NHTSA — Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

1998 Mazda 626 (Page 13 of 14)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,021 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Mazda 626 transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 Mazda 626 Owner Comments (Page 13 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #38

Mar 302002

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failed @ 80476 miles - no forewarning.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #37

Mar 312002

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at 45-50 mph engine started to rev up, and then without any notice, transmission just went out, and vehicle became inoperable. Contacted dealer, and dealer was checking vehicle.

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #36

Sep 302001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed suddenly while I was driving on the freeway and smokes came out from the front of the viechiel at the time of the incident.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #35

Mar 152001

626

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Prior to pulling off vehicle jerks into gear. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. Please provide additional information.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #34

Aug 022001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Internet research shows that the Mazda 626 has a long history of tranmission failures. We took the car in for its regular maintenance as noted in the car manual. We had purchased the extended 100,000 mile warranty. The transmission failed at 100,385. Neither Mazda nor the warranty company would agree to an adjustment nor a compromise on fixing the transmission.

- Mt. Pleasant, TX, USA

problem #33

Sep 232001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The failure of the transmission on my beloved car put me in a very dangerous situation in extremely heavy traffic. The police had to help as did the highway safety vehicle patrol car. There was no indication of my car having any sort of problem, the car simply stopped at the intersection. I was placed in a dangerous situation because I could not move it far enough off the highway. Semi trucks blasted their horns at me as they sped on by. I am an older woman traveling alone and did not even have a phone for emergency use. I had to write a note and stand by the side of the road imploring anyone to send help. It was a terrible experience. I now have to pay almost $1800 to get this repaired, and I do not have transportation for a week. I am a school teacher, about ready to retire, and now I have to rearrange plans for the future due to this disaster. It is my very strong opinion that we are looking some unfair manufacturing practices here, and the Mazda people need to either recall this mess, or pay for their ineptitude when they are endangering the public.. this is a terrible thing to do to unsuspecting consumers, and I resent that they give no satisfaction when called.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #32

Aug 122001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmissiomn would not engage when vehicle was put into drive or reverse.later vehicle would jerk violently when when transmission would shift gears.transmission has shifted hard since I first purchased vehicle with only 10,000 miles on it.reported trans shifting hard when first purchased and dealer claimed that was nature of Mazda trans and there was nothing to be concerned about.

- Belair, MD, USA

problem #31

Sep 062001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmisson needed to be replaced after failure.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

problem #30

Aug 222001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
This has been a major problem on the Mazda 626. Dealers are making huge profits by not fixing the part but the whole transmission for a cost of 2600 to 3500 based on my research. There are many postings on the internet with this problem. All cars effected that I have researched have less than 100,000 miles. One source said that the transmission may be failing because of a faulty computer chip. Why do not the dealers just replace the computer chip on a recall if this is a problem? probably because they are making so much money replacing the transmissions.

- Duluth, GA, USA

problem #29

Jun 012001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission went out after owning vehicle for only 1 yr. After contacting a mechanic, I was told that transmission needed three new updated parts or transmission would continue to go out even if I purchased a new one. Why is there not a recall on this vehicle" I looked at the consumer complaints on your site. I see I'm not the only one with the same problem. What has to happen before a recall is done"

- Covington, GA, USA

problem #28

Jun 302001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission just died at high speed, well serviced, only 78000 miles and 3year old car.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #27

Jun 302001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission just died at high speed, well serviced, only 78000 miles and 3year old car.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #26

Jun 192001

626

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Covington, GA, USA

problem #25

Jun 112001

626

  • miles
Car suffered "internal failure of transmission" at 43,000 on 2/00. This was replaced at Mazda dealer in roswell ga.. it was replaced with a new part. "internal failure of transmission" occured on 6/11/01 at 105,000 miles. Service dept. Wayne evans said, "we got a memo from Mazda Corp., it says we should encourage customers that come in for any service to have an external transmission cooler installed. The part is $120 plus labor." I told dealer that it may suggest that Mazda knows it has a transmission problem. First quote was over 2,000. I asked for the part replaced at no charge to me. The service dealer called back and said that bob white, the regional manager will give part free if I agree to a 60,000 mile maintenence service at $679 plus tax. And if I agreed to add the external transmission coller for $120 plus labor and tax. They said they would only give free part if I agreed to this. I have the car serviced regularly & maintain records. They said, it wasn't serviced at a Mazda dealer & I would need to agree to the $679 60,000 mile service and external transmission cooler if they were to give me the part. The rationale was that they wanted to be sure I took care of car if they gave a free part. My concern is their business practices for one. My bigger concern is the risk I incurred when transmission failed twice on the same car. And the Corp memo on the external cooler makes me uneasy.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #24

Nov 012000

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Automatic transmission had to be rebuilt at approximately 60,000 miles because gears would not engage. A private mechanic informed consumer that this was a common problem in Mazda 626.

- Goldsboro, NC, USA

problem #23

Apr 012001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine check light had been coming on intermittently. Took vehicle to dealer, who found no problem. Then, while driving about 60 mph transmission would not engage, vehicle dropped to 30 mph quickly while engine revved. Transmission needed to be replaced.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #22

Mar 012001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have had repeated electrical and fuel/transmission related problems with this vehicle. Dealership responds with this is normal. Other mechanics question frequent visits however agree that the services are needed.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #21

Apr 042001

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission jerks usually in the first and second gears of transmission when accelerating from a rolling stop or slow down.

- Huron, OH, USA

problem #20

Jul 182000

626

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I took my car into millineum Mazda, chapel hill blvd., durham, N.C. because the transmission was jerking from the parked position. They decided to replace the piston assembly and I purchased an $80 transmission flush. However, neither of these were corrective actions. The service manager, charles gray, decided to replace the transmission on July 18, 2000. Well, this time, the transmission began shifting hard when it moved to reverse. On October 23, 2000, the 1st replacement transmission was replaced. I can't really say that the shifting in reverse was totally smooth in this transmission. It has progressively worsened and it is quite aggravating. I am getting the line "Mazda will stand behind their product and do everything they can to rectify the problem" from the customer service department. But on the other hand, "we don't know what the problem is. We just have to take it down to see" are the lines I am getting from Mazda technicians. This is appalling to me because I must continue to make payments on a car that I can't seem to get repaired.

- Milton, NC, USA

problem #19

Mar 011998

626

  • miles
Transmission will go from first gear to overdrive and jump forcibly into gear. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Tucker, AK, USA

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