1995 Mazda 626 LX from North America - Comments

I too am the victim of the dreaded 1995 Mazda 626 w/2.0 4 Cly. engine with automatic trans.

I bought the car at auction (donor car) on 12-02-05. They drove the thing through the buy line!!! I still can't figure that one out!!! They DROVE it through! I payed for my car, and when I went to leave... Low & behold, the car would not move when put into drive, 1st, or 2nd! Not even a slight creep out of reverse! If you shut it off for five minutes, it would drive about a block, then start slipping again.

Needless to say I called AAA for a tow to my mechanics shop (I have an incredibly honest and fair on the bill auto repair shop here in Ohio that I use). I searched through part finder on line, and found a rebuild with 38,000 miles on it in Waynesburg for $500.00, I picked it up, drove back North, took a week to install it, and so far, so good (just knocked on wood). I am on day 4, I think it is a little rough on the down shift out of first, but it depends how you work the accelerator, also the accelerator pedal sticks upon initial start of the day, but I have managed to get it to work so far.

I also have the vibration problem at idle while in gear (I read a TSB that misaligned radiator dampers are the cause of this), and a rumble vibration/shimmy at speeds over 60 MPH. I do need new tires, but they look evenly worn so I am not totally convinced it is an alignment problem. I think it is a "skinny, wimpy, little thread" of a sway/stabilizer bar that came with the car problem!

I am going to stop in at my mechanics shop after the holidays & let him read the suggestion of a replacement valve for $55 (thank you for the info!), and see what he thinks about the excessive, but potentially necessary trans fluid changes every 12,000 miles. If this keeps my investment going it will be worth it. So far I have $2,200 into the car, and it looks and drives brand new (under 60 MPH).

I will keep driving this car, while holding my breath, until a recall or till I can unload this thing, whichever comes first!!!

Thanks to everyone for the valuable info on this pos car, even though we found out after the fact.

I will also be contacting the attorney office in Michigan, and filling a complaint through the provided links after the holidays.

Have a "MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" everyone.

Drive safe,

Linnea.

I have a 1990 Mazda 626 with only 172.000 km on the clock, and am still very satisfied with the performance of its 2 liter engine with automatic gear (especially with towing caravans in mountainous areas, like the European alps).

I only have one problem with it: the humidity in the car is too high. Especially in winter time I have to dry (or scrape the ice of) my windscreen on the inside!

I checked and double-checked for leaks, but found nothing.

Does anyone have an idea where that water comes from and how to treat this?

We have now become the victim of tranmission problems as all the rest of you. When putting the tranmission in Drive the car stays in 1st gear. I too have the vibration problem and have gone through 2 sets of transmission mounts. Something has to give here if everyone else is experiencing similiar problems. Has anyone seen this identical problem?

I am going to immediately knock on wood and cross my fingers... I have a 2000 Mazda 626 automatic and have had ZERO problems in the five years I've owned it (aside from vandalism, but that's another story!) - just regular maintenance - such as belt replacement, tire replacement, etc. I simply wondered when to replace the timing belt (I am at 72k right now) and found this website. After reading the other submissions I am now worried about the transmission! I am going to ask my trusted mechanic about the transmission and get his opinion as to whether or not I should get the transmission problem solving kit that another poster suggested to prevent overheating. The thing I find funny is, that prior to purchasing this vehicle, I DID do my research, and aside from some minor electrical warnings, Consumer Reports gave it a thumbs up! Has anyone else had positive experiences with this vehicle?

Well, I wish I hadn't seen these pages... At 85,000 miles, My 2001 626 started blinking and went out last night... I have yet to get the report back, But I pray for a miracle.

Hello,

I have been looking for a used Mazda 626. We had a 1988 Mazda 626 which I bought with 150,000 miles on it. We never had any trouble with it-- 4 cylinder, manual trasmission, ran like a new car. No clutch or transmission problems, only normal maintenance things. You could not even hear it run. I thought it was stalled at lights all the time, but you just could not hear it run. At 225,000 miles it was still going strong. Somebody hit and ran it when it was parked at the curb and totalled it. We were hoping to get it to 300K, but---

It was the best used car I ever bought. I have heard though that it is not the same car it was in the late 80's and early 90's. Anyway, I have seen a used one really cheap that needs a transmission. Any idea what that will cost? It is an automatic--can you put a manual one in it?

