1) car overheating, O/D light blinking, car not shifting out of 1st gear 2) car eventually would not shift at all, had repairs done = $1900 3) transmission shop replaced tranny. Mazda dealer quoted $3500 to do same repairs.

- Omaha, NE, USA

My 2001 Mazda 626 transmission failed. On June 6, 2003 we placed our 626 with jim ellis Mazda in atlanta, ga because the overdrive was flashing. The warranty repair order states "trans over heated. Needs updated cooler. Installed trans cooler. See ro for details." Two years later our transmission has failed, and after reading experiences from many other people who have had the same failure, this is due to a faulty transmission that Mazda has installed in their 626's. I feel strongly that Mazda knows about this problem and refuses to issue a recall, and will continue to deny this problem until something is done to force their hand and require them to face the problem.

- Columbia, SC, USA

Started with overdrive light flashing on/off. Car hesitates and chugs when you step on the gas from a stopped position. Jerks while shifting and transmission is failing. I have had all the recommended services done including tune up, oil change and transmission fluid flush. The car has 73,000 miles on it.

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

Transmission has always been acting unusual but I mistakingly thought it was how the ride was in the brand new 2001 Mazda 626 when bought in April 2001. It was heavy and I was used to driving heavier cars. 53,000 miles later the transmission dies and the servicer at the dealership tells me its "burnt." Wants to charge $3700 to replace the transmission when I still owe $3700 on the car in payments. Research on the web tells me the transmission has a cooling system issue which needs to be replaced (@ about $800) in order to prevent this from happening again. Dying transmission caused car to roll back in D...beware!!!

- Arlington, VA, USA

Transmission went out after 78,000 miles, and it cost over $2600 to fix.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

Mazda 626 transmission failure, at 75,000 miles. Dangerous, especially if the manufacturer knows this transmission is faulty. Was travelling on a freeway in heavy traffic... car stalled immediately. Could not move the car out of traffic lanes... very dangerous result.

- Concord, CA, USA

Mazda 626 2001 58,000 mi, transmission failure transmission was rebuilt for a cost of $2400.

- Pittsburgh, PW, USA

I have had my 2001 Mazda 626 for 3 years. There is only 69,000 miles on this car, and now my transmission needs to be replaced. There is an obvious problem here. Mazda should have this problem with these vehicles recalled. I do not feel that consumers should be held responsible with the expense of replacing the transmission after a car being only 4 years old.

- Paso Robles, CA, USA

Vehicle broke down and O/D off light flashed. Vehicle overheated. Had not been repaired. Extended warranty declined to pay for services.

- Inman, SC, USA

I purchased a 2001 Mazda 626 in July of 2002 and have had extensive problems with the tires on the car. I've had to change usually two tires at a time every six months. As of today along with problems with the tires my transmission blew out and I'm being quoted $3,300 to replace it. This shouldn't be happening on any car that is only four years old. It has 72,000 miles on it. I've researched this problem and have come across 200 other individuals that have had this same problem with the transmission. Some of them with brand new Mazda's and some of them with the same car that is older than mine. It's amazing to me that Mazda can get away with selling this car for so long with this same problem. I have three children that are in the car with me daily and I almost had an accident when the car died on me in the middle of a busy road. But yet, Mazda can continue to put this car on the road even with all of the same complaints. My parents had a 1994 Mazda 626 that they purchased brand new with zero miles and they had the same exact problem, had the car repaired and it happened again within two months. They are astonished that the Mazda 626's are still on the road when they havn't corrected the problem and have the nerve to sell this car with pride in their dealerships.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

My 2001 Mazda 626 automatic transmission has burnt-up twice with a total of 90K miles. The problem seems to be well documented with this model and I want to know what the manufacture is going to do about it. The first failure was replace by Mazda and the secound appears to be my responsability even though I've only logged 50K on the replaced tranie. I have performed all the maintenance and each time I have them look for the problem the answer is always the same until it fails; it's normal for this car! the other answer is to buy the extended warranty which is a waste considering they already know of the problem and the fix. I'm tired of having to pay to fix a problem that's stranded me on the highway, caused traffic jams and towing fees and left me with a car that costs me more in repairs then it's worth.

