1996 Mazda 626 LX from North America - Comments

This car has known transmission problems. Less than a year after 3rd transmission was installed the car was leaking fluid. The repair shop diagnosed leaking transmission fluid, and recommended dealer replacement. The dealer had replaced the last one. The dealer service dept advised front pump failed, and replaced. This is now the 4th transmission on a car with exactly 60,000 miles. Front pump failed on this transmission after only 6,000 miles in one year. Reports filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Board. However, despite large volume of complaints it is unlikely a recall will be issued on a car this old. The Ford transmission installed in this model is known to be a bad design and prone to defects.

Avoid this car at all cost!

I bought a used 96 626 from a private owner that is a mutual friend of a very good friend of mine. I bought it because the transmission on my 94 Hyundai Scoupe went out and I didn't want to pay the $2200 to get that car fixed. So 4 months later here I am with a blown transmission (automatic) again! I only paid $2500 for the car and in 4 months have spent approx. $2200 on repairs. The transmission cost $1900 to rebuild at MR. Transmission. I got the car back almost a weeek later, test drove the car before paying, asked the mechanic a bunch of questions, then got on the freeway and the RPM dial started going crazy! It felt as if the car was not shifting into a higher gear once I got to 50mph. I took the car back to Mr. Trans. where they looked at it and told me they, nor the computer could find anything wrong with it. The next day they tell me the BRAND NEW (mind you, not new in my car, but new from the manufacturer) chellenoid needed to be replaced, it went or was bad! I got the car back 4 days later and it drove okay for the test drive (this time had someone from the shop ride with me). No sooner did I get on the freeway, did the RPM dial shoot up to 5500 and I was only doing 55mph. It continued this the whole way home. I parked the car and the next morning on the way to work it ran fine except for some sputtering on the freeway as if it where going back and forth between gears. However on the way home it did the whole RPM thing and finally gave out completely on the freeway ONCE AGAIN! It wouldn't go into R at all, then D went after coming to a stop light 2 blocks from MR. Trans. I was able to floor the gas pedal and get the car to move at about 5mph in the #2 gear. 2 seconds later the #2 and #1 gears stop working and I coasted the remaining 1/2 block to the transmission place. The mechanic checked the fluid and said it was burnt and that the transmission was going to have to be pulled again. So the saga continues. I swear I am trading that hunk of junk in before the 12 month warranty on the trans is up! Oh and the previous owner had the trans rebuilt 2 yrs prior and said that he had kept it up after that. What a nightmare. Visit cartrackers. com to post your complaints on this car and also to find the info on the lawyer named J. Hassen who is trying to start a class action law suit against Mazda for building such a bad transmission.

I feel like I just wandered into a Mazda 626 support group meeting. I've had the same problems too, but at least I know I"m not alone.

I too have a Mazda 626 that I purchased and have had nothing, but problems with. About a year after I purchased the car the transmission would shift really hard into first gear when taking off. Yesterday the transmission finally started slipping. Before I could make it home is was gone. I have filed a complaint with the BBB. But, Like the gentleman stated above, I am not sure if anything will be done since my car is a 1998 with 90,000 miles on the engine. I am disgusted with this car and would love to get rid of it, but how am I going to sell it now after putting a new transmission in it. I am thinking about seeking legal advice, but not sure if it will do any good in the long run. Also, I have had problems with the car taking off when I put it in drive without even putting my foot on the gas, seatbelt problems, electrical problems. I have concluded that the Mazda 626 is a hunk of junk and I hope something can be done about the problems I as well as others have had with the transmission. I think the company should be held liable. I will post back if I get anywhere with this. Or, if anyone would like to help me please let me know. Here is my email address latasha.sarver@genworth.com.

I just bought a mazda 626 last week off a dealer

The car seemed fine on the test drive except for a load knocking noise as soon as you stop and go. we thought it was something not so bad so bought it anyways.. two minutes off the lot the transmission went out. luckily my dad was with me following behind me and pulled over and he took the car right back.. The guy was gone, but we called his cell. He said we bought it as is and that he would look at it.. The next day he gave us our money back thank god! He said he flushed the transmission and that he was going to sell it to someone else that it was fine.. I paid 1400 and he was selling it the next day for 2200...And we asked him if he had tried the car out after flushing the transmission he said no not yet, but that it was fine... Yeah OK..

One lesson learned allways go by your gut feeling when buying a used car.. I went by the looks and jumpoed the gun.. Think about it first...

I do half to add the car yet I only had a few minutes in it was very comfortable and beautifull.. Drove excellent like a camry and the dame for the interior...

I think it was a flood car because it came from florida.. watch out for that allso...