1996 MAZDA 626 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRE HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO RECEIVE THE PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FOR MONTHS AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. AFTER PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A WHILE AND PROCEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON WITH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THE CONTACT COULD NO LONGER SMELL THE FUEL ODOR AND A WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THREE INCH CRACK IN TOP OF RULE TANK ,SEAT BELTS BROKE AND SLOW TO ROLE BACK UP AND PLASTIC PARTS USED IN DOOR OPENING MECHANISM BROKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO FUEL VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK EXHIBITED A THREE INCH CRACK. THE MECHANIC WOULD NEED TO FIND A NEW FUEL TANK FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE VALVE AND RADIATOR WERE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

THREE INCH CRACK IN TOP OF RULE TANK ,SEAT BELTS BROKE AND SLOW TO ROLE BACK UP AND PLASTIC PARTS USED IN DOOR OPENING MECHANISM BROKE. *TR

I SMELLED GAS WHENEVER I WOULD GET GAS FOR THE CAR OR SPEED UP THE CAR. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS SOME SORT OF A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND POWERED ON, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PILLAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURED BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,365.

Crash 1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND POWERED ON, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PILLAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURED BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,365.

Crash 1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

1996 MAZDA 626 O/D LIGHT FLASHING AND TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING. *TR

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY 1996 MAZDA 626. WITHOUT ANY REASON, WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING SCRAPES AND BRUISING, AND THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. *TR

1 injured

HI I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX AND THE O/D LIGHT JUST WENT OFF AT 167,000 MILES. I READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND THEY ALL SAID ITS MOST LIKELY A AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO US DRIVERS AS WELL AS DRIVERS NEXT TO US ON THE ROAD. I ADVICE TO PLEASE HAVE MAZDA RECALL ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE US OR FIX OUR TRANSMISSIONS AT NO COST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR READING MY POST. *TR

HI I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX AND THE O/D LIGHT JUST WENT OFF AT 176,000 MILES. I READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND THEY ALL SAID ITS MOST LIKELY A AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAN B VERY DANGEROUS TO US DRIVERS AS WELL AS DRIVERS NEXT TO US ON THE ROAD. I ADVICE TO PLEASE HAVE MAZDA RECALL ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE US OR FIX OUR TRANSMISSIONS AT NO COST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR READING MY POST. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1996 MAZDA 626 FAILED. AS I DID RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED ONCE BEFORE WITH A PREVIOUS OWNER. FURTHER RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ME THAT THE "CD4E" TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS A "KNOWN" DEFECTIVE PART AMONG OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I ONLY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A USED TRANSMISSION THAT WAS THE SAME "CD4E" AND CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS ONE WILL HOLD UP FOR AWHILE. THE TOTAL COST WAS ABOUT $1200 AND I STILL HAVE THE OLD TRANSMISSION JUST IN CASE I NEED TO HAVE IT REBUILT. THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS VERY HARD TO FIND DUE TO ITS UNRELIABILITY, MEANING THEY ARE IN GREAT DEMAND BECAUSE THEY FAIL FREQUENTLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

SECOND TIME AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED!!! *TR

THE O/D OFF LIGHT ON VEHICLE FLASHES. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN TO MAZDA. MAZDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE IS USED BY MY KIDS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THEY ARE AT RISK. *TR

MAZDA 626 1996, OD-OFF BLINKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *TR

TRANSMISSION SEAL LEAKING. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 1996 MAZDA 626. REPLACED WITH USED TRANSMISSION THAT ALSO FAILED WITHIN 3 MONTHS. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 626 IN 2003. I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE RESEARCH BEFOREHAND. I INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER THE SAME WEEK. I'M ALSO RELIGIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE FLUID. I ONLY DRIVE IN TOWN, LESS THAN 10 MILES PER DAY. MY O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AS I WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO MAKE A TURN AND MY CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF HOPING THAT WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN THAT IT WOULD GO. THANKFULLY IT WENT THIS TIME AND I MADE IT HOME. THE LIGHT HAS BLINKED BEFORE BUT ALWAYS TURNED OFF, NOW ITS ON STEADILY. I HAVE BEEN FEELING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING VERY FREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS, WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 96 MAZDA 626 JUST STARTED ACTING UP ONE DAY IT WILL WORK FINE UNTIL IT WARMS UP THEN IT STARTS SLIPPING BADLY EVENTUALLY ACTING LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING BUT CHANGED THE FLUID YET BUT IM SURE ILL HAVE TO. THE PERSON I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE HAD IT REBUILT NOW ITS DOING IT AGAIN. I GOOGLED MY PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS LIKE ITS VERY COMMON. THANK YOU WILLIAM EHORN. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN 1996 MAZDA 626 . *TR

