shifts hard. This problem is system wide on nearly all that have the same transmission.
- Fort Dix, NJ, USA
Transmission is failing. This is the second transmission put in this vehicle. It causes the car to hesitate in traffic and overheats. This is the second 626 I have owned. Transmission went in first one as well, causing the car to stall in the middle of traffic. How safe is that" www.estreetjournal.com/Mazda.htm please read that. This is one of many experiences that show just how dangerous Ford's faulty transmission is. You have recieved hundreds of complaints on this. And there are thousands that you have not received. When is someone finally going to step up and take responsibility for this???" Mazda informed me that they would take no action unless highway safetly deemed their porblem a hazard.
- Graham, NC, USA
Transmission problems - 1996 Mazda 626 - which Mazda has known about for over 10 years
- Louisville, KY, USA
Overdrive light flashes, engine light is on...all of it is linked to the transmission. It has already been rebuilt once and was told it will need rebuilt again. Also the car idles very rough.
- 44720, OH, USA
Problems with the automatic transmission. Original transmission started to fail at 45,000. Finally was unable to drive the car at 84,000. Mazda dealer replaced transmission with rebuilt transmission which failed at 86,000 (only two months in service). Next transmission has 11,000 miles on it and it is beginning to fail. I will be bringing it back to Mazda in June 2005 (still in warranty 12K/12 months).
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Transmission-- bearing inside broke in two
- Camden, TN, USA
1996 Mazda 626 transmission went out. The O/D light flashed and I immediatedly turned my vehicle off and on and the problem cleared up for a few minutes. Then the transmission stopped working as I was comimng down a steep hill. The event was very frightening but no one was hurt.
- Fpo, AE, USA
Transmission failure.
- Crowley, LA, USA
I have had the transmission replaced in my 1996 Mazda 626 and now the 2nd one is failing at 85,000 miles (I replaced the first one for $2500 at about 50,000 miles).
- Abignton, PA, USA
Have a Mazda 626 1996. With bad transmission. Car completly stop in the highway almost causing me and accident on the road. I have read alot of reports on this particular car and model with bad transmission problems. Straight from the factory. With Mazda totaly ignoring the issue.
- Newburgh, NY, USA
My car would not movie even if I keep it in R or D. sometimes it move but after reaching a certain speed say 30 mph even if I press the accelerator it would not accelerate. It just sounds like I am pushing the accelerator in the neutral gear. I took it to the mechanic and he said that my transmission broke down and I have to replace it.
- Marietta, GA, USA
My 1996 Mazda 626 had transmission failure, it failed without warning, while driving. I contacted Mazda and Ford and was told that transmission failure was common with that model transmission and vehicle. I was also told that any repair of the transmission would be at my expense. I had the transmission repaired, to be correct it was rebuilt. My concern is that if Ford and Mazda know that there or problems with these transmissions why don't they extend warranties and inform there customers. Secondly why hasn't the federal government stepped in and forced them to take corrective action. My parents on a Honda Accord, Honda has admitted that they have a problem with their V6 transmissions, my parents car had problems after 50,000 miles. Honda replaced their transmission with and updated one and extended the transmission warranty for an additional 100,000 mile after the repair. I feel that Ford and Mazda should do the same thing. With your help I hope that will happen.
- Greensboro, NC, USA
I purchased this car used in November of 2002 with approximately 90,000 miles, transmission failed me in traffic in October of 2004, it presently has 131,000 miles. Transmission would seem to engage and then disengage very rapidly until it finally completely failed, and no longer would engage. I was just able to get off the street. Transmission shops est. Cost to be between $1200 and $2500 dollars to repair. I have not had it repaired yet. I have no knowledge of prior failures or complaints. I have since searched the internet and discovered that this is a common problem for this car and other cars such as the Ford probe, which uses the same transmission.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
I bought a Mazda 626 new in 1996 I drive the car twice a week... the car has about 60,000 miles on it.. the transmission went bad. And I was told it was a common problem with the car... I looked this up and there are hundreds of complaints about this problem... please do something about this, as I do not have the $2500.. and 3 1/2 weeks it take to do this repair... I have to do it.. but I can not afford the time or money. I called Mazda about it and they said it didn't matter that every Mazda 626 they have sold has this problem.... please look into this.
- Belmont, NC, USA
While driving the vehicle the transmission broke.
- Montevallo, AL, USA
- Hinsdale, NY, USA