1999 Mazda 626 ES review from North America

In late 2002 I purchased a 1999 Mazda 626 ES four cylinder 2.0 Liter with the automatic transmission. It only had 50,000 miles on it. For about the first year the car ran pretty good with the exception of the factory radio suddenly blaring up to the maximum volume one day and then it stopped working. And also the leather on the door panels all began peeling off.

After the first year the problems just started following one another. I had to change the brake rotors almost every 6 months because they would warp.

The suspension on the car is very wobbly. It seems as is you're going to lose control whenever you're on a winding road or if you ever tap the brakes with the slighest amount of sudden pressure i.e: when you're in bumper to bumper traffic. I changed the shocks shortly thereafter and it didn't help at all. I haven't had any problems with the front end alignment though.

At about 70,000 miles the check engine light turned on and then turned off. Then it began coming on and off periodically. Then the O/D light began flashing on and off all the time. I had the car checked out and they said it was related to the transmission problems they've always had with that model vehicle and that it wasn't covered under my factory warranty anymore. They said the transmission would cost me around $2500. (No thanks)

Needless to say there's never been a recall on this issue because they'd have to recall every single 626 vehicle made. I've read that the transmission troubles are due to the improper manufacturing of the transmission oil cooler for the automatic transmissions. They overheat and thin out or burn the transmission fluid and the end result is a blown transmission.

Anyways, I had to have the transmission looked at at 85,000 miles because of this horribly loud grinding noise and smoke coming from the engine. I replaced the starter and ignition switch and it was neither one. The problem was that the flexplate or flywheel had bent backwards and was grinding against the engine block. That resulted from the strong pounding sounds the transmission made each time it shifted gears. I had the flexplate replaced, but the check engine and O/D lights kept turning on.

A couple of months later I was driving and smoke started coming out from under the hood. When I stopped to inspect it there was transmission fluid all throughout the engine compartment on the drivers side, but I couldn't tell exactly where it came from.

Just a couple months after that the check oil light started coming on periodically even after oil changes and checking the engine oil level and transmission fluid level.

Needless to say as soon as the car hit 101,000 the engine blew up destroying the insides beyond repair and now I'm stuck looking for an engine and transmission for this headache of a car.

As soon as I fix it I'm selling it and banning mazda forever. The worst part of all this was finding out that mazda is owned and built by Ford.

I have since then seen recalls for this car for the brakes and a spring in the timing belt tensioner that breaks off and gets stuck in the gears inside of the timing belt cover area and could cause the engine to be damaged.

I wouldn't recommend the Mazda 626 to anyone or just Mazda all together!!!