I HAVE A 96 MAZDA 626 THAT IS HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND AM BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT WOULD COST WELL OVER $400 BECAUSE I NEEDED THE MAZDA BRANDED ONE FROM A DEALERSHIP. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SWITCH IS FAULTY. WHICH THE GUY I HAD LOOKING AT THE CAR, HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT WAS AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. WHEN YOU START DRIVING IT'S FINE THEN ABOUT 15 MINUTES IN TO IT STARTS JUMPING LIKE AS IF I AM PRESSING ON THE GAS TO GO 50 FROM 15. IT HAS DONE THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND EVERY TIME I TRY TO FIX IT SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP. I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER PERSON THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND THAT MAZDA 626'S HAVE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION FROM YEARS 95-00. *TR

OVER DRIVE LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING, REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWO TIME AND CAR O/D LIGHT STILL BLINKS, TRANSMISSION ABOUT TO GO OUT AGAIN!!!! *TR

ON MY 1996 MY MAZDA 626 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND THERE WAS THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT I THINK IS WAS A OVER DRIVE SOLENOID OR A SENSOR THAT CONTROL GEAR SHIFTING. APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS TO ALOT OF MAZDA 626'S AND I THINK MAZDA NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I BOUGHT A 1996 MAZDA 626 LX AT APPROXIMATELY 82,000 MILES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAD REBUILT AND NOW IT IS FAILING AGAIN. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO START WITH. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. I UNDERSTAND THINGS WILL WEAR OUT BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER CAR. I LOOK ON THE INTERNET FOR ANSWERS AND FIND THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. MAZDA NEEDS TO OFFER SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS. PEOPLE WORK HARD FOR THEIR MONEY. NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS PROBLEM. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE NEVER PUT A FORD TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR THAT COULDN'T LAST. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE - DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS BUCKING AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE HIT IN THE BACK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WENT BACK TO VEHICLE CRANKED IT UP, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE SHIFTER WOULD MOVE BUT TRANNY DID NOTHING LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. TRANNY WORKED FINE BEFORE IT WAS PARKED. *TR

LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I WISH I HAD PULLED UP THIS WEB SITE BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS AUTOMOBILE. APPARENTLY, OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE VOICED THEIR MANY COMPLAINTS TO NO AVAIL, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I SOUND A BIT LET DOWN AND DISAPPOINTED BY THIS GREAT DEPARTMENT OF OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. MAINLY, YOUR JUST WANTING ME TO STATE THE PROBLEM, AND I SAY, THE PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BUT, IF I MUST KEEP UP THIS RIDICULOUS GAME OF PLAY FOR MANY MORE YEARS OR UNTIL A PERSON IS KILLED, I WILL. THE #### TRANSMISSIONS ####IN THIS ##### ### MAZDA 626, YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD, THE MANUFACTURE KNOWS, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ######OVER BY THE CORPORATION OF ####### GREEDY ### ##### MEN KNOW IT, SO LETS JUST SAY WE HOLD YOUR PAY CHECK UNTIL YOU CAN GET OFF YOUR ###### ### AND GET USE SOME RELIEF WITH THIS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CORP THAT IS NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKING CARE OF THE ####### LEMONS THEY SOLD ON AMERICAN SOIL. I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE RESOLVED, I HAVE A 16 YEAR OLD THAT I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR AND I AM NOT GOING TO KEEP QUITE ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED, AND NOT AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. I AM A DIVORCED-SINGLE MOM THAT HAS NOT RECEIVED CHILD SUPPORT IN SIX YEARS, I MANAGE ON MY OWN AND WILL NOT LET BIG CORPS TAKE MY HARD EARNED MONEY TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR A DEFECT ON THE MAKERS PART....THAT BEING MAZDA CORPORATION. IF MY CHILD'S SAFETY IS AS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE IT IS, THEN DO THE #### RECALL ALREADY. TIME TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. *TR

