1998 Mazda 626

CAR FAILS TO ENTER GEAR WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THEN SUDDENLY LURCHES INTO GEAR. ONCE IN GEAR, THE CAR FAILS TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS (LIMITING SPEED). WHILE MOVING FORWARD IN GEAR, THE CAR WILL SHIFT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL OR (LESS FREQUENTLY) INTO A LOWER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING (MAXIMUM TIME IN GEAR BEFORE SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL = 1-1.5 MINUTES, USUALLY 30-40 SECONDS). SOMETIMES SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, ENABLES THE DRIVER TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR. IF THE CAR IS SLOWED TO A STOP WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR, THE CAR WILL LEAVE GEAR AND STAY IN NEUTRAL.*AK

INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE MAZDA 626 HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TRANMISSION FAILURES. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ITS REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS NOTED IN THE CAR MANUAL. WE HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 100,385. NEITHER MAZDA NOR THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD AGREE TO AN ADJUSTMENT NOR A COMPROMISE ON FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MY BELOVED CAR PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN EXTREMELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE POLICE HAD TO HELP AS DID THE HIGHWAY SAFETY VEHICLE PATROL CAR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MY CAR HAVING ANY SORT OF PROBLEM, THE CAR SIMPLY STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION. I WAS PLACED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE I COULD NOT MOVE IT FAR ENOUGH OFF THE HIGHWAY. SEMI TRUCKS BLASTED THEIR HORNS AT ME AS THEY SPED ON BY. I AM AN OLDER WOMAN TRAVELING ALONE AND DID NOT EVEN HAVE A PHONE FOR EMERGENCY USE. I HAD TO WRITE A NOTE AND STAND BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMPLORING ANYONE TO SEND HELP. IT WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. I NOW HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $1800 TO GET THIS REPAIRED, AND I DO NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION FOR A WEEK. I AM A SCHOOL TEACHER, ABOUT READY TO RETIRE, AND NOW I HAVE TO REARRANGE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE DUE TO THIS DISASTER. IT IS MY VERY STRONG OPINION THAT WE ARE LOOKING SOME UNFAIR MANUFACTURING PRACTICES HERE, AND THE MAZDA PEOPLE NEED TO EITHER RECALL THIS MESS, OR PAY FOR THEIR INEPTITUDE WHEN THEY ARE ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC.. THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO DO TO UNSUSPECTING CONSUMERS, AND I RESENT THAT THEY GIVE NO SATISFACTION WHEN CALLED.*AK

TRANSMISSIOMN WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE.LATER VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN WHEN TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT GEARS.TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED HARD SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES ON IT.REPORTED TRANS SHIFTING HARD WHEN FIRST PURCHASED AND DEALER CLAIMED THAT WAS NATURE OF MAZDA TRANS AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.*AK

THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THE MAZDA 626. DEALERS ARE MAKING HUGE PROFITS BY NOT FIXING THE PART BUT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FOR A COST OF 2600 TO 3500 BASED ON MY RESEARCH. THERE ARE MANY POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALL CARS EFFECTED THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED HAVE LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. ONE SOURCE SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE FAILING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. WHY DO NOT THE DEALERS JUST REPLACE THE COMPUTER CHIP ON A RECALL IF THIS IS A PROBLEM? PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING SO MUCH MONEY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSIONS.*AK

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER OWNING VEHICLE FOR ONLY 1 YR. AFTER CONTACTING A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED THREE NEW UPDATED PARTS OR TRANSMISSION WOULD CONTINUE TO GO OUT EVEN IF I PURCHASED A NEW ONE. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE? I LOOKED AT THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE. I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE?*AK