O/D light flashes and the transmission fails to work properly. Have been using Mazda for the last 8 years. My O/D light has started blinking about a year ago. I took it to a local repair shop and got it fixed. The light has blinked continually every month. I have already spent a lot of money on issues with maza. After reading complaints on the net I discovered that there are 1000's of people with the same issue. I think Mazda should recall the cars and fix this issue. I will think twice before buying aznother Mazda.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

I own a 1996 Mazda 626 that I purchased from the original owner at 20K in 1999. My transmission finally just failed at 101K and I spent $2000 for a rebuilt trans. The od light has been coming on for over 12 months but would go off when car is restarted.I recently discovered the chronic transmission problems with the 626 and will get rid of it asap. Before this major failure, I hadn't noticed any transmission-related problems but I will never buy another Mazda/Ford.

- Austin, TX, USA

Im a used car dealer and I sell Mazda 626's 1996 to 1999 the transmission seems to keep going out I replaced them and they go out again. This is costing me money and my customers.

- Mound Bayou, MS, USA

October 2003 79,500 miles od light blinking, rough idle, sticky hard gas pedal, remedy : new transmission, idle control valve 80,000 miles transmission failure no warning lost 2nd, 3rd,4th gear. Remedy: Rebuilt transmission was told part failed. Picked up car on Feb 17th drove car for 5 miles 2nd and 3rd, gear blown again.

- Levittown, NY, USA

Major transmission problems over the past 3 years with 1996 Mazda 626, currently at 89,000 miles.

- Youngsville, LA, USA

Since my 1996 Mazda 626 purchase I've had 3 transmissions. The 1st breakdown happened on route 70 a highly traveled roadway my wife 7 months pregnant. This was the beginning of my transmission problems. However looking at most of the complaints, there seems to be serious mechanical problems and Mazda should be held accountable.

- Springfield , PA, USA

Status of recall on 1996 Mazda 626. Consumer inquired as to the status of getting the vehicle recalled for the transmission.

- Unknown, DC, USA

My car has 79,170 miles on it. I borrowed money & worked 2 jobs to make the pymt. I was okay with that B/C I thought I purchased a dependable & reliable car. Two years ago w/O warning, while sitting at a stoplight, my car lunged forward. I called my dealership, & had the car serviced. It wasnT diagnosed that I had trans. Problems til I was traveling down a busy hwy. In early morning rush hour traffic, that my car lunged forward again & lost almost 50% of its power. In an instant my car went from traveling at 70+ miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. I lost my entire trans. At 57,000 miles. Mazda Corp. Helped that time. I paid $700 for labor, Mazda picked up the rest. Note  I had already paid @ $1300 in other repairs. Two years & 22,000 miles later I am facing the same problem again. I was traveling for the christmas holiday. About an hour into my trip, my overdrive light flashed off & my car downshifted by 20 miles. When I returned home, I took it to the dealership again. After the 2nd visit & my persistence to dig for the true problem, the news from Mazda Corp. Is trans. Failure & itS my problem. As I listen to other non- Mazda car owners, saying their cars have close to 200,000 miles on them with little or no problems, I am hurt, disappointed & frustrated to know my car will never make it. I am being forced to buy another vehicle that I had no plans to buy for a few more years. I am now going have to take a hard financial hit B/C Mazda Corp. Built a car with repeated trans. Failures, & they will not help their cust. When it fails more than one time. They should replace the trans. Free of charge; labor included, & tell the cust. The fix will not last. I trusted Mazda Corp. To build a reliable, dependable & safe vehicle. What I have is a car with trans. Failures that has nearly cost me my life, & is putting in me in debt. This has got to be legally wrong, & I know itS morally wrong. I want monetary restitution for this unnecessary burden.

- Richmond, VA, USA

When shifting gears transmission locked up, making it difficult to shift to first and second gears. Dealership was notified, but was unable to resolve the problem.

- West Chester, OH, USA

Check engine light came on. Transmission hesitates between 1st and 2nd. Diagnosed as transmission failure by Mazda dealer. Dealer suggests replacing with rebuilt transmission for $2800. Am currently researching other alternatives.

- Marietta, GA, USA

While driving at any speed, there was a problem when shifting into over drive. The over drive light flashed constantly, which caused the check engine light to come on. The dealer found that a new transmission was needed. The manufacturer was not aware of the problem.

- Mcloud, OK, USA

Transmission failed without warning. It was replaced three times; however, the problem still exists.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

Transmission failure.

- Hartland, WI, USA

Transmission failed on my 1996 Mazda 626 at 72,000 miles. Right after reparis, O/D light flashes on extended trips. Will drop out of od causing car to dangerously slow down. Dealer is encouraging another transmission rebuild for another $2,500. This is absurd!

- Marietta, GA, USA

I have a 96 Mazda 626 and the car had 25,000 miles when it was purchased.I have had the transmission replaced 4 times totaling about 8,200 dollars. It is the notorious CD43 trans. The O/D light comes on then the transmission goes out. I always make sure that it has a trans. Services done around 22,000 miles but this doesn't seem to matter. I would like for the Mazda/Ford Corp. To fix this problem and recall this transmission so I will not have to pay this ridiculous price again. I really love this car and nothing else has ever went wrong with this car.

- Bedford , TX, USA

Problem with transmission when driven for more than 30 minutes. Most transmission shops want me to rebuild it for about $1600, same as wilkins Mazda dealership. One transmission shop says it could be a computer problem. Either way Mazda should pay to fix it. This has happened on almost all Mazda 626 4cyl 2.0L transmissions from what I can see on the internet and from what I've heard from transmission shops. Currently I can't even drive my car at 45 mph for over 15-20 minutes without having to pull over for at least ten minutes on the highway. I also have to drive on streets without shoulders so I just pull over in the right lane during rush hour thanks to Ford's sleek design. It's really a competition to Toyota's Lexus and Honda's Accord and Nissan's infinity...sike!!!

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

My trasmision went out going up a mountain on hwy 299, I have only had this car for 11 months & have already had to replace the water pump, heater switch, timing belt, brakes, tires...what do I do now? I still have 2 years left on my loan & can't afford a new transmission or a new car!!

- Eureka, CA, USA

Transmission in my '96 Mazda 626 is shot after 98,000 miles. The dealership says Mazda will do nothing and everything I've read on the internet says that the transmissions are faulty and they refuse to help anyone.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Transmission failed prematurely. Vehicle had been repaired three times; however, problem still exists.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

I have a Mazda, 626, 1996 and 1st tramsmission went out at 30.000 miles. Now my 2nd is going out at 120,000 miles. I see that this has been a recurring problem for Mazda and Ford.why has nothing been done about it.

- West Columbia, SC, USA