- Aldie, VA, USA

On or before February, 2005, my 2001 Mazda 626 began experiencing a problem while changing gears. I was on the highway when the vehicle began sputtering, changing gears very roughly and backfired. As this was taking place, the O/D light began flashing on and off. I immediately pulled off the road to prevent an accident and turned the vehicle off. It took about forty-five minutes before it turned on again. Ever since this incident, the vehicle continued to have the same problem ( rough gear shifting). It is now at a transmission shop who has explained that the transmission has burned out because of the lack of a cooling system. After doing some research, I found that there are many consumers with Mazda 626's that were manufactured in the years 1992 to 2002 with the same problem. I have not had the problem fixed as yet, I will do so and request to keep the old parts if necessary.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

Less than one month ago I had a flashing engine light on my 4cyl-Mazda 626. The dealer claimed it was the converter and changed that out. Now the O/D light is flashing and the transmission is not shifting properly. I have taken it to two shops for checking and of course it is the transmission. I have not and cannot have it repaired at the recommended costs..and still pay the car note. Also, I do not think I should have to replace it at 68,000 miles on a car that has been serviced and maintained properly.

- Houston, TX, USA

Dead transmission on a 2001 Mazda 626 LX.

- Boston, MA, USA

On January 21, 2005 I took my car into tuffy muffler shop in toledo, Ohio for possible transmission problems, or it need a tune-up badly...it has 93K miles and is a 2001 626. After checking it out, I was told the transmission was fine but it definitely needed a tune-up. Three weeks later the transmission went out while on a skiing trip 12 hours from where I live. Had to stay over 2 days in a hotel and purchase a used $400 truck to get back home. Now fighting with tuffy about their negligence to properly perform a minimum transmission check.

- Toledo, OH, USA

I just bought a used 2001 Mazda 626 from carmax in sterling, va in November of 2005. The vehicle had 29,400 miles on it on the date of purchase. Now it has 33, 000 miles, and the car began to frequently jerk, the "O/D off" light came on...then the car would not move. I've since read about others with similar issues with this vehicle, and find that there is nothing being done by Mazda to rectify the situation. So, I want to document my problem with the vehicle in the hopes that something will be done in the near future.

- Washington, DC, USA

I have a 2001 Mazda 626. I am being told by the dealer I should not drive the car due to the potential transmission failure could lead to an accident or death and property damage. My research shows that this vehicle has a history of transaxles failure and I want to notify the NHTSA of this issue.

- Taylorville, IL, USA

Automatic transmission failure at 41,000 miles.

- Tyler, TX, USA

My transmission had to be replaced on my 2001 Mazda 626 this week. I had a previous problem with the internal coolant in 2003 which also cost me money. Last week I had to replace the catalytic converter. This car has given me nothing but problems since I've owned it. I do not feel the problems I've been having should occur in a 2001 automobile when regular maintenance is kept up.

- Largo, MD, USA

Complaint received via E-mail., I am writing this in reference to my 2001 Mazda 626. In the summer of 2004 I took my Mazda 626 into Mazda because the transmission was not shifting properly, the car had about 49,500 miles on it. They serviced the transmission and said it was low on fluids, and sent us along. Then, on November 10, 2004, 2001 Mazda 626 was in the shop at a certified Mazda dealership getting the transmission replaced, the cost of which I was partially held responsible for. Mazda picked up the tab for the transmission, and in return I was charged for the labor and a 60,000 mile service. I am well aware that I am not the only person to experience problems with the Mazda 626, the web contains testimonials from others who experienced the same problem, some at lower mileage. Something should be done about the faulty transmissions that Mazda has been using. I am sure they were well aware of the defects. The problem has been ongoing since 1996.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA