97 Mazda 626 2 liter engine, auto transmission failures. 1st transmission went out at 80,000, 2nd one went at 105,000, 3rd failure at 124,000.

- Incline Village, NV, USA

1997 Mazda 626lx 2.0L. Had the O/D light come on twice. Then about a year later the vehicle started to shift hard/slip. Inspected valve body of the transmission & fluid, everything was ok. Did a transmission flush anyway. Did not have any codes in the system until 6 months down the line. Was for the transmission range sensor. Installed a new one & vehicle operated normal. Since I put a new range sensor in the vehicle, O/D light has come on about 5 times but no abnormal driving condition yet. Only notice it when driving on the highway with cruise control engage. Also have the vehicle rough idling. Found no vacuum leaks, PCV valve is new, spark plugs & wire set new. Fuel additive added every 6 months. Fuel injectors are operating. Ticking noise occurs every once & awhile from engine. Do know that the transmission in these cars are not capable of handle the engine. The fact that a Ford probe small transmission was put into the Mazda. It needs an transmission oil cooler to be install but was not a recall issue, only a bulletin that must be paid for by the customer. Exact day this started to happen is unknown. A new proper transmission should be introduce as a recall for these cars.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

Driving to work one day in normal traffic when was unable to accelerate past 55 to pass other cars in traffic. Then when I stopped at light I was unable to accelerate at all leading to the car not being able to more in any direction other than reverse. Car required a new torque converter, pressure plate, forward drum, and the assembly kit. Total cost from aamco was 1830 before I had them replace transmission mount and drivers side trans axle.

- West Chicago, IL, USA

Transmission is stuck in neutral.

- Cibolo, TX, USA

My wife and I own a 1997 Mazda 626. In 2006, seemingly out of nowhere, the transmission started shifting rough. I checked fluid levels but they were fine. Then while driving on the interstate one morning, my O/D kicked off (with warning light) and the entire drive home was extremely rough. Brought the car to a reputable local transmission shop and as soon as I told them what kind of car I had, they knew right away what the problem was. I ended up paying $2000 to have a new transmission installed due to the extent of damage in the original. Seems to me that if all of the transmission shops and (as I found out later) owner forums know about the problems with these transmissions, Mazda/Ford probably knows as well. It's irresponsible to know that a $50 repair could correct the problem but they do nothing to even inform their buyers of the problems. $50 would have been a lot easier to come up with than $2000. Summed up: Transmission overheated due to insufficient cooling causing severe transmission failure. Transmission had to be completely replaced.

- Milton, FL, USA

I have a 1997 Mazda 626. The transmission needed to be replaced for over $1,000. I was told that Mazda put in bad transmissions in these cars. Mazda should have to pay for all of these transmissions through a recall.

- Union City, GA, USA

At 62,000 miles overdrive light began flashing, transmission began shifting like a worn out 3 speed, diagnosed by several shops. I was told transmission has a design flaw, sell car before major problems occur. Repaired transmission, valve body and solenoid pack, torque converter replaced. 1,500 dollars total. At 100,000 miles same problem except I have no forward or reward motion. Car is sitting under my carport, cost to repair 2,500 dollars requires a transmission.

- Lake Arthur, LA, USA

The vehicle began shifting very roughly, then the overdrive started blinking and the vehicle ceased to shift, I was stuck in 3rd gear. There was a small "bang" in the engine compartment, then check engine light illuminated. I pulled over to a fuel station and opened the hood. There was transmission fluid all over the interior of the engine compartment, 1+ quarts. I could find no obvious leaks, but purchased some additional fluid and refilled what was lost. Since then whenever it is warm out or the car is driven for over an hour in temperatures above ~50 F, it shifts very rough and the od light and check engine light come on. I have since learned that this is a very common problem among 2.0L Mazda 626's with an automatic transmission. They apparently overheat very easily. I have been told I am lucky that the transmission has not failed on me. I've taken it apart and cleaned it out several times. I also change the transmission fluid frequently. These above average maintenance routines are likely what has kept the transmission from failing altogether. The vehicle is barely tolerable to drive when it is having these problems as it will slam into the next gear hard enough to jerk the occupants forward or backward.

- Eagle, ID, USA

Two months after purchasing a 97 Mazda 626 I had to replace the trans because it was severely slipping, upon inspection of the transmission it was found to be bad. Now after another month after replacing it with a remanufactured unit it fried again, and had to be towed home.

- Huntingdon, PA, USA

Transmission problem.

- Columbus, OH, USA

Driving and car began to jerk over time. Eventually, car has lead to problems going in reverse (must gas to 4000 RPM's to back up).

- Jenkintown, PA, USA

Transmission failure...

- Warr Acres, OK, USA

Repeated failure of cd4E automatic transmission and torque converter. Dates - 11/02/2004 and 08/29/2006. Both times transmission was reconditioned by local repair shops (middletown transmission amd mecca transmission, Inc).

- Middletown, OH, USA

Transmission suddenly would not change into high gear and had no reverse. The next day it was worse. I took it to aamco and they did a complete rebuild of transmission and torque converter to the tune of $2,000.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

My 1997 626 Mazda started acting like it was having trouble shifting gears (it's an automatic) and soon afterwards, the transmission gave out. I am 51 years old and treat my cars with respect, getting regular checkups from my mechanic and driving with caution. I do not abuse my car at all. This failure came as a surprise to me. I had to have the car towed to my mechanic. He told me that the transmission needs to be replaced. Currently, we are searching for a used transmission.

- Sequim, WA, USA

Transmission failure on this automobile at 90,000, and again at 140,000 miles.

- Roswell, GA, USA

The transmission in my 1997 Mazda 626 has gone out and would not appear to be as a result of any abuse on my part. My daughter had been driving the car when the over drive light started blinking and the motor was revving higher than normal. After visiting a Mazda dealership in ft. Bragg, nc they estimate the cost to be approximately $3,600. After consulting a nationally known transmission repair shop, I have found that these transmissions were defective to begin with in that they were completely undersized for the motors they were attached to. This has been a problem with countless Mazda I now know and Mazda has not and will not acknowledge the problem. This was an apparent design problem. To have one of their dealerships trying charge an exorbitant price for repairing the defect is slap in the face to the public when another transmission shop can repair it for approximately half of the Mazda price. The problem is so bad, I understand, that no one will install a used transmission because the used ones are just as bad. You have to repair the one you have unless you want to be extorted into buying a new one from a dealership that is still undersized for its primary use. I strongly believe that Mazda is well aware of this problem and is doing its best to hide it. Given the number of complaints I've witnessed on various websites and forums etc.. it is quite obvious that Mazda needs to be called on the carpet for selling known defective machinery. Its amazing how most of these failures occur just outside of warranty. I realize that I may not be entitled to any type of compensation for my car's problem given its mileage, but I would appreciate if someone could force Mazda to reconcile its marketing of defective products to help someone else from having to deal with this type of business mentality.

- Ottawa, OH, USA

Transmission failure twice.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

I bought a used 1997 626dx in 2000. And have had problems from the trans any sense. One month after I brought the car I needed a new trans, the dealership replace it. After the dealership replaced the trans, I continued to have what seem to be problems, the trans would hesitate or shift hard. The mechanics could not find a problem. After about 2 or 3 years of these I gave up. Then in Dec. 2005 I broke down do to a rusted line leading to the trans that cost me $325. Now I'm broke down again and it will cost $2400 to $2500 for an overhaul trans. That I do not have. People tell you to keep up on the maintenance of your vehicle as I have and now I need a trans without warning. I believe is crazy. For a car to need 3 trans in less then 9 yrs.

- Laurel, MD, USA

: the contact stated while driving 40mph, the over drive light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a local independent transmission repair shop. The repair personnel rebuilt the transmission and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle had the same problem again. The over drive light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle is awaiting tow into the transmission repair shop for inspection and repair.

- Stonington, CT, USA