1998 Mazda 626

WHILE DRIVING, AT SPEED SLIGHTLY ABOVE 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. WHEN VEHICLE WAS ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, ALL LIGHTS WOULD WORK PROPERLY , CAR WOULD NOT CRANK OR REIGNITE TO START ENGINE. TECHNICAL HELP ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START VEHICLE BUT WAS ASKED TO STOP ATTEMPT DUE TO SOUND BEING BROKEN TIMING BELT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SUMMIT AUTOMOTIVE FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO DID NOT MENTION THIS RECALL TO A BUYER. WITH THE POWER DOOR LOCKS, THE LOCKS ENGAGES TO UNLOCK ITSELF WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON PARK OR DRIVE AND AT TIMES LOCKS ITSELF NOT ALLOWING DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO UNLOCK DOOR MANUALLY. WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, THE PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS CAN FATALLY DIE IF NEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP WITH REGARDS TO WHAT I NEED TO DO, AS A CONSUMER AND OWNER.*AK

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