10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 52,419 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
Transmission failure- car is serviced on a regular basis- one drive 87,000 miles no towing or heavy loads.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
My husband and I had bought our 1997 Mazda 626 LX used that we had for 40 months now and our 1st transmission failure happened at about 68,000 miles in April 2002, and now our transmission is failing again this will mark the 2nd time that we have to fix this transmission the first time it cost us $2,160.53. Also our O/D light has been flashing off and on since our transmission first messed up just last year. Its really messed up that it has just been a little over a year and it is time to fix this transmission again. If there is any class action lawsuits that is going to be filed against this situation we are going to make sure that we join in. There are cars that run for years that never need transmissions fixed, if we knew this car had this many complaints and problems we would have never got it!!
- Culpeper, VA, USA
Transmission defect.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
Defective 1997 Mazda 626 transmission. Failure after only 65,000 miles. Overdrive off light starts blinking and transmission starts acting up. I've been surfing the internet and found that many people have encountered this problem. Many of them with even less miles. This transmission is clearly defective and something needs to be done, especially since the cost of fixing this problem is over $2000.
- Orleans, MA, USA
Consumer states while driving transmission failed causing vehicle to stall. Please provide any additional information.
- Tampa, FL, USA
While driving at any speed the transmission would decelerate even when the consumers foot was on the accelerator. This made it difficult for the consumer to control the vehicle.
- Evansville, IN, USA
Automatic transmission problems. This is the second time the transmission has gone out. First transmission was replaced by Mazda in 2001. Second, when car was placed in "park" it became stuck. It could not be unlocked from park, could not be pushed out of the way, and the car had to be towed. The mechanic says it is a computer chip in the console that is causing the problem.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
The over drive light all of a sudden blinked, and the transmission failed.
- Inglewood, CA, USA
The over drive light flashed. Which resulted in the vehicle not switching gears. The dealership stated it was caused by the tcc solenoid.
- Manchester, NH, USA
Problem with the transmission in my 1997 Mazda 626
- Augusta, GA, USA
The transmission on my car went at 63000 miles, told by the dealer "rosenthal Mazda" that this was common. According to the dealer, " the 626's are in here all the time to have the trannies rebuilt, you should be happy yours lasted to 60K" bullcrap, shouldn't there be some accountability on Mazda/Ford's part. All over the net you see problems with the tranny on this piece of crap yet the NHTSA does nothing, what a joke.
- Arlington, VA, USA
I have had numerous problems out of my transmission on my 1997 Mazda 626 V4 automatic. I have taken my car to a transmission mechanic shop 3 times now and one of the times it had to be towed, and they cannot find what the problem is. The overdrive light would come on and constantly flash and the car would start shifting hard and sometimes would not want to shift into passing gear at all. But once it sets for a few hours and cools down, the overdrive light doesn't come on anymore and the mechanic shop tells me that the car has reset it's self and they cannot detect the defect code by their computer diagnostics. It seems like the overdrive light only comes on when you have had the car on the road for a while, and it gets heated up. I have read several other transmission complaints from other Mazda 626 owners off the internet and in my local residence area. I'am requesting that there needs to be something done about these transmission problems by Mazda. Mazda needs to have a recall on the Mazda 626 V4 cars, by requesting people to go to their local Mazda dealership and have their car checked for these transmission problems. And if a problem is detected on the transmission by the Mazda service department, then Mazda should be financially responsible for the charges. I would like for Mazda to contact me about my complaint. Thank you.
- Lexington, KY, USA
There have been an overwhelming number of complaints from Mazda 626 owners with this same problem. My transmission has failed twice and is about to go into its 3rd rebuild in 18 months. Please, please just read this page of this message board and you will find an incredibly high number of owners reporting the same problem. If this many people reported the problem, imagine how many others there are that haven't done so. I whole heartedly believe that these transmissions should be recalled. Please see: www.cartrackers.com/forums/live/yourlemon/189.html
- Columbus, OH, USA
Auto trans is not working right sliping while shifts.
- Knoxville, TN, USA
The light comes on after about 60 miles of driving. Turning the igintion off and back on will turn off the od light but only temp. After the second time the od light comes on, the engine light comes on. I have taken this to a mechanic and he cleared the codes and changed the transmission fluid. This cycle of events has happened 15 times in 6 months. I was told by the mechanic that this is a common problem with Mazda 626's from about 1994 - 1997. I have contacted my closest dealership and they told me that to remedy this situation, I will need a new transmission which will cost about $2000. I see on the internet hundreds of people who are reporting the same problem in their Mazda 626's as I am having. If Mazda knows that there is a problem with their automobile, why don't they fix it for us. I spent very good money on my vehicle and I take very good care of it. The transmission shouldn't be going out @ 60000 miles.
- Columbus, NE, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Great Bend, KS, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Will not purchase another Mazda in the future, this was my third.no summary listed for above vehicle.
- Tyler, TX, USA
The gear change is very jerky and at high speeds after driving for about 30 mins it gets even more jerky as if someone has hit you from behind. During rush hour traffic it gets risky as in stop and go traffic conditions the sudden gear jerks are so severe that the car jumps forward and gets very close to the car in front.
- Brea, CA, USA
- Natoma, KS, USA