1993 Mazda 626 brake problems

PARKING BRAKE

THE 626, MX6 AND FORD PROBE (ALL RELATED DESIGNS) APPEAR TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE REAR CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE TO SEIZE. THE PARKING BRAKE ARM THAT THE CABLE PULLS BACK SEIZES ??ON??. THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO POOR DESIGN WHERE THE SPRING CAN NOT PULL THE ARM BACK DUE TO THE MATERIALS USED AND THE RUST. THE ARM AND PIVOT MATERIAL SHOULD BE CHANGED AND THE SPRING SHOULD BE STRONGER. ONCE THE PARKING BRAKE SEIZES THE ROTOR, CALIPERS AND THE WHOLE WHEEL RIM GETS *EXTREMELY* HOT. DRAG, HEAT AND BURNING SMELLS MAY BE NOTICED. IF NOT NOTICED THE ROTOR AND PADS WEAR AWAY UNTIL THE BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION. THE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT HOWEVER THE ROOT CAUSE APPEARS TO BE THE POOR PARKING BRAKE DESIGN. BEFORE I STARTED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS MYSELF I HAD 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON 3 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE PARKING BRAKE AND JUST REPLACED ALL THE CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS, ETC. THE SERVICE CENTERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSE AND THEY DO NOT FIX IT. I FOUND OUT A BIT FROM INTERNET SEARCHES AND THE REPAIR MANUAL. (THE REPAIR MANUAL IS COMMON TO THE FORD PROBE WITH MANY OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT SEIZED BRAKES.) I TOOK A LOOK AT THE PARKING BRAKE ARM WHEN I NEXT PULLED OVER WITH DRAG, HEAT AND BURNING SMELLS. THE ARM WAS SEIZED AND I FORCED IT FREE WITH MY HAND WHICH TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FROM WORKING THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE IT APPEARS THAT THE CABLE IS FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS FROM THE RUSTED ARM & PIVOT. THE MATERIAL OF THE ARM & PIVOT RUSTS AND SEIZES. THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE SUITABLE MATERIAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY REASONS. OWNERS ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH FLAMING HOT ROTORS, DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND STRANGE DRAG AND VIBRATION ON A REGULAR BASIS. MAZDA AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE PROPERLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PARTS AND TO COMPENSATE THE OWNERS FOR THE REPAIR BILLS.

NHTSA complaint #10013757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10012340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON A VERY SNOWY DAY AFTER A 20 MINUTE RIDE WE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER TOWED CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $2000.00 DOLLARS. THEY SAID BOTH BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. SINCE THIS WAS AN EXTREME EXPENSE. WE PURCHASED A NEW CAR. I FEEL NO BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD EVER EXPERIENCE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, AND FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD AT LEAST REPLACE ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE DOESNT GET KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10008464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CALIPERS LOCKING UP. SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ALSO, . AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON & OFF.*AK THE REAR CALIPERS LOCK UP CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO BURN. AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AT 100000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #884571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKE CALIPERS CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTION/STICK CAUSING EXCESSIVE PREMATURE FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #547802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

I HAVE LEARNED THAT REAR PARKING BRAKE LOCKUP FAILURE ON 1993-94 MAZDA 626 IS COMMON BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FAULT. SEE WWW.ERGONITE.DEMON.CO.UK/PROBEMX/PROBEFAQ.HTM

NHTSA complaint #709377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ABS PUMP NEEDED REPLACING.

NHTSA complaint #513971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC

ABS PUMP FAILED CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE UPON VEHICLE START UP.

NHTSA complaint #513971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

EXCESSIVE GRINDING NOISE OF FRONT BRAKES. REPLACED TWICE. BOTH TIMES ROTORS WERE REPORTED WARPED. ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED FIRST TIME. SAME PROBLEM RECURRED 1 YEAR LATER. TRANSMISSION FAILURE STARTED WITH SUBTLE RUBBING SOUND ON DRIVER FRONT. ESCALATED TO POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVE/REVERSE GEAR ENGAGED. SURGE/STALL WHILE AT STOP. REQUIRED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (NON-WARRANTIED!)

NHTSA complaint #700666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #532379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE (SEIZED), CAUSING A LOUD THUNK, THEN GRINDSWHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ALSO A STRONG ODOR WAS NOTICED, LIKE A PART WAS SEVERLY OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #530890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LOCKED, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE, THEN GRINDING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG ODOR OF SOMETHING OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #532426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

DRIVING AT APRROX 20-30MPH ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT TURN SIGANL FAILED ,THIS ALSO CONNECTS TO HEADLIGHT/TAIL LIGHTS. ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS. ALL COMPONENTS TURNED OFF AT ONCE. IN ORDER TO RECOVER FROM THIS DEFECT, HAD TO REPOSITION STEERING WHEEL.THIS PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING AND IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEFECT IS IN STEERING COLUMN COMBINATION SWITCH. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING FAULTY WIRING TO POWER WINDOWS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #819060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED LEFT REAR CALIPER.

NHTSA complaint #522865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

ABS BRAKE FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED LEFT REAR CALIPER.

NHTSA complaint #522865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

THE REAR CALIPERS DO NOT DISENGAGE WHEN RELEASING THE EMGERENCY BRAKE, THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE HARD TO DRIVE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #810595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 35MPH, ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM BLEW UP,CAUSING 75% LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON

NHTSA complaint #801267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

LEFT REAR CALIPER FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #483779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

HYDRAULIC BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #985990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND SHE HAS HAD THEM TURNED BEFORE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #968806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

REAR BRAKES GRINDING/GRAB WHEN WET.

NHTSA complaint #489221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

BRAKE PEDAL REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #489221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED WITH UPDATED PADS DUE TO GRINDING NOISE WHEN BEING APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #489221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

UPON MAKING A SHARP TURN VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. NO RESPONSE FROM BRAKE AND ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. TT

NHTSA complaint #964088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION/NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #480971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.