76 of the
3,877 complaints filed about the Mazda 626
are about the other systems —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTED. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS, SMOKE BEGIN TO FLOW FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND I MUST IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE THE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #11025005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR STARTED TO NOT WANT TO CRANK IT WOULD CRANK SOMETIMES THEN ONE DAY WE WENT TO THE STORE THEN WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE THE STORE IT FINALLY JUST STOPPED TRYING TO CRANK ONLY MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND WHILE TRYING TO CRANK IT THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE I BELIEVE IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH
NHTSA complaint #10811234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LINING BEGAN TO FALL FROM THE REAR CEILING OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE LINING IN PLACE BEGAN TO WEAR OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND HER WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED; THEREFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10243544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD A COUPON FOR $14.99-OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION FROM FIRESTONE.COM. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE SHOP...DID NOT ROTATE TIRES AND SAID THEY HAD NO COUPON. I WAS CHARGED MORE THAN THE COUPON. I RELUCTANTLY PAID THE BILL. I THEN DROVE TO LAKEVILLE, MN...ON MY WAY TO VISIT FATHER IN BATESVILLE, AR. I NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL AND ALMOST THE SAME TIME MY CAR POPPED OUT OF GEAR. SO I PULLED OFF I-35 AND CHECKED THE OIL. THE CAP WAS NOT ON CORRECTLY, (1 1/2 TURNS THEN IT WAS TIGHTENED) I CALLED FIRESTONE IMMEDIATELY TO REPORT THE CAP AND SMELL. MY DIPSTICK READ FULL...I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHECK THE TRANNY FLUID SINCE IT IS BELOW (MANUAL TRANSMISSION), BUT WAS ASSURED BY FIRESTONE THEY CHECK THE LEVEL WITH AN OIL CHANGE. LONG STORY SHORT...I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY OILPAN AND TRANSMISSION. NOW TODAY THERE IS NO FLUID IN MY RADIATOR...AND I HAVE DRAINED ALL OF MY RESOURCES AND HAVE BECOME DELINQUENT WILL MY REGULAR BUDGET. THERE WAS ONLY 1/2 QT OIL IN MY MOTOR AND 1/2 QT TRANNY FLUID IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FROM REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND HAVE SPOKEN TO MECHANICS. THEY HAVE REPEATED TO ME THAT I NEED TO FIND LEGAL COUNSEL OR GET HELP SINCE THE CAR WAS FINE BEFORE I WENT TO FIRESTONE. THEY HAVE IGNORED MY LAST 2 CALLS ( ON HOLD)THERE WAS ONLY 1/2 QT OIL IN MY MOTOR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY FATHERS IN ARKANSAS. MY CAR HAS NEVER BURNED OIL OR THE LIKE. THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY OILPAN BETWEEN THE SIZE OF A GOLFBALL AND A TENNIS BALL...THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS. AT THE SAME TIME MY OIL WAS DRAINED THE DIPSTICK CONTINUED TO READ FULL, THE MECHANIC WAS CONCERNED. I COULD NO LONGER USE 5TH GEAR AND 3RD GAVE OUT AS WELL. FIRESTONE ASSURED ME ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED...BUT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT CONVINCED. MY FATHERS NEW DRIVEWAY WAS STAINED FROM THE OIL. I CANNOT REMEMBER WHICH DAY I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY JULY 18TH OR 19TH. I NEED TO FIND THE RECEIPT.
NHTSA complaint #10238467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT A 1996 MAZDA 626 IN THE SUMMER OF 2004. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMING ON WHEN I DRIVE ABOUT 55 M.P.H. I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION! I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR LESS THAN WHAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST. NOW I AM TRYING TO SELL THIS CAR AND ITS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING TO DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10126429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN AUGUST 2001, I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MAZDA 626. IN MAY 2003, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AT 23,000 MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR SUB-TANK. AT 31,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 11 DAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, THERMOSTAT GASKET AND THE THROTTLE BODY GASKET. NOW AT 48,000 MILES, I RETURNED FROM A TRIP, GOT IN MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I NOTICED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS REALLY HOT, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR DIED AND STARTED SMOKING (LEFT MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF STRANDED ON THE 405 FWY AT MIDNIGHT). I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE (ENGINE LONG BLOCK, ALL WATER HOSES, RADIATOR, KNOCK SENSOR, GASKET SET AND SPARK PLUGS). THE COST: $8400. THEY OFFERED TO REDUCE THE COST TO $5200, HOWEVER I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS HELPFUL FOR THE CAR IS PROBABLY WORTH LESS THAN THAT AND EVEN IF THEY DID REPLACE THE PARTS I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WOULD JUST START FALLING APART AGAIN. I DRIVE MY CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES A DAY, SO I DEFINITELY DO NOT THINK THAT ALL THIS DAMAGE IS FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, RATHER I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA IS MAKING INFERIOR PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10121970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED COSTED ME $1,000. I ONLY PUT 10,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT CAME FROM THE DEALER, AND IT NOW HAS 27,000 MILES AND IS SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY UNUSEABLE. IM NOT PAYING ANOTHER $1,000 TO FIX IT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10121772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO GET MY ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. NOTHING WORKS. NOW I AM BEING FINED FOR NOT PASSING INSPECTION. WHAT IS GOING ON? I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. AFTER VARIOUS REPAIRS THE LIGHT WOULD FINALLY GO OFF. NOW IT WILL NOT AND HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD O2 SENSOR AND CAT SENSOR REPLACED, SINCE THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY WHAT THE CODE WAS. STILL NOTHING AND NOONE SEEMS TO CARE.
NHTSA complaint #10102252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON 1-9-03,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DATE. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS,THE AXEL IS BROKEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING,IT IS TERRIBLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THE CABLE SHIFTER IS OUT AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TELLS ME IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION....HE GOT ANGRY AFTER I CALLED HIM SO MUCH TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN SO HE CAN LOOK AT IT,I DID AND HE THEN SAID HE NEEDED TO SEND IT AWAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY OTHER MECHANICS.....HE KEPT MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS THAN BROUGHT IT BACK AND SAID NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE,I SAID FINE AND COULD I SEE THE PAPERWORK TO THAT EFFECT .....HE REFUSED AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PAPERWORK,I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE TO ME IF IT HAD REALLY BEEN CHECKED WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY FOUND?. THIS DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THREE COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT IN THE PAST 36 MONTHS FROM THE BBB. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME BUT PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PLACE.....THEY'RE SELLING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT,I HAVE CALLED THE CITY OF ANTIOCH AND EXPLAINED MY POSITION TO THEM....SOME ONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A BUSINESS LIKE THIS BEING IN EXISTENCE,AND SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IF DEATH OR INJURY OCCUR BECAUSE THIS MAN WAS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE UNSAFE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10069729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE APPROXIMATELY JUNE, 2002, THE IMMOBILIZER HAS BEEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER I START THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE ALARM IS DEACTIVATED. I USUALLY HAVE TO WAIT 24 HOURS OR SO FOR THE ALARM TO RESET ITSELF. THIS OCCURS EVERY 2 MONTHS OR SO, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED EVEN WHEN THE CAR WASN'T LOCKED. JUNE, 2002, REPLACED BATTERY; DEC. 2002, INSTALLED NEW FUEL PUMP; JAN. 2003, INSTALLED FUEL PUMP AGAIN; APRIL, 2003, BOUGHT NEW KEY AND CLICKER; SEPT. 2003, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE IMMOBILIZER @ NEARLY $800. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS ARE AT DEALER'S REQUEST, AND ARE INTERSPERSED WITH MANY TOWS AND ALARM RESETS.
NHTSA complaint #10070067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUGUST 26, 2003 THE MAZDA WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE MAZDA STARTED STUTTERING. WE HAD THE MAZDA PUT ON COMPUTER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUE TO GO ON AND OFF. IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE MAZDA STARTED STUTTERING AND LOST SPEED AND THAT LED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP SPEED UP AND WHEN WE ENTERED THE TRAFFICE LIGHT IT TURNED YELLOW THEN WHILE WE WERE UNDER IT IT TURNED RED AND WE WERE HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SEPT 26, 2003 I AM APPROXIMATELY 115 MILES FROM HOME THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AND I LOSE SPEED AGAIN THE ENGINE IS SMOKING. THE CAR IS TOWED BACK TO CHARLESTON, SC WHERE I LIVE. I HAD TO SPEND 3HRS AT A REST AREA ALL ALONE WITH MY 15 YR OLD DAUGHTER. THIS IS THE EXACT REST AREA WERE A WOMAN WAS MURDERED 2 YEARS AGO. WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. I AM ON MY WAY TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR ESTIMATE. I THINK MAZDA HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN PUTTING OUT LEMONS NOT CARS. I WANT AND WILL JOIN CLASS ACT LAWSUIT.