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY MAZDA 626 LX 1996 MODEL. I BOUGHT THIS USED CAR ON JAN 2006 AND IT STARTED TO GIVE PROBLEMS BY SHOWING O/D LIGHTS OFF. THEN CHECK SIGN POPPED UP AND I FIXED THAT ONE. AGAIN POPPED UP AND FOUND TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. I TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY QUOTED $1700 TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION. IN ONLINE, I READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION AND IT ADVISED TO USE THIS SITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST MAZDA COMPANY. MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE ME AND THIS RAISES SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THOUGH I HAVEN'T INVESTED ANY MONEY NOW TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION BUT I AM SEEKING WHETHER MAZDA COMPANY IS PROVIDING ANY ALTERNATIVE CHANGE OR OFFER TO THEIR CUSTOMER RELATED TO TRANSMISSION. *TR

4TH TIME IN 6 YEARS, OD LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROX 1 HOUR ON HIGHWAY. SHIFTING IS NOT WITH MOTOR, TEMP REMEDY IS TO MANUAL SHIFT. IF HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN APPROX 2,000 MILES I WILL LOSE 1ST GEAR IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT THAT WAY IN ABOUT 500 MILES TRANS GOES BYE BYE ALONG WITH 1500-2000 GEORGE WASHINGTON'S. I LOVE THE WAY SHE HANDLES BUT THIS IS BULLSPIT LOOKING FOR A 99-01 LEXUS LE ANYTHING. *JB

I BROUGHT A 1996 MAZDA 626 USED FROM A CAR LOT SATURDAY MARCH 24,2007 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY . I FOUND THIS FORUM THAT TALKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I JUST FEEL LIKE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*JB

2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF CAR. HAPPENS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. IN THIS CASE IN TRAFFIC. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON 131 NORTH ABOUT 75-80 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS (BOTH SIDES) DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO DAMAGE AND I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. I RECEIVED BURNS ON MY NOSE, ON MY LIPS, SPRAINED JAW, BLOODY NOSE, BURNS ON MY WRIST, AND FACIAL SCRAPES AND CONTUSIONS. THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTED TO SMOKE, AND WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL THE AIRBAG WAS REMOVED. *JB

1 injured

1996 MAZDA 626. *NM

AFTER ALREADY REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION ONCE, I HAVE TO AGAIN DUE TO ANOTHER FAILURE. THE CAR HAS 125,000 MILES AND SO FAR I HAVE BEEN OUT $2,900 JUST ON PRIOR REPAIRS AND AM FACING ANOTHER $2,500. *JB

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE O/D LIGHT FLASHED. *NM

TRANSMISSION BEGINNING TO FAIL. BROKE DOWN NUMEROUS TIMES ON A LONG DRIVE LATE AT NIGHT. *NM

1996 MAZDA 626 OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY ROUGH. TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING CLEARED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT IT KEEPS RECURRING. A WEB SEARCH REVEALS THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT LEADS SHORTLY TO COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. **NM

MY 1996 MAZDA 626 LX HAS 86K MILES ON IT. I NOTICED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, IT WAS LEAKING FLUID (I THOUGHT IT WAS OIL), BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID, SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY CAR WAS FINALLY FIXED AFTER ALMOST 2-WEEKS IN THE SHOP AND WITHOUT A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER HAVING IT REPAIRED, AND COSTING ME $2,000 - I NOTICED THAT IT IS STILL LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. MY CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING (NO LIGHTS EVER CAME ON SAYING THERE WAS A PROBLEM). NOW, I AM READING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER MAZDA 626 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

DROVE THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR 108,000 MILE. CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 100,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION CAME APART AT 108,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF $2600.00. *NM

I BROUGHT MY 1996 MAZDA 626 INTO HOEHN MAZDA OF CARLSBAD, CA FOR A SPECIFIC CODE (P0441-EVAP EMISSIONS CONTROL-INCORRECT PURGE FLOW). THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC PULLED A CODE OF P0741- SLIPPING TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY SAID I WOULD NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (WHICH WOULD BE THE THIRD OR FOURTH FOR THIS VEHICLE). I STATED THAT MAY BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAD BEEN BLINKING AND ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THESE PARTICULAR TRANSMISSIONS. SOON AFTER I CHECKED MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER ON CARFAX AND NOTICED A NOTE PLACED BY MAZDA THAT THIS CAR HAD NO RECALLS ON IT. HOEHN MAZDA TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A GOOD THING AS IT MEANT THAT MY PARTICULAR TYPE CAR WAS OK. I INTERPRETED IT TO MEAN THAT THIS WAS A WARNING TO DEALERSHIPS NOT TO DO ANY "FREE WORK" ON MY MAZDA. THESE FORD TRANSMISSIONS (CD4E) REALLY DO NEED A RECALL. I BELIEVE THE FIX IS A BETTER PUMP (SONNAX) AND HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION OVER THE YEARS. I JUST WANT TO ADD MY OWN COMPLAINT AND DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIPS TREATMENT OF A CUSTOMER. THEY NEVER DIAGNOSED THE ORIGINAL P0441 COMPLAINT AND CHARGED ME $88 FOR THE ADVICE ON REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION. HOW WAS THIS TRANSMISSION TREATED? FLUID CHANGE ANNUALLY OR EVEN MORE OFTEN; DRIVEN EXTREMELY GENTLY, AND FAILED LIKE CLOCKWORK. *JB

