Mazda dealer diagnosis PO732 and PO734 internal transmission failure of 1998 Mazda 626.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

I have a 1998 Mazda 626 with 2 failed transmissions costing $1800-$2100 each. This is utterly ridiculous! the first one failed at only 70,000 mi.,now the second rebuilt one has failed at 140,000 mi. Never buy Mazda again!!

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

Driving down the highway during normal rush hour traffic, transmission starts to slip. Car goes slower and slower until it finally won't move at all. Had transmission fluid changed at regular 30K intervals. Car was taken to a local transmission shop where I was told that the trans was shot, ruined, kaput, etc...estimate of $2500. Have been informed that this is a very common failure in my car. And the dealer refuses to help or even talk about helping on the repair cost. My car only has 89K on it!! now the car is sitting in my driveway collecting dust, I don't have $2500 to fix a problem that the manufacturer is well aware of since most Mazda 626's are having this failure.

- Austin, TX, USA

Transmission failure... almost got into an accident on the freeway when my cars transmission failed. Luckily there was some traffic on the freeway. It has been doing that for the past month.

- Houston , TX, USA

I bought a Mazda 626 1998 model during February' 06. It had 69K miles on it. Last month, when I was driving the car, when I pressed the gas, it did not move on the road. Luckily I was on the local road. So I could put turn and put it on a parking lot at a speed of 5 miles/hr. When I contacted Firestone they told the transmission is a failure and it has to be replaced. I spent a total of 2400$ for the rebuilt transmission. I am totally upset about this. I meed Mazda North America to refund my money back. Thanks. Vinod.

- Hartford, CT, USA

The transmission on my 1998 Mazda 626 with 89,000 miles just failed. According to my mechanic, a pump failed, and now my car has "no forward gears." I have since learned that transmission failures are very common with this model, due to a design flaw of which Mazda is aware. I am currently having the transmission rebuilt, but I believe that Mazda should be held responsible for not recalling this model and correcting this problem.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

: the contact stated the vehicle jerked when the accelerator pedal was depressed. At 50,000 miles the transmission was flushed and the fluid was black. The repair shop determined the seals on the gaskets were worn and the transmission needed to be replaced within 30,000 miles. Then, while traveling 40 mph, the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined a rebuilt transmission needed to be installed.

- Takoma Park, MD, USA

I along with about every Mazda 626 owner I know am facing replacing my transmission. It is not shifting properly and is a real hazard sometimes is works sometimes it doesn't. it is slipping between first and second gear and will "hunt" for first gear at times with several jerks between gears before it shifts.

- Church Hill, TN, USA

Transmission failure - would not go into D.

- Ottawa, Ontario, 00, USA

Transmission breakdown. Back on April 07, 2003, I brought my 1998 Mazda 626 into a transmission repair shop to get my vehicle fixed. I was told the transmission was toast. It had overheated and burnt up most of the internals. I ended paying for a rebuilt unit, a new torque converter, and a drive chain. The total out of pocket expense was $1272 now exactly three years down to the month I'm starting all over with the same problems. The transmission is going downhill again. Fortunately this time I parked it in the driveway and haven't fixed it yet. I am currently researching the problem and it appears to be a nationwide problem, yet nothing is being done about it.

- Rockledge, FL, USA

Car had O/D light on when bought it and told it was fine by dealer. Eventually the light was off for good. Car is currently down shifting for no reason and now the mechanics that I took it to say that it is the transmission and stuck in 3rd gear.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

Vehicle downshifted to 2 while I was driving at 70-75 mph. Caused vehicle to skid on wet road! while crossing an intersection, transmission started slipping and almost caused a multiple vehicle accident.

- Bushkill, PA, USA

Hello, we have a 2.0L engine and automatic transmission in our Mazda 626 which was purchased new in 1998. The car has always been serviced on a regular basis. We have just experienced a major transmission failure at 99,000 miles after driving the car about 250 miles on a 95 degree day. A tsb was issued by Mazda in 2002 but current owners were not sent any notification regarding this issue. We are looking at a fairly substantial ($2500) repair bill on an issue that should not have occurred on a vehicle with this low of miles that has been properly maintained, and never abused. Mazda has known of this issue and there are hundreds, if not thousands of documented failures on this issue, yet they have refused to do anything to correct this issue.

- Gold Hill, OR, USA

Failed transmission in 1998 Mazda 626. Mazda continued to use transmissions they knew would fail, instead of fixing their problem, they passed the cost along to the consumer.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

Last October (05), my automatic transmission, finally went out. Not wanting to spend to much money to fix something, when the car isn't worth it. I got a used transmission (not sure how used it was, but the guy that put it in, said it was really clean (little wear) on it. Now Aug 06 the transmission is going out again. The system can't shift between 2-3 gear. I have yet to get it fixed, but it well probably run me around $1300 like the last one did. When the car itself is worth maybe 2,800? I think Mazda needs to take some responsibility for this.

- Kaysville, UT, USA

While driving, my '98 626lx the transmission will disengage from the engine. Aamco transmission determined the problem to be that due to excessive heat, the torque converter failed and fragments penetrated the transmission while being suspended by the transmission fluid. No less than $2000 to repair. Here's where I really got upset. Mazda published a technical service bulletin-005/02 in 2002 which outlines preventive measures to take to avoid this heat related failure. When contacted about a claims procedure, they told me that there was no such bulletin and that there was no recall for my vehicle. I understand that failures do occur on vehicles. However, when the manufacturer is aware of the issue and fails to even make a cursory effort to inform the vehicle owner/purchaser, it seems to me that the company is negligent and should in part bare the burden of the cost of repair.

- Austin, TX, USA

Failure of 1998 Mazda 626 automatic transmission. Transmission overheated on the interstate resulting in boiling out of fluid, fluid was replaced and the transmission overheated again blowing the main seal. Sudden loss of power occurred on the interstate (was able to maintain vehicle to exit ramp -incident occurred very close to ramp). The seal was prepared and the check engine light came on (ptc 0743). Diagnosis at local shop indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced. Mileage was only 90,000.

- Augusta, GA, USA

I just bought a 98 626 with a little over a 100K on it in may before I bought it I took it to Mazda to have all parts and componets checked out they said the transmission was healthy and the engine was good and all parts looked great. So I bought the car the same day the check engine light came on they told me it was the gas I was using then reset my code. Since then I have had problems with the alternator the belts and now the transmission. Since may I have put over 1100 in parts and labor in this car now they say I need a new transmission which is over 2200 any suggestions on what to do.

- Arlington, TX, USA

I purchased a 1998 Mazda 626 in Oct. 2001 with 71 thousand miles. This transmission went out at 110. I had it replaced with a used one (before I knew of all the defects), it lasted 8000 miles. In Sept 2004 a transmission specialist put in a new transmission from Mazda. It lasted 18,000 miles. I was told it had a three year warranty. Mazda now denies this. They say its 6 months out of warranty. This transmission had to be rebuilt. Being disabled this has really been a disappointment. The inconvenience and expense are taking its toll. In 3 years time Mazda has cost me over $5000 in repairs and close to $500 in towing. They are aware these transmissions are faulty but refuse to help people. It seems morally and ethically wrong.. any 'new' transmission should last longer that these. I recently gave this car to my daughter, but I am going to continue the fight with Mazda. Thank you!

- Houston, OH, USA

I just finished paying for the second transmission in my 1998 Mazda 626. The original transmission went 93,000 miles before complete failure. That unit was replaced with a used transmission and it failed at 105,000 miles. I had the second failure rebuilt at a cost of $2,100, the first used transmission cost $1,700 to replace.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA