238 of the 372 complaints about the 1999 Mazda 626 are about the transmission — 64% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
238
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP WHICH IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. THIS BS WITH IT COST MY WIFE HER JOB
NHTSA complaint #10823272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY GAS PEDAL GET STUCK, CAR JERKS WHEN DRIVEN & MAKE NOISY, CAR SAKES BRAKES PROBLEMS & MORE.
NHTSA complaint #10478705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
CATASTROPHIC JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING EXTREMELY SLOW ACCELERATION AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10471401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 WITH 28,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UNTIL RECENTLY IN 2009 THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO DEVELOP PROBLEMS. IT NOW SLIPS IN SECOND GEAR, I CANNOT DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR FEAR THAT THE INFAMOUS O/D OFF LIGHT WILL START TO FLASH AND LEAVE ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THIS OCCURS SOMETIMES AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF MAYBE 30 MINUTES OR MORE DRIVING 70 MPH, AND SOMETIMES AT 65MPH. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, THE CAR LOOSES POWER, AND BURNS UP THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU RISK THE CHANCE OF NEARLY BLOWING THE TRANSMISSION, BEING RUN OFF THE ROAD, BEING FORCED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND BEING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BECAUSE THE CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STOPS MOVING!THIS IS SO SAD THAT I CANNOT REALLY ENJOY MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS HERE! MAZDA HAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE OTHER RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. MAZDA IS A POOR INVESTMENT, AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THEY KNOW ARE A PIECE OF CRAP! I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AGAIN!
NHTSA complaint #10447715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED HAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT FROM FOURTH TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE OVERDRIVE FAILURE RUINED THE MOTOR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. UPDATED 10/28/11
NHTSA complaint #10429634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #10414771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND SHIFTS VERY HARD, AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. APPARENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THIS MODEL HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR; MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10398081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE GEARS BECAME STUCK, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASE GREATLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA complaint #10398061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE SLIPPING AND VIBRATION. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PRODUCT BEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WHY IS MAZDA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE.......
NHTSA complaint #10352506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ROUGH SHIFTING, SLIPPING ,ROUGH IDLE, OVERHEATING TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10325739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AND THE TACHOMETER GETS VERY ERRATIC AS IS THE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE NOW USES EXCESSIVE GAS AND THE JERKING MOTION HAS CONTINUED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING (AFTER GOING ONLINE TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM) THAT MAZDA IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10325397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEAR SLIPPING & RPM "REVING" TRANSMISSION FALIURE, NEED TO REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10312355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
99 MAZDA 626ES HAS BEEN GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SLIPS ON 1 AND 2 GEAR. I HAVE TO DRIVE 5-10 MPH UNTIL IT KICKS-IN BUT IF I REDUCE SPEED I HAVE TO GO TROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. A MECHANIC CHANGED THE RANGE-SENSOR, I THINK IT'S CALL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE DIAGNOSE THE SAID YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, FOR ABOUT 3,000 DOLLARS.
NHTSA complaint #10284753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1999 MAZDA 626: THE DRIVE CHAIN INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, AND TRIED TO GO, YOU COULD HERE IT JUMPING OVER THE TEETH ON THE SPROCKET. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT.
NHTSA complaint #10280070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS THE 3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF 1999 MAZDA 626. CAR ONLY HAS 136K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10261764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 1999 MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP A LOT. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND WITH RESEARCH MAZDA USED THE FORD PROBE TRANSMISSION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE 626 UP UNTIL 2002. THE TRANSMISSION THAT COMES WITH THE CAR IS DESIGNED FOR A SMALLER, LIGHTER VEHICLE AND THUS IT IS DOOMED TO FAIL, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU REPLACE IT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PUMP $2,000 INTO A CAR THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. PLUS EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD IT, I CAN'T FIND THE PART IN TAMPA, FL. MAZDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO UPGRADE ALL 626 2.0L I4 TRANSMISSIONS FOR FREE, AS THEY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10258678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1999 MAZDA 626 - REPLACED TRANSMISSION 75-80 K MILES. NOW 110 K MILES AND BEGINNING TO OBSERVE SAME SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO LAST FAILURE. TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10258172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I NOTICED PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM MY MOM. SHE RARELY DROVE IT, AND I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES A WEEK. FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T NOT GO INTO DRIVE, THEN IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. A FRIEND OF MINE IS A MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE TRANS. CABLE HAD COME DETACHED. AFTER TIME CONSUMING REPAIR, THE CAR WAS FINE FOR A WEEK. NOW THE CAR ONLY GOES INTO DRIVE WHEN I FIRST PUT IT INTO SECOND. IT SLIPS IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION IS OBVIOUSLY FAULTY.