TRANSMISSION ON A USED MAZDA 626 4 CYLINDER. (1996) FAILED AT 112K MILES. BOUGHT CAR USED AT 108K MILES, GOD KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS REPLACED BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT. *JB

MY CAR HAS A LITTLE LESS THAN 90,000 MILES. EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS CAR FOR MORE THAN 30 MILES OR SO, SOMETIMES LESS IF HAVING TO SPEED AND SLOW OFTEN, MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH WHICH ALSO MAKES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICALLY. IF I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE TO STOP THE LIGHT FROM FLASHING AND IT BEGINS TO FLASH AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO COMES ON. NORMALLY AFTER A WEEK OR SO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL TURN OFF BY ITSELF. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED ABOUT A YEAR AGO THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WHEN ONE DAY MY CAR DECIDED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THAT I COULD NOT KEEP AN IDLE STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNING AND I THEN HAVE HAD TO START PLACING MY CAR IN NEUTRAL FOR STOP LIGHTS AND REV THE ENGINE WHILE THE LIGHT WAS RED TO KEEP FROM STALLING. WE HAVE NOT REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THOUGH I AM AWARE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LONG BEFORE NOW. WE SIMPLY DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 20 MILES AT A TIME. IF WE ARE GOING 30 MILES OR MORE, I HAVE TO STOP HALF WAY TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES TO LET THE TRANSMISSION REST. I FEEL THAT MAZDA HAS BEEN COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE, UNETHICAL, AND RECKLESS IN ALLOWING LOYAL CUSTOMERS TO CONTINUE TO LOOSE FAITH IN MAZDA'S QUALITY OF STANDARDS. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE LOSS IN AMOUNT OF PROFITS AND BUSINESS FOR YEARS OF PAST AND YEARS TO COME WOULD EASILY OUTWEIGH THE DAMPER TO PROFITS THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING AND COMPENSATING MAZDA OWNERS FOR THE HARD SHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MUCH NEEDED RECALL AND LACK THERE OF. MY HUSBAND AND I NOW ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW VEHICLE, MOST LIKELY AN SUV, AND WHILE MAZDA BEFORE NOW WAS OUR FIRST VEHICLE MAKE OF CHOICE, IT WILL NOW NOT ONLY BE LAST BUT MAZDA WILL NOT BE AN OPTION AT ALL. AS I ASSUME OTHERS HAVE COME TO THE SAME TERMS, WE WILL NOT PLACE TRUST IN A VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN THAT WE CAN NOT RELY ON FOR SAFETY AND DEPENDABILITY. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 98K MILES. NEEDE TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE 1996 MAZDA 626 LX, 4 CYLINDER. AT 100,000 (IN 2004) TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I GOT NEW ONE WITH 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT LASTED ONLY 10,000 MILES MORE. MY FRIEND WITH A MAZDA 626 FROM 1996 HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER ONLY 50,000 MILES. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH A AUTOMATIC 1996 MAZDA 626 2.0 LITER 4 CYL. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SO WE BRING IT HOME AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR SO WE DECIDE WE HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. WE GET ON THE INTERNET AND SEARCH FOR ANY RECALLS ON THE TRANNY OR THE CAR AND ON SOME WEBSITES WE FOUND THAT THE TRANNY IS TOO SMALL FOR THAT PARTICULAR MAKE OF CAR AND IT TENDS TO OVERHEAT AND FOUND A TSB THAT SAID THE CAR NEEDED A TRANNY COOLING SYSTEM B/C WHEN IT WOULD OVERHEAT IT WOULD JUST CRASH, AND WE ALSO SAW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE HAD THEIR TRANNY REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES B/C OF THE OVERHEATING, AND I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THAT MAZDA WOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND HELP EVERYONE OUT THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM B/C WE THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. *NM