The O/D light started flashing while driving down the highway. Stopped and found that there was a large amount on transmission fluid all over the engine compartment. I filled the trans back up and it all leaked out within five minutes. The fluid is coming out of the vent tube. I will be taking it to get it fixed. This is one of many problems I have had with this car. Just replaced the cooling lines that rusted in half!

- Newark, OH, USA

O/D light started flashing during a road trip. When I turned the car off and restarted, flashing light would stop. Shortly afterwards the engine light came on. We called the Mazda dealer where we bought the car and they advised that as long as the engine light was not flashing we were safe to drive the vehicle. If the O/D starting flashing again, cut-off/restart. They also advised us to go to autozone to get engine code and then call back. The engine code=P1744 and per the service tech at Mazda it meant that the tcc cylinoid was either stuck; hanging or needed to be replaced. We asked if we could drive the car home (300miles) - he told us yes but if the O/D light started flashing to cut-off/restart. He also said that if the engine light started flashing that we needed to stop and have the vehicle towed. The engine light disilluminated altogether. We were on the road approximately 1 hour when the O/D light started flashing. We stopped and saw smoke billowing from under the hood. When we lifted the hood transmission fluid was all over everything. We towed car to Mazda dealership. The service tech said that the transmission had overheated / purged the transmission fluid/ and burned some components in transmission which resulted in the need for the transmission to be replaced. Repair bill estimate = $2,900. This is a flaw or defect as the fail-safe components failed to operate properly in that the engine light never flashed to warn us and to the contrary the light disilluminated giving the false appearance of all things being well.

- Kernersville, NC, USA

The overdrive off light starts flashing on roadtrips when you have driven about 80 miles. The last incident it actually came out of overdrive at 80 mph.

- West Monroe, LA, USA