1-complete transmission failure, car would slightly move under gas. Gave no warning. Transmission failure at 65,000 mi. - rebuilt at an aamco transmission - cost approx. $2,000. Dealer did not help. Complained to Mazda North America via letter, gave me $200. In gift cert. For service. Complained to consumer reports who gave car best buy rating - no negative rating on transmission. 2-rebuilt transmission started to slip - had trans shop check out, problem due to transmission failure of rebuilt transmission. This happened just this last week at 88,000 mi. Rebuilt at stop and go transmission. Cost to me approx $2,400 3- noticed mildew smell in car - discovered trunk leak noticed at 65,000mi. 2in. Of water would form in spare tire well after rain. Car never hit prior to when it was fixed. Cost approx $400.

- Milford , CT, USA

I have a 2001 Mazda 626 auto trans with 80,000 miles on it. For the most part my commutes would be an average 10 miles each way daily. Last six months the commute was about 25 miles each way with a combination of highway and city driving. On the days leading up to the incident, the car seemed to jerk into the higher gears - that was the first sign of trouble. On the day of the incident, it started up fine but would not move forward when gears are engaged in "drive" mode. It would move a little in the first gear if I pressed down the accelerator but never shifted into the higher gear. I did not want to burn out my engine - so I had the car towed to the repair shop. The mechanic checked it out and said that they would have to rebuild my transmission or replace it with a remanufactured piece. He also stated that it may be difficult to get a good working transmission from another car as this transmission (la4A-el by Mazda or its equivalent cd4E by Ford) have been known to have problems. So now I am looking at a high repair bill and since this is a one car family, an extended period of having to arrange alternative transportation. This is the third Mazda (929, MX6 and now 626) in the family. Never had issues with the previous cars.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

Transmission problems with a code of P1744. Dealer advised to go for rebuilt one and charged me over $3000 with taxes. I think Mazda should take some responsibility looking at so many other incidences that I found on the web.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

3rd transmission failure. This one at 113K miles. Lucky this one covered by transmission shop warranty.

- Hallandale Beach, FM, USA

Problems with transmission. The dealership advised to go for rebuilt one and charged me over $3000 with taxes. I think Mazda should take some responsibility looking at so many other incidences that I found on the web.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

1. transmission suddenly quit. 2. driver and vehicle were stranded in unsafe area. 3. replaced transmission a two thousand dollar cost.

- Cary, NC, USA

Transmission failure occurred at 80,000 miles. Rebuilder stated the plates were burned and installed standard soft parts kit with steel plates. Less than 2000 miles and 2 months later the transmission had a spontaneous failure. The failure occurred in the intersection of two 45mph streets in las vegas hazarding other drivers.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

I bought a brand new Mazda 626. At about 13,000 miles, the transmission went out. I reported the problem and Mazda replaced the transmission with a new one. At about 33,000 miles, the transmission went out again, and they replaced it with a new transmission. At about 55,000 miles, the transmission went out again, and Mazda told me that it was no longer their problem since the transmission was no longer under warranty. They said that since they replaced my transmission, it was only warranted for one year, and since my original warranty had expired, there was nothing that they would do.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

Called the local Mazda dealership, and talked to the repair center for a good few minutes. Told him about this website and how many complaints about the transmission there are, and he said that its not their fault. That they don't offer any discounts or anything for repairs like this. Also, have a problem with a misfire in my car. All after getting a new 1200 dealer only part. Do they care that they built a very horrible made car? no. I really think that they should be forced into atleast cutting the price down to half. Its just normal driving that is causing the transmission to fail, and the misfire. I haven't gotten it fixed for I spent 6grand to get the car, and now I have almost put in 6grand to keep it running. Really wished I had never gotten this car.

- Dalls, TX, USA

As well as other 626's my transmission has blown. Was driving it, down the road, then the check engine light flashed about 7 times, and it revved, then went down and revved with the check engine light. Took it to aamco transmissions and they drove it and looked and told me that its shot. Of course this all happens after spending $1200 for a dealer only catalytic converter. Why would anyone buy this car knowing that they fall apart, and have dealer only parts!?

- Dallas, TX, USA

Automatic trans. Will not go into gear, or will engage park. Trans. Rebuilt. After 18 months same problem returned!

- Oxon Hill, MD, USA

After two hours of highway driving, my 2001 Mazda 626 O/D off light began flashing, as my transmission fluid over-heated. I checked the transmission fluid level, which was ok. My engine oil level was 2 qts. Low. This did not make any sense since I had just had my oil changed two weeks prior and checked the oil level after the work was completed. I called the Mazda dealership and was told to bring the car in to have it evaluated. The car registered a P1783 code during diagnostic testing. I was told that there was a service bulletin recommending that an atf cooling kit be installed to reduce the atf temperature, preventing over-heating. The service manager recommended that I not have the atf cooling kit installed at a cost of $1,100 since my transmission may possibly fail within a few months. After reading tsb 634465 and realizing that the transmission design is under-sized for the 2001 626, I recommend that Mazda recall the 626 transmissions installing the required atf cooling kit to prevent premature failure of Mazda's under-sized transmission design for the 626 model.

- Plainsboro, NJ, USA

The automatic transmission in my car is broken.

- St Augustine, FL, USA

Hard shifting for a couple of weeks. Had a blow out same night transmission messed up. Won't go into gear until it past 2.5 RPM's. took to transmission spec. Said it was over heating also need a new torque converter, need to install transmission cooler.

- Spring, TX, USA

2001 Mazda 626, wouldn't shift into gear, had the linkage cable repaired twice. Now at 149,000 miles the car won't shift into reverse and the od light keeps flashing on and off. We are having it towed (this is the 2nd tow bill) to a transmission shop tomorrow and having the transmission repaired. It will cost between 1500 & 1700 to repair. Updated 12-12-07. Updated

- Hensley , AR, USA

The transmission failed 2 times both times replaced...

- Kent, WA, USA

My 2001 Mazda 626 LX would jerk extremely hard when starting off until speeds reached around 25+mph this happened since the day the car was purchased even after taking the car to the dealer for repairs the car still jerked when increasing speeds. Just recently while going to work the car would not move in reverse and barley move in drive after getting half way to work I stopped at a stop sign and the car would not move only rev up that's when I called a towing service to drop my car off to a garage after the mechanics heard my problem they gave me some startling news that most of the 4cycle Mazda 626S have had problems with transmissions part I had to get was a new transmission.

- Volga, WV, USA

2001 Mazda 626 transmission failure at 113,000 miles and attempt to contact Mazda through customer services line resulted in long wait and no satisfactory answer.

- Laurel, MD, USA

Two transmission failures. First at 76,000, 2nd at 101,000 miles. Had transmission rebuilt both times. There we 2 other 626's in transmission shop at the same time.

- Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Mazda 626 year 2001 transmission failure, rpms went to 4000 by itself odometer light came on and flashed on dashboard instrument panel and car jerked badly. Had to have vehicle towed on 7/6/2007, and had the transmission fluid changed. Service technician found nothing wrong. Then on 7/9/2007 car wa S doing exactly the same thing. Had to have towed again to a different service institution awaiting results of estimate.

- Plain City, OH, USA