'96 MAZDA 626 (BOUGHT NEW) . TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83,000+/_ MI. INITIALLY TOOK CAR TO A DEALER FOR OIL LEAK (REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SWITCH). THEY BROUGHT CAR TO ME, IT STARTED & DIED REPEATEDLY. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPED ALL AROUND THE DIAL AND ODOMETER WOULD SPIN, ADDING MILEAGE. SERVICE WRITER SAID THE SERVICE TECH. N…
Read full complaint
'96 MAZDA 626 (BOUGHT NEW) . TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83,000+/_ MI. INITIALLY TOOK CAR TO A DEALER FOR OIL LEAK (REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SWITCH). THEY BROUGHT CAR TO ME, IT STARTED & DIED REPEATEDLY. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPED ALL AROUND THE DIAL AND ODOMETER WOULD SPIN, ADDING MILEAGE. SERVICE WRITER SAID THE SERVICE TECH. NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN WORKING ON IT/THEY COULD CHECK IT OUT FOR ADDITIONAL $75 FEE. I TOLD HER I HADN'T HAD THAT PROBLEM BEFORE. SHE SAID THEY DIDN'T REPAIR ANYTHING IN THE AREA OF TRANSMISSION OR SPEEDOMETER THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE DAMAGED TO CAUSE THIS. I SPOKE TO THE TECH. & HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED SOMETHING AS I TALKED TO THE SERVICE WRITER AND STARTED THE CAR AND IT RAN OKAY. WHILE DRIVING HOME, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE INTERMITTENTLY DID THE SAME THING, ADDING EXTRA MILEAGE, BUT DROVE OK. ON ANOTHER DAY, AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 15 - 25 MI. & RETURN HOME, CAR WON'T RUN AFTER STOP AND RESTART TRY. TURNED THE IGNITION/SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPED ALL AROUND THE DIAL/THE ODOMETER SPUN/ADDED MILEAGE/CAR NOT MOVING. IT STARTS AND DIES REPEATEDLY. AFTER SITTING A FEW HOURS, IT STARTS & DRIVES OK. DROVE TO ANOTHER DEALER; THEY SAY PROBLEM WON'T MANIFEST WHILE THEY HAD IT. REPORT: MOISTURE IN SENSOR CONTACTS/DRIED THEM & CAR OK. DROVE CAR HOME. THE NEXT TIME THAT I DROVE THE CAR; SAME THING HAPPENED. TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEIR REPORT REPORT: TRANSMISSION SHOT/TORQUE CONVERTER FALLING APART & THAT CAUSED ALL THE PROBLEMS. $2,900 FOR MADZA RE-BUILT TRANS. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS, I FIND THAT MADZA 626 (& OTHER MODELS) IS NOTORIOUS FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I FEEL MADZA IS AWARE OF INFERIOR AND APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR CARS. IT SEEMS THAT THEIR REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS DEVELOP SAME OR ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED REPEATEDLY. MADZA SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR/REPLACE THEM.
NHTSA ODI #10007858
111,000 miles · Feb 5, 2003
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE WEEKEND OF DEC 14, 2002 I COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, SO I ADVISE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE BAD.
NHTSA ODI #10005344
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2003
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10004619
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2003
Power Train
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNINF THE TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK UP AND IT WILL BE HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
NHTSA ODI #10004367
93,000 miles · Jan 19, 2003
Power Train
"O/D OFF" LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, ENGINE REVVED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR. DIAGNOSIS IS THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $2300.00.
NHTSA ODI #10002971
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2003
Power Train
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD GONE INTO NEUTRAL ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ALTOGETHER ON ONE OCCASION. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10001961
68,000 miles · Dec 27, 2002
Power Train
FAULTY TRANSMISSION
NHTSA ODI #10000615
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2002
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY IN LOWER GEARS. SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD IS VERY BAD AND OFTEN THE RPMS ARE APPROX. 5000 BEFORE THE SHIFT OCCURS. (EVEN ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE) AS OF EARLY NOVEMBER, THE TRANSMISSION WILL PERIODICALLY NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE OF E…
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY IN LOWER GEARS. SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD IS VERY BAD AND OFTEN THE RPMS ARE APPROX. 5000 BEFORE THE SHIFT OCCURS. (EVEN ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE) AS OF EARLY NOVEMBER, THE TRANSMISSION WILL PERIODICALLY NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE OF EVERY 5K MILES. DT
NHTSA ODI #770079
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2002
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACE TWICE. MR
NHTSA ODI #8022084
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2002
Power Train
PLEASE HLEP ME WITH THIS. THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE AND I AM STILL PAYING ON IT. WHAT DO I DO?. *AK
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4
RQ99022 · Headlight Failure
Opened Dec 20, 1999 · Closed Aug 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative
Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
EA97012 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened May 23, 1997 · Closed Oct 9, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN 20 OR 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 25 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROADWAY.MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OFALL 1995 AND 1996 MODELS OF THE MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AS WELL AS A SMALL NUMBER OF 1997 MAZDA 626 MODELS, EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME SAS UNIT.THE SAS UNIT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG SYSTEMIT CONTAINS A BUILT-IN CRASH SENSOR TO DETECT VEHICLE DECELERATION DURING A COLLISION.AFFECTED MODELS WERE ASSEMBLED FROM JUNE 1, 1994 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 AND HAVE A VIN WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: MAZDA 626:1YVGE22**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE22**V5599030 MAZDA MX-6: 1YVGE31**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE31**T5589965ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE AN UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPOYMENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS.
PE97006 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jan 30, 1997 · Closed May 23, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN JANUARY OF 1997, ODI OPENED A PE BASED ON 9 ODI COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 51 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS INCLUDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 21 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.IN FOUR OF THESE INCIDENTS THE DRIVER CLAIMS TO HAVE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CURB AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.IN ADDITION THERE ARE FOUR INCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVER ALLEGES THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER A TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING.LESS COMMON INCIDENTS INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY, CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS, WHILE BEING TOWED, WHILE BRAKING, AFTER HITTING A CURB, AND AFTER HITTING A MANHOLE COVER.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORTS GATHERED TO DATE, THE SENSORS USED IN THE VEHICLES, AND TO ASSESS THE IMPACT THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS ON HIGHWAY SAFETY.
1996 Mazda 626 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration