2002 Mazda 626 from North America - Comments

Bought a 2002 626 because I loved my Protege. Car was fine until just about 5,000 miles, when the transmission on my NEW 626 failed. Mazda insisted they would put a new transmission in the car, but, instead, put in a rebuilt unit. Car was never right after that, but the dealer insisted it was functioning properly. Then just the other day, I had to be towed off a parkway because the transmission failed again. I am awaiting a detailed report from another dealer, as that was the closest one that the car could be towed to.

What are we all going about these problems? Legal counsel, returning the cars, pursuing lemon laws? The transmission is a disaster in this car and I just hope no one is seriously injured because of it.

I have had my 2002 626 for about 2 years. I drive it every day to work to new jerzy and beat on it. Everything is fine with the car.

My best wishes for your continued good luck! Our 2002 626 transmission just failed at 58000 miles.

Hi there!

Well, I just wanted to forward my comment and concerns about the MAZDA 626, 2002 I bought expensively (may be I am deceived?). I bout used Mazda 626 when the meter 31, 600miles miles on it. and when this Mazda 626LX is found with failures which the dealer did not disclose to me, I had to get another used Mazda 626 of 2002. The second one had low miles on it, only 31k. But both having the same transmission problems.

My problem now is that this and the previous Mazda, all show transmission problems. Though I do not drive so much, when ever I use it while on the run, they both either jumped or slow down. There is something that holds or pressurizes the car to kind of jump while in certain normal speed. I am worried about that. A couple of times I was about to cause damage on the car in front of me and another time, the one behind was to hit me for my car slowed down suddenly. The engine, when started and is in operation, also changes sounds (sometimes slow and after a while it get down or still loud.

I made a kind of survey by asking different people who drive Mazda 626. They got surprised and tell me the same thing. What happened to the Mazda 626 of this period, 2002?

How can that be remedied? I think it is dangerous for the driver and others if the car is having originally existing transmission problem.

Your advice please? Many want an answer through me.

All I can say is that these automatic transmissions are bad ones. It is joint Ford/Mazda transmission called type CD4E/Mazda LA4A-EL. If you put this one into a Probe or a Contour it will fail (you can read hundreds of stories about it on this site alone). If you put it into a 626 it will fail. The only 626 transmissions that will last are the manual ones. But for 2003 and up Mazda uses the 5F31J which I think is OK. So: DO NOT buy a pre 2003 Mazda with auto. It will break down on you.

I purchased my 2002 Mazda 626 in 2002. I have 182,000 miles on it and a few payments left. About a month ago, my transmission died. I paid $2100.00 to get it rebuilt. In less than a month, it started messing up again. I took it to the shop and the shop worked on it for two more days. To make a long story short, I was stranded in bad neighborhood, with two children last night for 2 hours.

I purchased my 2002 Mazda 626 in 2003. It had 25,000 miles on it. I had no major problems until this year. At 141,750 miles the transmission failed. I had a rebuilt transmission installed and 7,500 miles later the low & high speed switches on the transmission pump went out. The transmission shop says my care will be out of service for the next 2-3 days waiting on the parts. Stay tuned.

I owned a 1994 626 and the transmission also failed. First at 30,000 and then again at 106,000. The transmission always jerked somewhat when it changed gears. The repairman took the car off our hands for $200.00 junk and he replaced the transmission 3 more times before he said he found one that would run. Did we buy a another Mazda? No and never will again.

I bought a 2002 mazda 626 with 5,000 mile on it. I've been having overheating problems for the last two years, and no mechanic could figure it out. I changed the water pump, timing belt, thermostat, and it still overheats. Now after I finished paying for the car it doesn't work at all. I will never buy or recommend a mazda ever.