10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,820 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1999 Mazda 626 transmission problems

transmission problem

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1999 Mazda 626 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #199

Nov 012007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1999 Mazda 626 automatic transmission problems has been rebuilt two times in less than one year. Now it is out again I have too much money in it, too quit now. Some one needs to do something to help.

- Hinkle, KY, USA

problem #198

Oct 312007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles
While driving home, automatic transmission wouldn't shift into 2nd or 4th. Transmission was rebuilt at approx. 98,000 miles. At a cost of $2,800. Car now has approx. 160,000 miles and transmission needs rebuilt again. Have heard alot of complaints about this problem. Car is otherwise in great shape, can't afford a new car so I guess I'm stuck again paying to have a transmission repaired that Mazda knows is a major problem and they refuse to do anything about it. Can we all get a little help with this problem??

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #197

Sep 182007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
76,000 miles on car. While doing highway driving, after about an hour, the overdrive light started to flash. Transmission fluid released into engine compartment. Took it to garage and they said error code indicated transmission overheating. The fluid was burnt and transmission may have been damaged. The fluid had been good a couple of weeks earlier. Actions taken include: Flushed fluid. Added an aftermarket cooler. Wait and see if the transmission performs correctly and if the flashing light returns.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #196

Sep 132007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After there were repeated times of bad gear shifting, delayed, not at all, etc. My automatic transmissions failed. Will turn over but, not shift into to gear.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #195

Jun 012005

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Mazda 626. The contact has experienced transmission failure twice. She only had the vehicle for approximately six months when the first failure occurred. While driving 45 mph, the engine light illuminated. She took the vehicle to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the transmission failed. The transmission was rebuilt and a year and a half later, the vehicle would not shift into reverse and the contact felt as if the gears were jumping when driving. She returned to the repair shop and was informed that the transmission failed again. She does not believe that a vehicle should go through two transmissions within two years. The vehicle is currently parked in her driveway. The current mileage was 87,000 and failure mileage was 76,000.

- Mountain Home, AR, USA

problem #194

Aug 102007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,162 miles
Our Mazda 626 1999 was well maintained. At 72,134 miles I took it to a transmission place for a transmission flush. I drove home for 5 miles and in the evening on the freeway. The Mazda now felt a bit jerky at 55-60 mph. (I never noticed that before.) after 23 miles the Mazda suddenly lost power and stopped. I was lucky to get to the side of the freeway without accident. I was stranded on the freeway in darkness and heavy traffic for 1 1/2 hours. Scary!!!! there was a long trail of transmission fluid behind the car, a puddle under the car, also under the hood and along the driver's side doors. The towing service noticed a disconnected transmission hose under the hood. I was towed home and the next morning to the Mazda dealer. They say I need a new transmission for $3225. The dealer says the 30A egi inj fuse is burnt. Fluid level of trans was at least 3 qts over full, was dark brown and had severe burnt smell. Fluid appears to have leaked out of cooler line and valve body pan due to high pressure. (I never saw a leak on our garage floor.) transmission is stuck in reverse. (I don't know how it got into reverse from my driving on the freeway"?") this is costing us big bucks and aggravation: New transmission, three times towing charges, diagnostic by dealer, transmission flush, rental car, loss of work... and no guarantee that things will be made good! after reading all the complaints about bad Mazda transmissions, I am not sure whether the fault here lies in a bad product (transmission) or bad workmanship with the transmission flush. Now the Mazda is back at the transmission service place that originally did the transmission flush, in hopes that they will make good. I could have been road kill! can somebody investigate and help?

- Alta Loma, CA, USA

problem #193

Aug 082007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1999 Mazda 626. While driving 65 mph the transmission overheated and failed. This was the third transmission failure for this vehicle. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause. The current and failure mileages were 136,000 miles.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #192

Jul 312007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,150 miles
'99 Mazda 626-LX, 4-cyl. Transmission problem: Day 1, stuck in traffic, moving very slowly for 30 minutes, 80 degrees outside, the transmission started feeling "clunky". day 2, driving 72-78 mph on the highway for 3 hours, the "O/D off" light started to blink. Got home fine. Day 3: significant transmission slippage.

- Methuen, MA, USA

problem #191

Jun 152007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,000 miles
1) events leading up to failure- normal non-daily usage. Maintenance on transmission within the previous year. Driving on pa turnpike, the transmission failed. 2)consequences- towed to transmission repair shop 3) what done to correct failure- total repair/rebuild of transmission. Cost over $2500.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #190

Jul 222007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles
My transmission failed on July 22 due to over heating etc.

- Highlandville, MO, USA

problem #189

Jul 182007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Automatic transmission locks up, burns up and car no longer moves.

- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

problem #188

Jul 192007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles
We bought this car for our son in 2005 with about 55,000 miles on it. It now has 120,000 miles and is in need of its 4th transmission (rebuilt)! it is also on its second engine. I've never heard of anything this bad. Has Mazda done anything to correct this?

- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

problem #187

Jul 122007

626

  • miles
I have a 1999 Mazda 626 LX 4 cylinder and for a few years have noticed harsh shifting that has only gotten worse. The other day the odometer light started flashing, and I took vehicle to a transmission shop, and they scanned and codes, and told me that I had an overheating problem with the transmission, and that it had to be replaced. This seemed so wrong because the car only had 111,000 miles on it, and it was wrong because I knew this problem started a lot earlier when I got this car at 64,000 miles. If Mazda knew about this cooling issue because they have released a service bulletin about it, and if they knew they will ultimately fail why didn't they issue a recall? if they knew they had inadequate cooling they should have installed a cooler at their expense not T at he owners, and they should also replace the transmission at their expense.

- Auburn, CA, USA

problem #186

May 212007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
MY1999 Mazda 626 has had a total of 4 front seals and 2 back seals replace on the transmission. The car has 80K miles on it. Two weeks ago the O/D light started blinking off and on then the transmission went out. I have had this car into the service department since it was a month old with transmission issues only to be told it was normal. I had to have my first seal replaced after one month with less then 6K miles on it. Mazda replaced the seal but did not fix the problem (since then I have had 5 seals replaced, of course out of warranty). There is a major problem here that Mazda knows about. I just paid 2K for a rebuilt transmission 2 weeks ago with 80K miles. This needs to be a recall issue. There are just too many people having the same problem with these vehicles.

- Lagrange, GA, USA

problem #185

Sep 152005

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles
Complete transmission failure.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #184

Apr 062007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The dollar figures are approximate. In February 2002 my daughter and I purchased a used 1999 Mazda 626 with an automatic transmission from wilson Dodge in torrington ct, 06790 for $9000. Part of the original purchase was a promise to install a sun roof for $500. The warranty was for 60 days or 2000 miles. We were told that the transmission on the car was its second. Under normal circumstances, I would take that as good news. A faulty one is replaced. How often does a transmission fail? in April (about 5 '' 10 days after the warranty expired), the transmission needed replacing. The cost was estimated at $2300. After attempting to get this covered by the dealer in good faith, I authorized the installation of a rebuilt transmission. During this negotiation I had to endure with some snide remarks from some of the other sales people when I mentioned that another dealer would have taken care of this. Their response was ''yeah. They say that because they did not sell you the car!'' (the warranty on the rebuilt transmission was 1 year or 12,000 miles) the sunroof cost was forfeited leaving a balance of $1800. It was agreed that I would pay $300 a month until the balance was done. In April of 2007, the same issue occurred. The transmission failed. I did some research and found that Mazda had used an inferior transmission in its 626 models. (www.estreetjournal.com/Mazda.htm) my big complaint is against Mazda, but I also have one against wilson Dodge. They had to have known about this issue. Mechanics know these things. I believe this is a case of fraud on their part. Twice my daughter was stuck on a busy road because the transmission failed. This is a father''s worst nightmare. I am looking for a settlement that will eliminate the remaining balance on the loan ($1,600), reimbursement for the first transmission replaced $2300) as well as a recall on the Mazda 626 where this grossly, negligent problem exists.

- Torrington, CT, USA

problem #183

Mar 122007

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
Car have a knocking noise when you first take off. I sent it to the Mazda dealership and was told that it was my transmission and it would cost $4000 to fix it. Then it took it in for a second opinion and was told it was my transmission also. I have done my research and notice that there are several complaints with the transmission. Over the years I have had the car I have taking it to the dealership to get repairs or the normal service. I think that it is very unusually that everyone is having the same problem, and that the Mazda dealership will not do anything to help with this problem. That is not professional for there company and they will lost business like that.

- Clinton, SC, USA

problem #182

Nov 152005

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
Transmission failed after 80,000 miles. I had it repaired and I am still having problems with the transmission overheating a year later. I now know that the problem is the the transmissions Mazda used the the 626 were too small for the larger 626 cars.

- St Francis, WI, USA

problem #181

Jul 222005

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
I have a Mazda 626 1999 model. The transmission went bad at about 80K miles last year and I had to send it to a shop (spending over $1600 for it to be rebuilt). In less than 1 year, the same problem occurred and was more serious. Now the car starts very slow and takes several minutes to reach 40 mph. Whenever I try to speed, the rpn going up wildly and does little to speed. Recently I just searched several internet bulletin board and found out many Mazda 626 owners have the same problem. They point out that Mazda admitted that they put a Ford transmission meant for a small-sized cars on its Mazda 626 model. The government should force Mazda to recall the model and ask them to reimburse all 626 owners for repair. Until the problem is solved, this will be my last Mazda car.

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #180

Dec 232006

626 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,000 miles
I am the owner of a 1999 Mazda 626 LX and at 118,000 miles and no signs at all the transmission went out on my car. I am a mother of 2 and I also baby sit for a living. I had 3 children with me when the transmission completely went out of my vehicle and left us on the side of the road. Thank god for cell phones. I never had any signs of a problem at all nor was I aware that there have been complaints about the transmission in the 626 until this happened to me. I still have 4 payments on my vehicle since I bought it used and I am heart sick that I am still paying for a vehicle that I am unable to drive. I wish that I had known about all of the problems with the 626 before I purchased mine.

- Covington, VA, USA

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