NHTSA complaint #10256534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 1999 MAZDA 626 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AROUND 60,000 MILES AND NOW NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT 122,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10253349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 1999 MAZDA 626. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 4 CYLINDER LX. THIS CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING! I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND MAZDA FORUMS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION?!? IT IS TOO SMALL FOR THIS CAR AND MORE THAN HALF OF 626 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR TRANSMISSIONS, ONLY TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE IT AS IT WILL ALWAYS GO OUT AGAIN!
NHTSA complaint #10249471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1999 MAZDA 626 , 2.0 L AT STOPPED ON HIGHWAY. GOT IT TOWED WITH THE HELP OF AUTO CLUB.DIAGNOSIS SAYS THE CAR NEED TRANSMISSION WORK. NOW NEED TO SPEND NEARLY $3500.00 TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THIS IS MORE THAN THE CAR'S VALUE. I COULD FIND FROM THE NET THAT THIS MODEL HAS EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. STILL THERE IS NO ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S SIDE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10249051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10246642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ON 1999 MAZDA 626 2.0 AUTOMATIC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-BUILT. THE ODOMETER READING WAS 114,200 MILES. RE-BUILD OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2007.
NHTSA complaint #10242329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MY 1999 MAZDA 626 4 CYL. VEHICLE WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I10 IN PHOENIX WHEN SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0 AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AAMCO REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO EITHER BE REBUILT OR I NEEDED TO BUY A BRAND NEW ONE... THIS COST ME 4000 DOLLARS TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10240965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 MAZDA 626 HAD FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPETITIVE AND REQUIRES CONTINUOUS EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR IS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH VERY HIGH FAILURE RATES. I WANT THE MANUFACTURES TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS OF PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MY PAST REPAIR BILLS.
NHTSA complaint #10240223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY MAZDA TRANSMISSION KEEPS ON HAVING PROBLEMS. I AVOID DRIVING ON FREE WAYS AS I NEVER FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHOSE TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL ANY TIME. I FIXED IT 1.5 YRS BEFORE. COST ALMOST HALF OF THE CAR'S WORTH. IT FAILED AGAIN NOW. THE ESTIMATE IS AGAIN HUGE TO FIX IT. IT IS FAILING EVEN AFTER REBUILDING NEW TRANSMISSION AND CHANGING THE FAULTY PARTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME THING WRONG IN DESIGN ITSELF AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT FIXING IT WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR MAKE IT SAFE FOR DRIVING. I AM AVOIDING DRIVING IT FOR SAFETY REASONS. I CONTACTED MAZDA EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED THAT "RECALLS ARE MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT BY INDIVIDUAL CAR MANUFACTURERS". I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN A HOPE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE PROBED AND MY VEHICLE BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10211459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN LATE JANUARY OF 2007 I PURCHASED A 1999 MAZDA 626 FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR HER TO USE IN THE YEARS SHE WOULD BE IN COLLEGE. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES ON IT. SHE HAS DRIVEN THE CAR TO COLLEGE AND BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2007 SHE WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER OR GO IN REVERSE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OUR MECHANIC. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP COMPLETELY OVERHAULED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACING FACTORY PARTS THAT THE OWNER SAID WERE DEFICIENT WITH BETTER PARTS. THE PARTS THAT THE SHOP USED WERE AN: OVERHAUL KIT VALVE BODY REPAIR KIT SOLENOID PACK TORQUE CONVERTER REVERSE DRUM FORWARD PISTON I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLES TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY A PROBLEM ON THE MAZDA 626 MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10209226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1999 MAZDA 626 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAS BEEN REBUILT TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY IN IT,TOO QUIT NOW. SOME ONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10207723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING HOME, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO 2ND OR 4TH. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT APPROX. 98,000 MILES. AT A COST OF $2,800.00. CAR NOW HAS APPROX. 160,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REBUILT AGAIN. HAVE HEARD ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CAR IS OTHERWISE IN GREAT SHAPE, CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR SO I GUESS I'M STUCK AGAIN PAYING TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPAIRED THAT MAZDA KNOWS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CAN WE ALL GET A LITTLE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM??
NHTSA complaint #10207637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
76,000 MILES ON CAR. WHILE DOING HIGHWAY DRIVING, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. TRANSMISSION FLUID RELEASED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND THEY SAID ERROR CODE INDICATED TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. THE FLUID WAS BURNT AND TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THE FLUID HAD BEEN GOOD A COUPLE OF WEEKS EARLIER. ACTIONS TAKEN INCLUDE: FLUSHED FLUID. ADDED AN AFTERMARKET COOLER. WAIT AND SEE IF THE TRANSMISSION PERFORMS CORRECTLY AND IF THE FLASHING LIGHT RETURNS.
NHTSA complaint #10203549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.