I currently own a 91 Mazda 626 lx hatchback I bought it with 85000 miles on it and now shes got 218000 and its running like a brand new car. it is a 5 speed manual never had any engine or transmission problems except for a clutch, but that was mostly my fault. overall I think the Mazda 626 japanese built is one of the most solid late model cars ever made.

The Mazda's built before 1992 were made entirely in Japan and have performed quite well. The problem started when Ford took over and started building the cars in Flat Rock, MI in 1992. I'm the not so proud owner of a 1996 626 four cylinder automatic. I bought the car new in May 1996 and it was fine until the warranty ran out. The transmission started acting up at 40K and finally died at 86K. Shakes almost all of the time and shifts rather poorly especially when hot outside (third transmission). I changed all of the motor and transmission mounts which reduced the problem with the car lurching and grinding every time it shifted first to second. So far I have over $5000 invested in repairs and it is by far the most costly to run vehicle I have ever owned.

I just bought a 1995 lx Mazda with automatic transmission for $2100, and 135000 ml on it. I haven't driven it for a day and have to replace the caustic for close to 500.00 bucks. well, it's still in the shop, but car x says there might be something wrong with power train. from what I've been reading on this site so far, it looks to me like I have a bad transmission. This car must be garbage. well someone please pray that I don't have to put another 200 dollars into this Garbage.

I don't own a Mazda, but I do own a 1997 Mercury Mystique with the same transmission (CD4E) which is the same installed in the 626. It has been good to me for the past 120,000 miles and then the transmission started slipping. Little did I realize that this was an ongoing problem. I had the vehicle checked out by two certified mechanics and both assured me that it wasn't mechanical. After extensive research it seems to be an electrical/computer problem. I'm currently in the middle of resetting the computer and doing a complete electrical check. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I have a 1995 Mazda 626, which I brought with 70,0000 original miles. I have owned the car for 6 years now. I now have over 135,000 miles. When I first purchased the car, I changed the transmission fluid right away. And, I change the fluid about every 18 months. So far this works for me. I have had the overdrive lights flash for me about twice. This year I will install an auxiliary transmission cooler. Hope this helps.

I bought a 1994 Mazda 626 LX back in 2003. It had already eaten 1 transmission. I drove the car from San Francisco to North Carolina. I got 500 miles from home and burned up another transmission in Mojave, CA and a water pump. 6 days and 3200.00 later, we got to Albuquerque where a green puddle under the car stopped me in my tracks. 3 days later a new heater core, all new belts and hoses I made it 70 miles east where the car completely overheated. I was towed back 40 miles west where they replaced a hose that I had already paid for at the previous repair shop! That cost me two days. Between that and the weather it took me 17 days from Cali to NC. When I finally got to NC, the OD light started flashing. 3 shops told me I needed to replace the transmission again. Finally I met one that said to put a Transmission cooler in it. Cost me 25 bucks and he charged 30 to put it in. Best investment ever! Transmission has been fine since that day. But not the leaking rear main seal, or the fact the car overheats every time I use the heater! (Backwards, I know.. but true!) Or the Cam sensor that went out 2 years ago that cost me 600.00 to replace. Which has now gone out again on Monday. I am slowly saving for a down payment on a new car. It won't be a Mazda.

MAZDA 626 DX.. A Ford is a Ford is a Ford.. Tranny Leak..I went in for an EGR valve cleaning at Firestone (they used EK-10T Ever-wear 3-Step fuel System Cleaner) due to my check engine like came on and it was requested I have the EGV valve cleaned of the carbon build up. Long story short, I drove about 5 miles and noticed a leak (red fluid.. we all know what that means) I turned right back around heading to Firestone. They said, it must have come from me driving it fast.. More like, they must have put too much pressure/air when they were blowing out the carbon. I'm putting in a complaint.Whatever happened to the Mazda's of old (my first was a Mazda RX-7 81')

Signed...My first love..1981 Mazda RX-7

I own a 95 626 lx and its really making me unhappy, I'm 18 and I can't afford what I think is a ruined transmission, I have dumped so much money into this car. transmission number 2 has the stupid o/d off light, it slips from 2nd to 3rd, its sputters during highway acceleration and last month I got the car aligned and balenaced and also I just put a new alternator and water pump in it, so right now I'm out about $800 without including the used transmission. if anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate them, until then, I should probably get my bike ready for a long summer.

Didn't you have the car inspected first? Seems like something that serious would have been apparent.