NHTSA complaint #10070906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY MAZDA 626 AND IT'S A 2001. THE TIMES THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THE SHOP THAT WOULD TELL ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT OF COURSE I KNOW MY CAR BETTER I DO DRIVE IT MORE THAN THEY HAVE TOO. WHAT I DISCOVERED JUST TODAY IS OFF THE MAP FUNNY(LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT), WAS DEALING WITH MY ODOMETER READING. SO IF I CAN PLEASE ALLOW ME YOUR HELP BEFORE MY GIVE OUT ON ME. THANK YOU MRS. JACKSON
NHTSA complaint #10070126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE 03/2001. I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM MARLIN MAZDA. THIS CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE SUNROOF AND CORNER ROOF BETWEEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER DOOR LEAKED WATER WHEN IT WOULD RAIN. JANUARY 2003 MY CAR RAN HOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT BLOWING.THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEAD ON MY ENGINE AND THAT SOME HOSE WAS NOT CONNECTED, THIS IS WHY MY AIR WASN'T BLOWING? MY CAR STALLED ON ME 08/27/03. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WASN'T EVEN HOT. TOWED TO MARLIN MAZDA.I PAID FOR NEW BATTERY. I ASKED THEM TO CHAECK UNDER HOOD TO BE SURE NO OTHER PROBLEMS, THEY TOLD ME AT LEAST $500 TO CHECK ENGINE THOROUGHLY? WEEK LATER STALL AGAIN. THIS TIME TOWED TO OCEAN MAZDA,KNOCKING NOISE UNDER HOOD, THEY SAID IT IS THE ENGINE AND OIL PUMP. THEY TRIED TO LOOK UP FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY'RE NOT REPAIRING IT BECAUSE MARLIN MAZDA VOIDED MY WARRANTY(MARLIN SAID SLUDGE IN ENGINE/ CODE W8.) THAT WAS A LIE! I HAVE BEEN GETTING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. OCEAN MAZDA CHECKED ENGINE NO SLUDGE BUT THEY CAN'T DO REPAIR WORK WITHOUT WARRANTY. THEY TRIED TO CALL DISTRICT MANAGER BECAUSE CODE W8 DOES NOT EXIST!!! ALSO, I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH THEY SEEM TO HAVE NO RECORD OF? I HAVE SPOKEN TO MAZDA AMERICAN CREDIT TO GET COPIES OF LOAN PAPERS THAT SHOWS PURCHASE OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. I GUESS THE NEXT STEP IS A LAW SUIT. AFTER ALL THESE HEADACHES I DON'T EVEN WANT THIS CAR ANYMORE. I AM ALREADY PAYING A HIGH CAR NOTE FOR EXTRA COVERAGE AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DESCENCY TO REPAIR MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10070769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MAZDA 626 LX 2001 MODEL ON AUGUST 19, 2001 AT MAGNUSSEN'S FORD/NISSAN/MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN NEWARK CA. LITTLE DID I KNOW, I BOUGHT A LEMON!!!!! I RETURNED THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES AND TELLING THE SERVICE DEPT PEOPLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND OVERRUNNING IN GEAR. AT ONE POINT, I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MEET WITH THE SERVICE DEPT PEOPLE. THIS WAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2001. RUDY DIEPHUS COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS GETTING A SONG AND DANCE FROM THE MAGNUSSEN SERVICE DEPT. RUDY BUILT AND DROVE RACE CARS FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS, AND KNEW I HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER BOB (WHO IS NO LONGER THERE) SAID THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE BROKEN IN, NOT ENOUGH MILES ON THE CAR. BOB ALSO SAID THAT ALL MAZDA 626'S DRIVE LIKE THIS (TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/OVERRUNNING IN GEAR). IN ADDITION, I WAS TOLD TO KEEP A JOURNAL OF EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED. THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM, WRITING AND DRIVING AT THE SAME TIME. AGAIN, RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO MAGNUSSEN'S AND MET WITH A DIFFERENT SVC MANAGER. HERE IT IS APRIL 2002, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION TECH WAS GOING TO RUN A SPECIAL TEST ON THE CAR (LINE PRESSURE CHECK AT IDLE AND STALL SPEEDS). SURE ENOUGH, I WAS RIGHT! THE TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIPS LOT, THE CAR WAS (AND IS) RUNNING WORSE THAN EVER. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IS WORSE THAN THE FIRST. I RETURN THE CAR AND THE CAR STAYS THERE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON APRIL 26, 2002, (RUNNING WORSE) AND DROVE TO VACAVILLE ABOUT 100 MILES ONE WAY FROM WHERE I WAS LIVING. I FELT SOMETHING FUNNY UNDER THE HOOD AND DROVE INTO VACAVILLE AND FOUND A MAZDA DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS AND THE CAR NEEDED NEW MOUNTS.
NHTSA complaint #10070874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1998 MAZDA 626 THAT I PURCHASED IN 1999. I HAVE HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN THIS CAR IN 2000 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE MOTOR HAS SEIZED. IT JUST QUIT ONE DAY AS MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK. IT IS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN BROADENING, OHIO AND THEY WON'T OR CAN'T TELL ME WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM NOW TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT RECALLS AND GET OTHER INFO THAT MAY HELP ME GET MY CAR FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10050762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1996 MAZDA 626 78,000 O/D LIGHT BLINK AFTER APP 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING CAR STARTS TO SLIP. CHECK ENGENE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER APP 45 MINUTES. GAS PEDAL STICKS ON TAKE OFF USUALLY LOSSENS UP WHEN DRIVING. WAS TOLD REPAIRS WILL TOP 3,000 CANT AFFORD!
NHTSA complaint #10040967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR CONDITION DUCTS BLEW OUT LITTLE PARTICLES OF WHAT LOOK LIKE PLASTIC FOAM. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON LITTLE BLACK PARTICLES CAME OUT OF THE VENTS AND FLEW INTO THE DRIVERS EYES. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PARTICLES WERE INSULATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR. *NLM THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE INSULATION FROM THE EVAPORATOR. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10038585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.