FaultScore

1996 Mazda 626 transmission problems

247 of the 426 complaints about the 1996 Mazda 626 are about the transmission — 58% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,000 miles.

F

247

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 222 89.9%
Manual Transmission 8 3.2%
Torque Converter 5 2.0%
Axle Assembly 4 1.6%
Power Train 3 1.2%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 0.4%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 0.4%
Seal 1 0.4%
Constant Velocity Joint 1 0.4%
Differential Unit 1 0.4%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Mazda 626 year

1989 11 0.5%
1991 12 0.6%
1993 46 2.3%
1994 191 9.4%
1995 349 17.1%
1996 247 12.1%
1997 244 12.0%
1998 320 15.7%
1999 238 11.7%
2000 164 8.1%
2001 145 7.1%
2002 70 3.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 140,000 miles Attleboro, MA

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10525635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,750 miles Waconia, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10349519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 167,000 miles LA Puente, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10298665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 167,000 miles LA Puente, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10298666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 126,000 miles Chattanooga, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10282678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wellesley, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SECOND TIME AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED!!!

NHTSA complaint #10282403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 143,000 miles Montgomery, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10281777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10281135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 176,000 miles Queens, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SEAL LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10267451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Marion, SC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10245676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Edwardsville, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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?

NHTSA complaint #10243932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,822 miles Bolivar, MO

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10243305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Jackson, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN 1996 MAZDA 626 .

NHTSA complaint #10229866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10228075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dekalb, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10222579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,500 miles Orlando, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10220206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,000 miles Winfield, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10205989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 157,000 miles Euclid, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10204445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vidalia, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10200640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Loganville, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10196028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles St.louis, MO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10195107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,450 miles Levittown, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10186960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,800 miles Forest Park, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10186600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Tempe, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10184236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,459 miles Auburn, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1996 MAZDA 626.

NHTSA complaint #10182863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Savannah, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10181082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Plano, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10175986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Rosendale, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10170896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Marietta, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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. *

NHTSA complaint #10170774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Wellington, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10167362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Mazda 626 problems

← Full 1996 Mazda 626 report