1999 Mazda 626 ES from North America - Comments

Transmission overheated at 75,000 miles and Mazda and dealers know of the problem and only issued a service bulletin that was VERY expensive. Why does the customer have to pay for a faulty Mazda transmission?

Check engine light came on at 50,000 miles and dealers unable to identify problem or make it turn off.

Serpatein belt broke at 88,000 miles.

Brakes needed replacing at 22,500 and has needed replacing consistently. Thank goodness for breaks for life.

Right passenger CV joint boot was recently replaced. Now the left one is failing.

I put the first mile on my beloved Mazda. Now there is absolutely NO love!

I am NOT going to stand behind a car that the manufacturer will not stand behind.

In Mazda defense this is basically a Ford Transmission. Ford took controlling stake of Mazda in 1994. Basically any Mazda built before that era will last just about forever even more so than the mighty Honda and Toyota. I can prove that by saying there are currently 3 Protege and one 323 in my family that just won't quit. My 1993 Protege currently has 161,000 my mothers 91 Protege has 162,000 miles on it. I will gladly jump into any of these two w confidence and drive in the middle of a blizzard. (which I have done). Know anything after 1994 especially the 626 is a different story. To anyone reading just do some research to find out if that Mazda was built in Japan using Mazda and Japanese parts or is it a re-badged Ford.

I bought mine new. The check engine light has been on almost all the time for the past 5 years. This is very expensive as it is required to be off for inspection in my state. No matter what they replace, it only goes off for a couple days. Now the transmission is shifting randomly with the O/D light flashing. Apparently a common problem (100,000 miles) from what I read on here I probably need a new transmission. It's had a rough idle from the beginning - again repairs have little effect.

Would not recommend.

I have had a 1999 Mazda 626 for the last 6 years.

I have had a lot of the same problems I have read about.

At 66,000mi the O/D light started flashing on a trip and the transmission blew. Since I have put a new transmission in, I was coming back from Laughlin and the O/D light started flashing again. At a stop light the idle drops and the car shakes, it has been going on for a long time, repairs do not fix prob. or it is a very short lived fix. Brakes wear fast, have had bad calipers. I wouldn't recommend this car. I do believe that Mazda was ruined after Ford took it over. Ford makes great heavy duty trucks, but that is about it.