10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 62,820 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
At 97,000 miles my transmission failed. The O/D light blinks continuously and the car is stuck in 2nd or 3rd gear.
- Wayland, MI, USA
Transmission leaks fluid when driving more than 1 hour. Also, the overdrive light flashes.
- San Diego, CA, USA
While driving 45 mph vehicle stalled. This caused the driver to drift off to the side of the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership for inspection, an D mechanic determined that transmission failed.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
The transmission began down shifting very harshly. Within a few days I began hearing a popping noise and couldn't accelerate in the lower gears (below 35 mph) without hearing the noise. This became a dangerous situation when I was entering a major state highway from a stop and was almost hit by a semi- truck because the car wouldn't accelerate.
- Millsap, TX, USA
I have had my car a year and replaced the transmission 3 tims and the engine once, the tranny is on its 4th burn up, the O/D light flashes its spits out fluid and will not go in overdrive at all, from all the complaints I see on here something should be done about this. It is an insane number of complaints just on the 99 year model. Im filing suit I dont know about the rest of you but ive had enuff..
- Carriere, MS, USA
1999 Mazda 626 transmission failure.
- Ripon, CA, USA
1999 Mazda 626 sedan repeated transmission failures & problems related to the transmission
- San Antonio, TX, USA
The vehicle's transmission overheated. The cause of this problem has not been determined.
- Minden, NV, USA
Defective automatic transmission, overheats, expunging fluid, which results in damaging transmission. Repairs over $2500.
- Minden, NV, USA
The transmission failed without warning. The consumer had the transmission replaced three times, however they continue to fail.
- Plantation, FL, USA
1999 Mazda 626 LX 4 cyl. 2.0, 90K; the transmission will not engage forward drive gears, the transmission will only engage in reverse. I have taken my car to have transmission pulled and diagnosed and I am awaiting result and price to rebuild. After reading other complaints here I am concluding that the transmission is no good, expensive to replace, and I will never purchase a Mazda again.
- Garland, TX, USA
After starting the vehicle transmission failed. Vehicle was unable to accelerate. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Transmission went out on vehicle, stranding me in the middle of a busy round-about with temperature falling below zero.
- Binghamton, NY, USA
O/D light started flashing during a road trip. When I turned the car off and restarted, flashing light would stop. Shortly afterwards the engine light came on. We called the Mazda dealer where we bought the car and they advised that as long as the engine light was not flashing we were safe to drive the vehicle. If the O/D starting flashing again, cut-off/restart. They also advised us to go to autozone to get engine code and then call back. The engine code=P1744 and per the service tech at Mazda it meant that the tcc cylinoid was either stuck; hanging or needed to be replaced. We asked if we could drive the car home (300miles) - he told us yes but if the O/D light started flashing to cut-off/restart. He also said that if the engine light started flashing that we needed to stop and have the vehicle towed. The engine light disilluminated altogether. We were on the road approximately 1 hour when the O/D light started flashing. We stopped and saw smoke billowing from under the hood. When we lifted the hood transmission fluid was all over everything. We towed car to Mazda dealership. The service tech said that the transmission had overheated / purged the transmission fluid/ and burned some components in transmission which resulted in the need for the transmission to be replaced. Repair bill estimate = $2,900. This is a flaw or defect as the fail-safe components failed to operate properly in that the engine light never flashed to warn us and to the contrary the light disilluminated giving the false appearance of all things being well.
- Kernersville, NC, USA
At present I own a 1999 Mazda 626es and am extremely dissatisfied with Mazda, Ford, and this vehicle overall. The 626 has caused me a lot of headaches and money. Every time I turn around thereS something wrong with this vehicle. I recognize that all cars must be maintained according to the dealer suggested maintenance schedules to get the full life out of the vehicle (which I do), but this is absolutely preposterous! the priciest expense was the transmission that I replaced December 2002. With a price tag of $2900 for a rebuilt transmission, you would think it would be rebuilt to last longer than 1 year. Yep, here it is January 2004 and the Ford transmission that was placed in my car is slipping! and of course, the 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty the Mazda dealership offers has now expired. I just felt a need to express my sincere disappointment in the Mazda brand. I know that Mazda has done away with the 626 and have replaced it with the mazda6&hope the Mazda/Ford Motor Company has taken pride in there name and try to rebuild there character and built a better vehicle. I am so disgusted with Mazda, that one couldnT pay me to look at/consider to step foot in another Mazda as long as I have breath in my body. Disgusted 626 owner.
- Washington, DC, USA
This is totally incredible!! how can this many complaints go by with out Mazda doing something about this!? I bought a 1999 Mazda 626, with just at 59,000 almost 60,000 miles on it, this summer. And now this winter, a few months later, with almost 67,000 miles... I am having most of the problems that everyone else is having...flashing od light and horrible transmission problems. Transmission has to be warm to run smooth... other wise it hesitates when shifting into gear and even then it shifts hard when running down the road... so bad that I sound like I am peeling out when taking off from a stop. This mainly happens when the car has only been running a little while. After being warm and driving a while transmission is ok except for at stop lights. Then transmission seems to shift (feels like I am being "tapped" by another car from behind). I will never buy another Mazda or a Ford product for that matter! I am a single mother and work part time while attending college full time. I don't have another car to use while mine is in the shop nor the money to deal with this issue!! this issue should be handled for the consumers sake and Mazda/Ford's reputation!
- Edmond, OK, USA
Transmission failure on 82,000 --1999 Mazda 626 LX. Have most of maintenance on time -- have records. Transmission oil leak started at 2000 when car was under 5000 miles, I went to darcars Mazda dealer for at least 5 times, never got my problem solved.
- Chevy Chase, MD, USA
My sister and I own a 1999 Mazda 626 LX. I was driving out of town when my transmission failed. In order for the car to move I had to put it in overdrive. Once the car was going at 60 mph it was okay but going any faster and the od light would start flashing. I am very upset because a majority of my friends that own Mazda's had transmission work done. Since Mazda/Ford would not take responsibiblity for faulty work the owners of these crappy cars are left with huge bills. We have to pay $1450 for this. I am definitely going to file a lawsiut because if so many consumers are complaining then they need to take action asap.
- Des Plaines, IL, USA
While driving on highway and with no prior warning overdrive light starts flashing, and vehicle jerks badly, barely shifting gears, and would not reverse. Had the car assessed by two certified mechanics, both stating that transmission failed, and told me that this was not uncommon for this car-- called Mazda Corp and local dealer who both offered no help, as of course the car was out of warranty at 70,600 miles- this is ridiculous car was bought brand new and should need transmission replaced this soon!!!
- Waterbury, CT, USA
- Olla, LA, USA