THIS 5 YEAR YOUNG CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND USED AS A THIRD VEHICLE FOR WEEKEND DRIVING. OVER THE LAST FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE TRANMISSION BEGAN JOLTING INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC. ON JUNE 19TH, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK FOR WHAT MIGHT BE AN EMERGING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. …
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THIS 5 YEAR YOUNG CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND USED AS A THIRD VEHICLE FOR WEEKEND DRIVING. OVER THE LAST FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE TRANMISSION BEGAN JOLTING INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC. ON JUNE 19TH, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK FOR WHAT MIGHT BE AN EMERGING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. IT SEEMED TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR, AND SEEMED TO SHIFT GEARS RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO STOP SEVERAL TIMES ON MY TWO MILE JOURNEY TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND EASE IT BACK INTO DRIVE. THESE EXTREME SYMPTONS HAVE MANIFESTED THEMSELVES INTERMITTENTLY SINCE JUNE 19TH, PROMPTING THE INTERNET SEARCHES THAT LEAD US TO NHTSA'S WEBSITE. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MAZDA IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WILL REPORT MY EXPERIENCE BACK TO YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN TELL ME IN DEALING WITH MAZDA SO THAT THIS CAN BE FIXED WITH MINIMAL EXPENSE AND AGGRAVATION? MANY OF THE MAZDA TRANSMISSION REPORTS TO NHTSA RELATE STORIES OF COMPUTER FAILURE BUT IN MOST CASES THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED. WHAT HAS NHTSA LEARNED OF THIS MATTER RELATIVE TO THE MECHANICAL VERSUS COMPUTER PROBLEM? HOW DO I KEEP FROM BEING TAKEN? FRANKLY, IT IS CLEAR FROM THE COMPLAINTS LODGED ON YOUR SITE AND ON OTHER SITES DETAILING MAZDA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THAT MAZDA/FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THEY ARE PASSING ON TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. I THINK THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ONLY 32150 MILES IS NOT REASONABLE SERVICE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A FAILURE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. LOOKING AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE, APPARENTLY, YOU HAVE NO INVESTIGATIONS OF MAZDA TO REPORT. THE NHTSA MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS ARE DATED STARTING 1997. THE PROBLEM SEEMS LONGSTANDING ENOUGH TO WARRENT INVESTIGATION. WHAT HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER MAZDAS AND COMPARABLE COMPETITORS? I AM WRITING TO YOU IN ADVANCE IN HOPE YOU CAN OFFER SOME ADVICE IN RESOLVING THIS. REGARDS, JOE BACHALIS.
NHTSA ODI #763482
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2002
Power Train
I HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD/REPLACE FRO $2800 ON A 4 YEAR OLD MAZDA THAT I BOUGHT NEW. MAZDA ONLY COVERS 3 YEARS. POOR DESIGN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763422
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Power Train
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN OVERDRIVE IT WILL NOT MOVE. VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8012253
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2002
Power Train
THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINT IS VERY COMMON IN THE MAZADA 626 SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP THE CONSUMER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #762733
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45,000! THE MECHANIC AT TUSTIN TRANSMISSION (CALIF) TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME ON THIS TRANSMISSION. IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TOO! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!!! I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED…
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MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45,000! THE MECHANIC AT TUSTIN TRANSMISSION (CALIF) TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME ON THIS TRANSMISSION. IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TOO! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!!! I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #762666
Mileage unknown · May 29, 2002
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 70,000, AND BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION.*JB
NHTSA ODI #565892
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2002
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65000 MILES. MAZDA DEALER TECH SAID THERE ARE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH 98 MODEL TRANSMISSION. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS HOT, IT COMPLETELY FAILED. WORK A BIT BETTER WHEN IT COOL DOWN. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762247
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2002
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT JUST OVER 62000 MILES AFTER REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #760863
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT WITH 70,000 MILES. I AM FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER MAZDA 626'S WITH THE SAME LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #760575
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 80476 MILES - NO FOREWARNING. *AK
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A HOT, HUMID ENVIRONMENT WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONDENSATION TO ENTER THE AUDIO UNIT AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AT ONE SPECIFIC SET OF TERMINALS, THE SPEAKER CAN OVERHEAT AND IN SOME CASES, CATCH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL AFFIX ALUMINUM TAPE OVER THE AUDIO UNIT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) INSTALLED CAN, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, TRIGGER A SHIFT IN AIR-FUEL RATIO TO AN OVERLEAN CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PCM WITH THE CORRECT ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
1998 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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